Evening star., 1870-02-28

lative powers, and the material aid afforded by
the resources from this tax, the city Of Wash
ton can inaugurate such q system of improve
ments a. win make il in ten years one of the
hsndsomest cities and most agreeable abiding
places on the face Of the globe.
1t II dificult to see how in getting legislative
powers we should lose single element Of infu-
ence that we now have. Congress would continue
to exercise q general control over US. The Dis
trict Committees would be maintained. The
avs passed by our Legislature would be subject
to revision or repeal by Congress if found OBJ
n0xious. The District delegate in Congress
would be informed on District matters, as Ter
ritorial delegates are, and would be ready TO
correct the numberless errors In regard to our
local affairs exhibited by members i'm eyery
debate. He would be able to clear up such mis-
spprehensions promptly by a word, and would
be an important auxiliary to the District Com
mittees, as their adviser and prompter.
Other objections of the Chronicle seem to be
based on an entire misconception of the provi-
sions Of the Territorial measure, as when it
says:
The fact Is, the people in the outset, in so
far as the government of District affairs was
concerned, desired a fusion of Washington
Georgetown and the county. If this could be
zone, II would not matter what the new form of
contIol should be called, whether Territorial or
otnerwise But those charge with the present
scheme OF Territorial government voted unani-
mously against the proposition TO provide in the
bill for enlarging the District. docking to the
remuneration, we suppose, Of Alexandria, for
consolidating the municipalities, and giving
many OF the powers usual to Territories in legis-
Our people have generally been willing to sub
init to tax for the purpose Of aiding the con-
templated Worlds Fair; but this is inhibited by
tne proposed Territorial bill. So, also, in
respect TO aiding railways, because q provision
recites that there shall be special tax (giving
credit Is the same thing) except for paying
debts. (2) A proposition that the Territorial
government should have the very usual aud
common authority of controlling gas-light and
Iailway companies was, according to report, lost.
(3) That there cannot be an abolition OF mupi-
cipalities under the bill, except by vote of the
people, is shown by the fact that a proposition
Tor such abolition was defeated. a. Nor do
We see, under the bill, how there can possibly be
q fusion Of Washington and Georgetown, when
Ii provides that neither Corporation shall be
called upon to pay the debts heretofore con-
tracted OF hereafter to be contracted by ethern
(5)
a. The question of enlargng the District was
never before the committee.
(2) Wrong again. That is Just what we NAV
do under this bill, for it provides expressly that
by two-thirds vote Of the Legislature we may
borrow money, issue stock or bonds, for any OF
these purposes.
the bill as amended and adopted provides that
the Legislature of the District " shall have
power to create, alter, modify or repeal, within
said District, corporations aggregate for reli-
gious, charitable, educational, industrial, or
commercial purposes, or purposes OF public
improvement"
Cf) Every member of the committee but one
favored the abolition OF the city charters with
out delay. But the objection was made that
the question ought to be left to the decision of
the people of each corporation, otherwise the
weaker corporations might be coerced into the
abandonment of their charters against their
wishes by the overpowering vote of Wash
ington.
(5l 1t Is precisely because of this provision
that fusion is possible, otherwise Georgetown.
with its small debt, would never consent tn
shoulder the heavy debt of Washington. and
the county, with no debt at all, would never con-
sent to share the indebtedness Of Washington
and Georgetown. By a Board OF Liquidation it
VIII be easy to ascertain the exact indebtedness
OF each corporation, and assess the same upon
the property now liable for such debts in their
respective proportions.
One other objection made by our cotemporarv
perhaps needs notice. That is that "the col.
ored people pretty largely think that it is in
tended by the Territorial movement fo u,t;-
mately abridge or destroy their part and lot in
city government. The existing official orpani
zations oppose what they believe contemplates
their destruction-"
Well, the colOred people have no reason 10
think anything of the kind, and probably will
not unless they are misled. The Republica,s
carried the city of Washington at the last eleo-
aon by majority Of 5000. In Georgetown. at
The last election, the Citizens ticket was elected
over the straight out Republican ticket by less
than % majority, and the total vote was but
z,o4Z. In the county, outside Of the two cities.
as everybody knows, there is an overwhelming
republican majority, owing to the presence of
me large eontraband villages across the East
eIh Branch, and north Of the city. Thus, with
'r without consolidation, the Republicans have
iothing to fear from adopting territorial form
N government. They have much more cause
o rear losing power by setting themselves
Igainst measures of progress and reform.
As to the sins who .'oppose what tbev
'eiieve contemplates their destruction there
Gems no reason why the Territorial form should
perate especially to displace them, but il it
lid, 1t hardly rises to the height of an argument
o say that the whole work of progress should
'e thwarted, and the interests Of one hundred
md fifty thousand people sacrificed lest
doubts, distrusts and antagOnisms" should be
,reated in that quarter.
The plan adopted by the Citizens Committee
S but the draft Of a measure to be revised and
ligested by the District Committees, and af-
ow ards to run the gauntlet Of sharp examina-
ion and emendation in the two Houses. 1t may
Iery likely be changed in some of its features,
put it seems to us to present the material basis
or a very good plan of District government.
More members are resigning and the House
Is resigned.