Evening star., 1870-03-08

\ appointment They q "a "a ~ The oppprtanify
| 70 shape things for tho ci,etiOa sabseQ uentiv
| He Gtll held that IL would b. better @ com. tp
\ Conc-ee direct Tor What want than throa-,,
the agency of a T r,rrisorial gSvsrnm ut. IL
| wanted The people 60 have direct voice.
General Howard said that az all the poo3le
have the right % vote Tor the legfs.ature the
action OF that legislature would be the voice Of
| the people. He could MT see the Distinction
Mr.. Martin. Possession Is nine point OF the
law.
Mr Cook urged ;hS in the citation from
Madison, made by GCueral MnSSey, the words
used we're that the seat of ,sovernmens nav
have ''~snscspaI Legislature" This dii not
authorize 'ter.fOriai legislature" !" bat simply
akosernment Tor mnnicip ality.
MI Riddle said the word mauicil,al" was
used by Madison in its enlarged sense, in contra
distinction 60 international Jaw.
Mr.. Hamlin and other members OF the com
I BY Mr.. Riddle.
Mr.. Riddle said, IL he wishsd q ventilate his
political views this was not the place the Oc-
casion. He had, i'm his poor way, lab1rcd in the
Republican cause, but ne was not disposed "a
parade his services here. Neither WAS he dis
posed 20 consider important public interests
only with a view TO party success. Congress, he
SAID, will, N any event, have exclusive con
| troll over the District. No power will be tOler-
ated in IL that does not originate with Congress.
Congress shall govern it, saws the Consultation.
| How? Why, simply, by permitting the people
| % eovern mselyCs. The people will govern;
| nut MI the power originates with Congress.
HIS friend me- C"ok) seemed 90 be afraid
10 tfnst the people with themselves. ~
I
| " Il the eniaTg, ment of the rights Of
| the People. Even viewed as a party mea-
s%e there was no reason for apprchenscn.
| The Republicans OF Washington have a cle%r
majority OF $500. This mtisrIty, under a Fer
rstoi ial form Of government, would not only con-
troll the city OF Washington. hut the entire Dis
| tlet Yet, according 10 the argument Just pre-
I sented. the people were not to be entrusted with
| the right and power to control themselves, The
right OF self government and the effort o. ssrsin
II for them II met by the plea that IL will not be
safe 20 entrust tins power % them. IL was argued
! in their behalf that they must be restricted 60
the present petty, pOwerless municipal govern
| ments, hardly worthy the names of gOvernm ,nts.
The Citizens Committee had been arraigned on
the politics Of all these gentlemen, but he saw
among them many whose names have gone on
the pages Of history. Mr.. Riddle concluded
with an earnest and eloquent appeal In behalf
Of the District and some such change In its mode
| of government a. that proposed in this bill by
which the people viii be enabled ca enter upon
| the work OF progress and improvem mt here
The interview ended here, and the chairmlp
| Mr.. Hsmln, stated that the committee did not
propose TO grant another hearing upon the bill,
but that, after giving il careful consi der alton,
| and making such amendments as I'm their iudg-
ment IL might require, would report it 20 the
Senate He would say, however, that at this
| time be knew OF mo further amendments needed.
MT. Hamlin was at once surrounded by a
number or excited opponents 20 the bill, Mr.. w.
a. Oook, MI. dos Williams, and Others, who
submitted at special election, 70 the people Of
| the District.
Mr.. Hamln-Yes, and If you get majority
Of one you win deny the people OF the District
the right Of self government!
The friends and opponents OF the Measure
afterwards gathered into groups and the discus
sion was kept up for seme time I'm OF hand
\ way. The voice OF Mr.. Joseph Williams Presi-
dent OF the Common Council, Was quite conspic-
| uous, and he was heard 20 assert that there was
! Democratic atmosphere about the whole Ter
| ritorial party This assertion was met by a
point blank denial, and the statement OF the
| Iact that nine-tenths Of the advocates OF the
Territorial plan were sound Republicans and
OF considerably longer standing In the parsv
than himself. He was admonished with some
signihcance that Il was hardly modest in him 10
| be making this clamor about Republicanlsm,
| since he was working under the rebel nag and
voted for the ordinance OF secession I'm Virginia,
while those he was abusing were hazarding life
and property i'm the Union cause.
The following paper had been prepared by
Mayor Bowen to be read to the Committee, but
owing to the want Of time was not submitted
prior to the adjournment Of the committee:
VIEWS OF MAYOR BOWEN
Mr.. CHAIRMAN:-I am not here for tn pur-
pose OF opposing the passage Of this Territorial
bill nor TO discuss its merits or dement's. came
To make short statement of facts rs, in my
opinion, they exist, and to suggest to the COM
mittee N s the PTSpristy Of sasmittias the question
rrdical change be made in our form OF govern
Ny observation leads me 70 believe that a
large majority Of the people, particularly OF the
Republican party, are unfavorable to any
change that win strike from existence the mu-
them under the control Of Territorial Le9isla-
ture. They believe that all that is desirable or
necessary win be secured by enlsrgng the pow
ers OF the City Councils, granting them the
privilege Of aiding in the construction of rain
roads and other improvements, TO regulate a
system Of taxation, to create debts when the
people by vote Of two-thirds decide il 70 be
proper and necessary for their interest TO estab-
lish schools, houses OF correction, and such
other charitable institutions as may be required.
to tax the property OF the Government at the
same rate that individual property il taxed for
the purpose of aiding oar school system, main
poor. epennS and Keeping in repair sDch ~ .v, ,ae
nues and streets rs are under Government con-
troll, and to beautify the nations capital; the
turing and other purposes TO be conferred ON
the supreme Court of the District.
:, That portion Of the District outside the city
limits should be divided into townships on con,
venient size, each TO have its local government.
with supervisor, town clerk, asse essors, com
mus missionen OF schools, commissioners Of streets.
anu such other omcen as are necessary for a
township organization, all Of which officer.
should be elected by the people annually. The
supervisors Of the townships to form county
board, 70 meet twice year and adjust matters
equitably between the townships.
The District to have a delegate in Congress.
,e,a. 70 se elected by the psc?le Of the whole Dis,
District should have the privilege OF electins a
Judge OF probate, register and assistant register
Va uCcurs u Tcslstef OF wills and coroner A.
well as such other officers whose duties pertain
to the whole District, and to fix their compen-
satQn,
With these enlarged powers of the cities and
this arrangement Tor the other portion of the
District, there is no doubt in the minds OF many
that the evils complained OF win be cured, and
Congress will be relieved from the necessity or
legislating on every trivial matter Connected
with the cities and the District at large. There
is no good reason why these powers should not
be grapted in this District, nor that the cities
and such townships as may be CT ,ated should
not have the same authority to act on all local
matters a. In the States generally, subject, of
course, to repeal, modification, and revision by
The advocates Of q territorial form of yoyern-
ment contend that the masses of the people de-
mand it Many Others, myself included, think
otherwise; but, 90 far as know and believe no
one win object TO have the matter decided by
vote Of the people themselves But this vote
should be taken after full time and opportunity
have been given TO discuss the question, aad Il
should be submitted TO such vote when no party
or other issues are pending, and on its merits
alone.
II, therefore, the committee conclude 20 re-
port the bill, and IL should be passed by Con-
gress, beg leave TO suggest that q proyiso be
inserted that il shall become . Law and opera
tive only after having been ratified by q ma
jority Of the qualified voters Of the District at
An election to be held in the several voting
districts Of the two cities, and I'm such districts