Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-02-22
TERRITORIAL GOVERNMENT FOR
The DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
Interesting Discussion.
A Plan Of Organization Adopted.

plan Tor = territorial form OF government ior
the District of Columbia. met last evening at
Netzerott's Building, for the purpose ef hearing
the report OF the subcommittee OF twenty-One
appointed TO draft bill.
Among those present were Judge Fisher, A.
X. Sheuherd Hallett KibouTn, Clinton Lloyd,
Dr. harvey Lindsly, W. G. MetZerott, John X
FIvans, WIN. Dixon, Il. Nj. Hall, A. l.. Sturte-
vxns, Justice -. ). B. Wall, DIR. VIM. Gunton,
=. II. Kaufmann, ). p. Brown, j. G. Lewis
Levi Clephane, L. L. Tulock, Chas. b. Fisher
&. :. Moves. John Il. Mitchell, .. ID. Barrett j.
j. Coombs, X. G. Hewitt, ID. NJ. Kelsey, VIM H.
A. WOrmley, Vim. Syphax, II. n. Easily, Gen.
H. D. Muzzy, T. D. Gilman, John w. Thomp-
ron, VIM. h. Webb, Michael Thompson, s. Wolf,
John W. Green, Hawkins Taylor, j. Il. McCon-
nell. A 3. SolomOns, A. Cluss, and others.
The meeting was called 20 order by j. j.
CoOmbs. and Hon. A. q. Riddle was called to
the chair, in the absence OF Judge Fisher. The
Chair stated the object of the meeting. and the
Secretary read the report of the committee, be-
ing the bill a. printed in THE STAR OF yester-
day. On motion OF Mr.. kilbourn, the report Of
the committee was accepted, and Gen. Muzzy
moved that the meeting proceed to consider the
lin by sections. Mr.. Fl. N. Easily thought the
E.ll contemplated such radical changes in the
government of this District that ample time
sSorId be allowed for ali ~ understand IT thor
ougbly before voting upon it, Every member
Of The committee would be held responsible for
his vote. and he therefore Ino'ed that further
consideration of the bill be postponed for one
week.
Mr.. j. j. Coombs thought it best to go through
IRE bill section by section, after which they
could postpone bnal action for one week.
Mr.. Clinton Lloyd seconded the motion of Mr.
Easily, and moved to amend that the bill could
be considered by sections and final action post
poncd for one week. He thought the import
aDce of this measure to the people of the Dis
trjet of Colombia could not be oyerestimated.
Mr.. A k. Shepherd was opposed to the notion
10 postpone. He thought there WAS ability
enough IN the meetings. act on tie bill at once
The bin had been prepared by an able commit
Tee, and he hoped it would be considered imme-
diately.
Gen. Auzzy thought it was not worth while to
delay action, and by dCirg So let the City Hall
Eng prepare bin and foTestall this meeting. 1t
that bill was being prepared by the City Hail
Riag.
men who prepared the bill, but he thought il ut
tcfly impossible To Ierfect ii during one even
inE Observation-Disclosures,
Gen. Huzzy thought there was no necessity
for this committee setting up themselves as law
makers. If the committee was to enact or put
the bill on the statute books, then there might
be come reason for postponing it, but every gem
teman who read a newspaper had seen the bill
and had ample time to consider it. 1t was only
= draft Of bill subject TO the action of Con-
Xrese.
DIR. Harvey Lndsley moved that Mr.. Easbv,s
motion be laid on the table, which was adopted,
and the Secretary proceeded to read the bill BY
sections.
Upon reading the first section creating the
territorial government over the District, Mr.
Eaeby inquired what was territorial form of
government?
Mr.. Shepherd--It Is . government for a ter
ritory. [Laughter.l
The hrst, second and third sections were then
adopted without amendment. In the fourth
section, which provides :nat for the purpose of
carrying the provisions OF the act into effect.
the President shall appoint a governor and seq
rotary 20 hold their offices until the first general
election. but neither OF them should be eligible
70 any Ofice at the first election
Mr.. Sturteyant moved that the seer .tary be
exempted from the provision making NJ N NELL
IN L. ala affs uaf
faIy might just begin to understand his duties
but must leave his cfice at the election TO let
green man come in.
Mr.. Shepherd moved to amend the amend
ment BY striking out all of that portion making
the first governor or secretary ineligible.
Mr.. COMBS said that subject had been thor
been argued that the appointed governor might
manipulate things at the election SO as to secure
Mr.. Lloyd thought the prOviso had better re-
main in the bill.
Judge Fisher hoped it would be stricken ont.
II the President should be fortunate enough TO
Who could gain the respect Of the people of this
District. for their election, they should not be
disqualified Eifty-or one hundred years ago
1here might have been some room for this linn
itAtion, but not now in this day of enlightep-
M Shepherds motion to strike out the dis
qualifying clause as to both Governor and Sec
In section 5. prescribing the number Of Coun-
eilmen and Representatives. and fixing their
ineenNImmedia after ther sSsil moved hove 70
oembled in consequence of the first election thew
shsn be divided as equally as may be into three
classes The seats OF the first class shall be
vacated in one year, of the second class in two
years, and of the third class IN three wears. so
that or third may be chosen every wear
Mr.. Lloyd said that this was for the purpose
OF having only portion Of the members elected
each year 30 that there might be alwaYs AN ex-
perieneed member there.
MI Coombs was opposed to this amendment as
u would give q chance for coloni cation. In Ohio
and other States the plan similar to the one i'm
this bill and had been adopted, and il had
always been found that there were enough ex-
perienctd men reelected to carry on the BUSH
The amendment was rejected.
In the eth section, providing that all male
0iti zen who have been actual residents of tb,
District for twelve months prior to the election
should have the night to vote, Judge Fisher
moved to amend 20 as to make the qualifications
the same as at present and exclude persons non
ssapes Rentis, and those who shall have been
convicted of any infamous crime or those who
have given aid and comfort to the rebellion.
Mr.. Clephsne moved To amend the last sectio,y
% ss To prohibit those from voting who hal
borne arms in the late rebellion and had not
been pardoned by the President or relieved OF
their disabilities by Congress.
Judge Fisher objected to the word pardon.
III. y r. Brown was opposed To that part of
Judge Fishers amendment excluding persons
Judge Fisher thought to have been ENGAGED
In the rebe lion was the most infamous of crimes
General Muzzy moved to strike out the word
male. lI.aughter.l
Mr.. Riddle said he would entertain that mo-
1ion, and hoped it would be adopted.
General Muzzy replied that he made the mo-
ton as q bona fde one, and was in favor of It,
The motion was lost-Messrs A. X. Shepherd
John w. Thompson, Rallet KiIbourn and Gen
Muzzy being the only ones who voted i'm the at
nrmative, and there seemed to be some doubt
Whether they were quite in earnest.
M. Coombs moved an amendment reouirino
al persons 70 reside within their election pre-
e1nct thirty days prior to the election Adopted
The question on Judge Fishers amenS,nen,
disqualfying those who had participated in III,
rebellion, being before the Committee ~
Mr.. X. n. Hall thought IL time for the neon,s
Of the District 70 forgive those who had sinnad
and not cut them eff entirely. Let them be for,,
given, even IL they bad done wrong some of
hem we're industrious citizens, and the time
had come when they should be received as citi-
1Rns.
Mr.. y. G. Lewis thought that il was right In
0eAt those men kindly, vet he was opposed TO
inviting them to make laws.
Judge Fisher said IL ian VI been convicted
OF steansg 70 or asse ult and battery with intent
70 klu, which In nve cases out Of ten were wrong
eonvietions, he would be excluded from citizer.
ehip; but q man reeking In the gore of his FOL
loW-cifixens; man who had le n the District of
Columbia, where perhaps before the reheilion
he had fzttened at the public crib shouid co,nn
hack, must he be invited to make Laws IN. ,.S
after trying to put our Capitol In ashes3 H.,
may have been with Breckenridge or r..s.
when they were attempting TO get in the city