Evening star., 1870-02-05
Consolidation.

One (only) of our city papers takes ground
against the movement for the consolidation of
the District. Our cotemporary advances what
it calls certain practical reasons against the
proposed change. In the first place IL does not
see what benefits are to result from consolida-
ton that cannot be obtained under the present
system without the expense. trouble and incon-
venience of changing the form of government.
We would submit if it would be less expense,
trouble and inconvenience to make the change
to one good and efficient government than TO en-
dUre three awkward, jarring, defective govern
ments in our six miles square. That paper sus-
gests that the powers of the corporations of WASH
ington, Georgetown add the Levy Court he en-
larged, and that legislative powers be given to
them separately, enabling them to grant acts of
incorporation, charter railroads. fix rates of in
terest, &c. We would ask if il would not be in
fnItely safer and more advantageous to
the whole District to have one body Dos
sessing the necessary powers. Again, OBJ
lection is made to Incorporating the sparse
ly-settled county (outside of Washington
and Georgetownl under a city charter. Bet is
the county too sparsely settled to have a terrific
rial government? If so, il is too sparsely settled
TO have a government OF it, own, recon-
mended by our contemporary. Again, Wash
ington and Georgetown have, at their own ex-
pense, graded and improved most of their
streets; each owes debts, while the county il
comparatively out of debt. How are these
debts to be paid, and how are they to be appor-
tioned:" Nothing is easier. Simply appoint a
board, which may be called board of H1uida-
tion, whose duty it shall be to ascertain the
exact amount owed by each corporation, and
assess the same upon the property now liable for
such debts, in their respective proportions, and
rhsa aWnl coll taaA.. "A
advisable 30 as to pay Off the debt within saw
twenty years; the legislature, in the meantime.
having power to issue bonds for such
indebtedness. falling due and corre-
sponding with the amount collected.
The assertion, that '.Rosr all act in harmony
taeH the strongest will override the weakest
will strike those familiar with the past relations
OF the different corporations of the District with
surprise The very fact that there are different
corporations has the effect OF creating conflict
and perpetuating a sort of traditional rivalry
which operates to the disadvantage Of ALL AMI
which would fade away if the barriers were
broken and the whole should be regarded as one-
under one government, and having a common.
not divided; interest, real or apparent. There
would be no more opportunity or inclination for
one of the merged corporations to override an
other than there Is under our present municipal
iOI Oilc Ndfu 10 uOmlueer over another.
Again, eve do not believe that a change will
be the means of cutting down expenses" Is it
not highly probable, to say the least, that the
machinery Of one good government will be less
expensive than three poor ones? Our cotern-
POrary comedies that 'reforms might be made
with advantage" but asks, ''cannot these be
without radica, change in the
policy Of the government in this District -,
Well, we have tried the present system for
many years, and this is the burthen that rests
upon US to-day. And while We remain in the
old ruek we never shall be able to improve our
condition. We need radical change in the
governmental system for the District. We must
have one authority and one power to make our
rules and regulations, and Congress will 4. yer
consent to entrust such power in the hands OF
three small conflicting corporations.
Let us try n change; if il does not work well
we can fail back upon the separate corporation
system.