Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-01-18
THE PROPOSED CHANGE.
THE DISTRICT As A TxRRIr0RK

THE PROPOSED CHANGE.
THE DISTRICT As 4 TxRRIroRK
ana &eoEGetOWm-The Measure
Freely Dfscusseo.
Yesterday afternoon . meeting Of prominent
citizens was held at the office of Messrs. 8. p.
Brown & Son for the purpose OF conferring
together on the proposed bin to consolidate the
conflicting governments In the District of Col
umbia, at which were present the following
Todd, DR.. II. Iindsy, Col. James a. Maer ND d
A: Grant, HI. ID. Cooke, w. 8. Huntington, IL.
kilbonIn, 8. p. Brown, A. X. Shepherd, T. l..
Iullock, John Plant, Of our white citizens, and
Rev A. Bowen, s. Herbert, Robert Hatton, b.
Mccoy, David Fisher, A. Jones, Henry Free
man, Jerome A. johnson, John T. johnson,
George F. Coakley, and other well known col
Mr.. s. P. Brown called the meeting to order.
and stated that the object was to obtain express
sions Of opinion by various interests on the bill
which had Been published The bill is was SrnSI
In conformity with views expressed BY the Dis
trict Committee in the House of Representa-
tives, and the committee had suggested that the
views Of the people be obtained before it was
reported.
Col. Magruder, who, on motion of Mr.. Robert
Hatton, of Georgetown, had been selected Sec
after consultation with, and presented at the
suggestion Of the Committee on the District of
Columbia. He spoke of the difficulty of obtain
ing acts OF incorporation In this District of citi
zens going time and again to Congress to obtain
charters for manufacturing companies, and after
being cordially met and the measures being
agreed on in committee, of hearing the last OF
them when reported to the House or Senate. Ii
this bin or similar one is passed. this difficulty
Is obviated. 1t was proposed i'm this bill
that there shall be a Governor. a Co1n-
co.. Legislature, and "a. Delegate to
the District before that body. At present we
have no representative in Congress, and can OBJ
tain nothing from that body because of their
proposed to give us rights in Congress. The bill
was similar to the bills which govern some of the
Territories, and the District which now pays to
the support 0fthe Government more money than
nearly all the Territories together and more
than is paid by two Of the States certainly should
have at least some Of the rights of Territory.
In urging this measure they wanted the support
OF the people and ne was sure that nine-tenths
OF the taxpayers were in favor of a government
by which the people can govern themselves. He
was sure that the proposed government would
be better than the present conflicting govern
ments; it could not be worse,
Rev. A. Bowen inquired if the proposed bill
included the county.
Col. Magruder answered that the two cities
and the county would be included under one
government, and stated as a sample of the con-
hict OF governments here now, that the property
holders on Louisiana avenue, between 9Th and
!th streets, few years ago proposed to pave
menced preparations; but were stopped because
the Avenues are under the control Of the govern
ment. Here, too. companies on account Of the
dimcuity in obtaining charters from Congress,
had to work under charters granted by legisla-
lures Of other States and Territories. Here too
there was an immense water power which capi-
talists would not avail themselves of because
OF the dlficulty in obtaining charters from
A letter was here read from Gen. Howard.
stating that he was unable to be present, but
but would like provision that both branches Of
the Legislature and the Delegate to Congress
be elected by the people.
Mr.. A. Jones said that he could not shorten
anything like curtailment OF the franchise or
kinglv government. He thought that il would
be better to remain as at present than to have
dent.
In answer to questions, Col. Maeruder said
that the entire control of the District would be
under the Legislature. The upper board or
council, in the opinion of the committee should
be appointed by the Government, because of the
large interests of the Government here, the
public property being of equal value with the
private property, and 1t was proposed that the
Government should make appropriations annu-
ally.
Mr.. Jones.-will taxes be decreased under the
Col. Magruder replied that they would, for
there would be but one set of officers to nav. in
stead of four or five sets, as now.
Hon. L. l.. TullOck favored q change and
Congress would desire to retain a portion of the
government in their own hands. Ii the peOple
were entrusted with the election Of the Legisla-
ture and delegate to Congress, it would be
better than at present
MIR. David Fisher said that under the bill they
would have a voice in the selection OF Officers
as at present. and he was certain that they
could not do worse than now.
Mr.. Robert HattOn, Of Georgetown, said Il, AZ
before acting he would propose that they should
confer with their people.
Rev. A. Bowen said that if both branches of
the Legislature were to be elected by the peo-
pie, it would be satisfactory, but he did not
want to sell the people, and he would prefer
that all the officers should be elected.
DIR. Lindsey reported the reasons which led
the committee to propose that the Council should
be chosen by the Government. If a bill could
be passed whereby all the officers should be
elected, he had no objection, but he doubted II
such bill would be satisfactory to Congress,
Mr.. jerome A. johnson, after asking several
questions about the bill, said that If it could he
shown that the interests of the tax payers or
workingmen would be better subserved than
now, the people would favor it, and he was indi-
yidualy in favor of the measure, for he thought
that the interests of the people would be ad-
Treasury than some of the States, and had a
population larger than some of Them and there
fore should have some representation i'm Con-
gLess as matter OF right and not courtesy only
would abridge the suffrages of the people.
Mr.: Jones suggested that the people should be
first heard, and that an opportunity should he
given for an expression of public opinion
Mr.. Alfred Day thought that if the people had
the choice Of the Council as well as the lower
branch there would be no difficulty about the
people favOring the bill, and il such a provision
was made he would favor it.
Mr.. A. X. Shepherd said the object of giving
the Council to the General Government was tS
obtain the cO-Operat alton Of the Federal authori-
ties. The United States has SO many int rests
here as to justly entitle 1t to representation in
the local government.
Mr.. A. Grant said that this measure was a
very important one, and should not be acted
hastily upon. He endorsed the remarks of Col.
Magruder in relation to the dificulty of obtain
ing charters, and referred to the natural adyan-
tages OF Washington as a manufacturing city
which far exceeded those of Lowell. Here there
was seventy-hve feet head of water in a distance
OF seven miles, and eighteen feet head at Lowell
Cotton could be manufactured here at to 10
per cent. lower than at the East. He favored
the bill generally, and urged that the selection
OF the Legislature should be left to the people:
and az 10000 people were interested, he sug-
gested that this meeting adjourn until they
could be conferred with.
Mr.. Shepherd again repeated, that indiyidu-
ally he favored the election Of all officers by the
people; but he did not think that Congress-
would be willing to pass such measure
After some further discussion the meeting adj
j0urned to meet again on Thursday evening, at
Union League Hall.
The Courts.
COURT IN GENERAL TERM.-To-day, Hume