Evening star., 1870-03-04

fore you, and subject 20 crlt1cEm and amend
menf 1t proposes to substitute q government
by Congress for government by the people,
elected by them, and responsible to them alone.
1t proposes to put the whole District, including
the two Corporations, under the control of the
people, who alone know what they want. The
absurdity of creating a new government, and
leaving the Corporations Of Washington and
Georgetown in full NIL blast, and not under its con-
war-would be one Of those monstrosities be-
yond the viii Of Congress 10 create. iapp,ause !,
IL Will be Observed that the District will be
authoritatiyely represented in Congress by a
delegate Nobody opposes this. In more closely
scrutinizing the proposed organic act, it will be
seen that while it cOntemplatcs the creation of
a police court, it leaves the general subject,
tee JuaiciaIy and the courts, in the hands OF
Congress, giving to the District legislature
power to confer suoA additional jurisdiction as
may be Eeede9. II win also be observed that it
Is not proposed to invest the governor with the
veto power, or any power to interfere with the
duties OF the representatives of the people.
The bill proposes a legislative assembly of
thirteen councillors and twenty-siX representa-
uves, TO be elected by the people in separate
districts. to be fairly laid eff so that every part
OF the District may have a full voice in ali de-
hberations Among the limitations are those
upon The taxing power. A blank for the rate per
cent. for any one year is left to be filled by Con-
gress In Its wisdom. The power to borrow money
or contract public debt was and is one Of great
difhculty and delicacy. Many desired complete
prohibition Of the power. and many no limta-
was thought, best on the whole to allow tie
power, and that by requiring a vote of two
thirds OF each house to pass a bill authorizing a
loan or the creation of debt would secure a
provldent exercise of the power. (Applause.]
A further limitation upon the taxing power
requires that all purely local objects shall be
sustained by local taxation, so that each of the
present corporations and the outside sections or
proposed townships must bear their own bur
dens. 1t will be seen that the legislature may
create such ministerial officers, recorders, regis
tiers. ueasurers, auditors, &C., as may be deemed
proper. and provide for their election or appoint
ment, while the police judge, justices, and nota-
ries should be appointed. L say frankly that
am in favor of electing them all, but the CON-
mlftee thought all officers OF a judicial charac-
ter should be appointed, while the s0-called
ministerial might be left i'm tine hands OF
the legis ature. OF course, whichever mode
it adopts, whether for their election or
appointment, can be changed at pleasure.
Among the important powers of the legislature
is that to create corporations, as well TO con
troll the two city corporations already referred
to. We would gladly have extended this power
over the railroad companies within our limits,
but as they were private corporations, We
doubted whether Congress could or would at
tempt to confer that power. The bill provides
1Or official Oaths for all officers and for ample
bonds for all who disburse money. 1t will be
seen that to provide system OF free schools is
ehJolned as a solemn duty upon the new gov
ernment, the advantages of which shall be ex-
tended to every child alike. As some official
had to be formed or created to put the machinery
IL,
ton could be holden, sort of provisional gov
ern0r and secretary are desired, to be appointed
by the President, whose duties and offices will
terminate with the election of their successor,
With the exceptions thus referred to, the bill
provides for the election of all other officers 1t
Will be seen that all the officers contemplated by
this bill must be residents of this District, with
qual1hcatiOn OF voters. The bill recognizes the
supervisory power of Congress over the acts of
the District legislature. Congress could not
abdicate it if it would, but under this bill the
acts OF our legislature win be laws until an
nulled by Congress.
These are the main features of this bill. They
commend themselves as a whole to INV cordial
approval. believe that the time has fully
come In which, If prudence, wisdom, and ener-
gy attend our action, the destinies of the Dis
trlct Will be placed in our hands. Ii, however,
we shall show that we are incapable Of appreci-
atng our opportunity, and are unequal to the
occasion, 1t ought to be withheld from us.
To some extent, fellow citizens, the bill is in
trusted to you. YOu can materially assist in its
passage by earnestly nd heartily urging il. 1t
NAV be retarded somewhat by combined and
vigorous opposition, but the elements of that op-
position do not exist. Ard cannot be created.
1t Is useless to raise the cry that the measure is
anti Republican; Congress understands the pur-
poses of this ciamor as well as we. The bill has
50 much of merit that | believe it cannot be de-
but that 1t may be sure, hope that it may be
thoroughly canvassed, understood, perfected
and passed. [Applause.l
REMARKS OF GENERAL HOWARD.
Gen1 o. o. Howard having entered the hall,
was called upon, and said he felt towards the
measure as he did in the beginning. In looking
over the District with view to relieving its
prese Mt disabilities, he could see nothing better
than tilis territorial form OF government. ZAP
plause.] lie had no doubt that before it passed
the ordeal of the two houses of Congress the
people would probably get as good system as
could be expected. He thought the bill hal
been fully and intelligently explained by Mr.
Riddle. The present system of government for
this District was disgrace. tApplause.l In re-
gard to the care of the poor, for instance. the
system was miserable. and the relief. SO tempo
rary that it made the heart bleed to witness it.
he school system was poor and inefficient
the best in the country. He thought with a ter
ritorial form of government these things would
be remedied. lAPplanse:l He had an engage
for a short time at least, lest his absence should
be miscOnstrued
REMARKS OF COLONEL w. II. PHILIP.
Colonel VIM. IL. Philip was next called upon,
and addressed the meeting as follows:
Gentlemen: We come together as citizens Of
this District, desiring the permanent improve
ment and welfare of the District. We meet in
partisan spirit, in no party spirit, in class
iOus in some way to alleviate and improve the
condition Of this metropolis. We think that the
present numerous governments which aifiict
this District can be improved upon, and We
think that a consolidated government, having
legislative power, will enable to accomplish
the purpose We have in view; and that is simply
to increase the prosperity and better provide
for the general welfare of this District. We
have found by experience that Congress. with
its vast and manifold objects of legislation, will
not, and, i'll point of fact, cannot attend to our
simplest legitimate v ants. These many mat
tiers of detail which are simply a necessity if we
propose TO develope the resources we have and
in any measure realize the reasonable expecta-
tions of those interested in the future OF this
capital and this District, cannot and will not be
properly attended to by the Congress of the
United States. What we desire; and what it
seems to me, we must have, is the power to
make such "needful rules and regulations" for
the government of this ten miles square as NAV
from time to time be necessary. fApplause. |
We are working and laboring, and, / may say,
suffering, under set of laws enacted nearly q
hundred years ago by the State of Maryland,
which Maryland and every other State has long
since discarded-a set of laws which none of our
young and vigorous States would adopt at pres
ent more than they would adopt the feudal sys-
TEN. The whole system Is a sort of antigua
ted armOr which was all well enough at the
time and for the time ii was made, but by no
means favorable to gTOicth. What we desire is
simply a condition Of things that will al
low US and enable US to expand and devel-
epe, and that Will be in accord with and
keep pace with the march Of improveme Mt
and the spirit OF the age. We want, besides.
systematic legislation-I mean as distinguished
from what might be termed spdsmodic legisla-
ton. We require system of laws which shall
be in harmony with each other. Heretofore, as
now, when some special dff1culty has existed.