Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-01-24
The District Government Bill I'm the
Senate.

syiraDis avenue.
Senate.
In the Senate this morning, Immediately
after the reading OF the journal, the House
substitute for the Senate bill to provide Q form
or government for the District OF Columbia
which passed the House Friday, Was taken
hen The Vice Presidents table, having been
received from the House yesterday.
Mr.. Patterson moved that the Senate nor
eeLCUr in the House substitute, and that the
bill be referred to a committee of conference.
Mr.. Harlan said he had received letter from
sltzen OF Washington stating that the Boards
OF AlCsI men and Common Council had passed
resolutions demonstrating against the passage
o. this bill, and IN thai view OF the case he
shsueht II best 20 refer the bill to the Committee
en- the District OF Columbia. he thought the
Iii very important one, and As the House
amendments were in the nature OF a new bllI
be thought " beet to give the whole matter
careful Consideration.
MI fOmeT0y eaid many provisions of the
feUse bill had never been before the Senate
ARG there were a number OF amendments which
should not 40 10 a conference committee. The
Blouse bill provided for the appointment of a
governor by the President, instead OF having
one elected BY the people. The bill which passed
the house vas incomplete, and he hoped il
world be referred 10 the Committee on the Dis
biet OF Columbia, that mature consideration
might be given il.
Nj; Patterson was anxious that the bin should
stt through this session and bis. only object in
moving 10 refer it TO a conference COMMITTEES
vas 10 avoid delay. If IT should be referred 10
The District Committee much time would be lost
afd The probabilities were that the bill would
not be passed this session. If the bill should be
referred 10 conference committee ali the
snendments could be considered and there
reuld Be chance for the bill passing.
hi Wilson hoped the bill would be referred
70 Tie DAtIlct OF Columbia Committee. lie
var Wiling 10 trust ii with that committee, ana
lei them report IT As soon as they desired to-
Aany important principles were involved in
tlls Dill, ana 1t should be carefully considered.
MI hamln regarded this whole thing as an
experiment, but he confidently believed Il would
De successful experiment.. So many impor-
sAht matters were pressing upon Members and
Senators that they had no time TO give atten-
Uon 10 District OF Columbia matters, and good
geveInment should be provided for the District
which would relieve Congress from the care of
- IN great measure. II the bill should be re-
StfIso 10 the District Committee and brought
bsSk TO the Senate, and every Senator listen to
TIE objections OF single individuals the bill
wenid certainly be defeated He therefore
Ailtee.
Mr.. Patterson said the District Committee in
NE House had but one day, more, and there
would be but little show to get the bili through
This session If it should 60 back TO the Commit.
see. On the contrary, il 1T went 70 a confer
enee committee 1t could be considered at any
in the bin which passed the House which dif-
feIed materially from the Senate bill. One
WAS the creation OF q board OF public works,
Another Wa the appointment of the Governor
and the upper branch of the legislature and
the third was the adjustment OF tie charters Of
tbe eorbofatiObs,
Mr.. Stewart was In favor OF Mi. Paiterson's
motion. These who have given the affairs of
tie pIstrict of Columbia any consideration
were satisfied that they were in a miserable
state So many OrganiZ atiOns were new exist
ine IN the district, all legislsting to some ex.
tent: then there were the old laws of MARYLAND
ID force here, and above all Congress
that il was almost impossible to know
what Department or what branch should
ma he
confusion, expense and extravaganza Ii
THIS bill was not acted upon now, il would
not 30 through this sc ssiOn, aud must GO over to
The next Congress. He Was in favor OF the
House bill, giving the President power TO APP
point he governor and upper branch of the
council. The District OF Columbia should not
be entirely under control of the people who re.
side here The government of the United States
bad go much property here that il was right and
governor, who could have control OF the gov
eminent property TO some extent. he thought
conference committee would harmonic the
whole matter and insure the passage OF the bill.
Dir. Morrill,. OF Vermont, was IN favor of re-
ierring the bin TO the Committee on the Dis
tTict Of Columbia.
Br. Thurman thought il not only an absolute
necessity, but an act OF justice 10 the people of
The District, TO give them a good government
ne had some OBJECTIONS 10 the bill, because he
saw 10 necessity of vesting the appointment of
sbe branch OF the Council in the President. He
was IN favor OF having them elected, and be-
heyeL me Irlnciple OF the right OF the minority
10 Representation should prevail. In the great
city OF New York all knew the evils of one
tldeo legislation In municipal affairs. lie hoped
tLt Dill would be amended so as the minority
might be represented in the Councils but would
rot oppose the notion 10 refer to the committee
~ conference.
Mr.. Morton was in favor of territorial form
OIL government for the District of Columbia:
but he thought the grave questions in this bill
should be considered fully, and he therefore
uIct Of Columbia,
MI. Sumner said they we're about to create
another Territory. only it was one which could
lever be admitted rs State. He was lei TO
hesitate when lie saw that the people of this
District, 10 whom suffrage had recently been
gwen, weuld have such . limited opportunity
10 use Il as presented by the bill now before the
senate. be also desired to zee q system of COM
tnen schools here in this District, wherein eouaI
rights should prevail, and the child be equal at
school TIE sane as the man is at the ballot box
and IN the horse cars He hoped the bill would
be referred 10 the Committee on the District OF
Columbia.
MIR. Carpenter was in favor OF territorial
form Of government for the District OF CoIum-
bia, but would never vote for bill which gave
The President power TO appoint a portion Of the
council isstead of having them elected by the
IeOPle- He thought this bill should be consid-
cred IN the Senate. and therefore hoped it would
60 TO the District OF Columbia Committee.
MIR. fdmunds said the Constitution of the
niied States made this District the com
mon mon Ps1reIty Of the whole country, and
form OF government for he bist gooi
one feature alone i'm the present mum
tilAt government was infamous, and that
Was The abcminable nuisance OF cows sheen
goat and pigs running at large. There were
rot two trees in the city that did not show
marks OF injury from animals running At large
The other day the Board OF Health voted TO
aboiSh this nuisance. and the Councils ahol-
ished the Board OF Health. He had heard il
"asgishiy said on the street that the Coun-
ellis abolished the Board OF Health be-
cause that body abolished voters He
hoped the Senate would understand that
This bill was Tor the national comfort
IL after years, one of the best Arguments that
Western men could make for the Temoy Al of the
capital 10 their section would be that il was
impossible 70 have any ornament in the CITY on
account Oi the coss, sheep. goats, hogs. geese,
&c, constantly running at large. The argu-
ment would be good one too. and he Tor one
would be Compelled TO listen To il and might
possibly vote for the removal of the Capital for
that very reason.
MI stewart had vet to see the beauties Of a
fePuohcAn government In municipal affairs. Ii
there was any evil which threatened our ipstj-
IItions II was the corruption in municipal At
islrs. HE election OF policemen, magistrate,
&c. certainly tended to corrupt the ballot.
The vote was then taken on Mr. Pomsrov-.
motion to refer the bin 10 the COMMITTEES on the