Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-03-27
TIE DISTRICT GOVERNMENT.
Bill TO Amend the Organic Act.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON
THE DISTRICT TODAY.
The Senate Committee on the District of Co
lumbia, at its meeting this morning. listened to
arguments in relation to the bill introduced i'm
the Senate on the 29th of February last, entitled
"A bill amendatory of the act entitled An act
to provide government for the District of CO.
lumbia,' and which provides for the election
OF the members of the legislative council, the
creation of Board of Improvement, instead of
the Board of Public Works, &c. The only
members OF the committee present were Messrs.
patterson, Sawyer, Spencer and Hitchcock.
Col Dom Piatt, w. A. Cook j. w. lie Barnes
- r.. ahill, n. G. Ordway, Sam. Strong, Z. H.
Rhinehardt, p. e. Berry and MIR. Kenaugh an
peared before the committee.
Mr.. n. q. Ordway read a long written argu-
ment IL favor of the bill. He began by rehesrs-
ing the action OF the Republican General rn,,-
mittee 81 the Dlstriet in favor of amending the
organic act making the mas,lbers of the egis.
latlve Council elective and asserted that The
movement TOT s. change in the organic act did
DOT orlEipSS,e with a few macOntents but with
-. .ne pr1ple. He had no charges to make against
re PRESIDENT or the Senate, since all the Dis
trict appointments have been made on the req
concentration of the Governor. The apportfcn-
nent I9r members of the present Council is
uneIuai ana unjust The new bill will remedy
TINS by making the apportiOnment nearly equal
anu giving one member of the Council for
a ls,in eE.fy 1880 voters. Mr.. Ordway then
CiltiCIs' a at considerable length the cOmpositiOr
vi ine Board OF Public Works, their IN amer of
mar mar ing contracts, their plans of improven ent
~, and said that especially during the busy
staSon OF the year the board, under the present
law, have indirect control over the great mass
oil voter in the District.
Col. Piatt here remarked that Mr.. Ordways
s.sStion was rough on the voters of the Dts
trict.
tdr. ordway resumed by saying that the Board
ef Public Works, having control of elect ms
could thus make the members of the Heuse OF
delegates the mere creatures of their will He
claimed that Ire knew at least halt a score oi
Persons who had been discharged from employ
ment because they would not bow down to the
District authorities and 60 their bidding he
had affidavits 10 this effect which he did not de-
sire to produce unless Ii became positively neces
| saIy. lie had seen crowds marched into Isoliti-
cal meetings under the lead of the creatures OF
| the Board OF Public Works like slaves in chain
| gang. The board ha6 indirectly control led pnb-
nc meetings IN the different legislative districts
| 10y lacking them, and instanced a late meeting
IN the Gotta district held to elect delegates to the
! recent Union League hall convention. He then
[eaI an aihdavlt; embracing an account of the
| meeting referred to, 10y Edwin NJ. ) NTH; also
| afhdaylts in regard to the same meeting by
| John Taylor and John Hoe, vino testify that
me meeting IN the 10Th district was packed
| by contractors under the Beard OF Public
| Works with men from other districts. He also
| read an al. dsyit from JOsclh Brown, who tes-
4 titles that a contractor named Hicks tllreateDed
TO have laborers discharged IL they did not vote
| as he desired at political meeting. Mr.. ord
| way closed with an Oratorical flourish, in which
| he Wanted his unuttersble love for the col0red
| man and his unswerving fidelity TO the republi-
| can party. 1t was 12OclOck when he concluded
! ana consequently the committee could not he sr
| any one on the other side OF the question
| AS soon as Mr.. Ordway concluded MI Samuel
| Strong said to Senator Patterson:
| Mr.. Senator, world like TO say a word. l
have been attacked by Mr.. Ordway and de-
sire word in reply"
Senator PattersOn.-"We have no time to
| hear you to-day, Mr.. Strong"
| Col. Platt said he had been requested to come
| before the committee and give his views which
| were IN opposition TO those OF Mr.. Ordway and
| be desired to know what facilities he would
| have for so doing.
| senator Patterson said they would hear him
al the next meeting of the committee
| Mr.: strong" Mr.. Senator, l want a chance
| 10 vindIcate myself. This man Ordway has
meet" N "
Mr: Ordway.-" Mr.. Chairman, Il think made
no charges against Mr.. Strong, except those
contained in the aft davits have read"
MT. strong want a chance to show the
too" N ~ "o i''
The committee adjourned to meet on Monday
next, at 1870 a.. m.