Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-04-01
TEE EFLV. 20 CHANGE VIE DIS
TRItT GOVERNMENT.
The Matter Discussed Before the Sen.
ate District C0msn ittee.


ing this morning and cont nued the hearing OF
the arguments Of the friends and opponents OF
bill introduced by Senator Spencer, on the 18th
OF February last, entitled "a bill amendatory
OF the act entitled An act to provide a govern
ment for the District OF Columbia p which pro-
vides for the election of members of the Legis-
lative Council, the abolition OF the Board OF
Public Works. the creation Of Board of I'm
provement, sc.
A. w. Green read an argument i'm favor of the
Dill, from which 1T appears that he desires a
Change in the organic act mainly because he
was defeated for the House OF Delegates in the
2lst district last fall.
ARGUMENT OF COL DOM PIATT AGAINST
Col. Dom Piatt said he had been requested
by several distinguished officers OF the Distric,
government to present his views to the commit
tee as against any amendment OF the organic
act AS yet he had heard nothing from the
I lends Of the new bill which was worthy of an
answer He had hoped that to-day Mr.. Green
would lave presented something like an argu-
ment in favor OF the proposed change, but he
had only presented reasons why the organic act
should remain intact. Mr.. Ordw Az had said
that five men could control the mass of voters
Of the District and carry elections as they
pleased. This state of affairs would DC
INFINITELY WORSE
If the prop, sed amendment to the organic act
Is made. There can be no Doubt that a de plora
Die state OF things exists in Washington, bu
other large cities arc worse of than Washington
New York and other cities are immense wells
OF corruption, and Washington does not stand
alone. The whole evil originates in the general
meaning OF the words: 1.-THE right TO vote
NOW vsting Is not right, but privilege. The
great cities OF Europe centers of intelligence
ana goyernmen.s 8, because intelligence there IL
mainly confined TO large cities. This is not the
case IN the United States, where education H.
difGsed all over the country, and where it is not
expected that one city is 10 be a great political
center. The friends OF this new bill affect TO be-
terribly outraged because they do not vote
enough; but If any change is to be made i'm tb,
organic act il would he much wiser and much
better 10 60 step further in the other direction
and have the members OF the house OF delegates
sppointed as well as the members OF the coun-
ell. There is
AGREAT DEAL OF HUNRrG
ID This voting business. A man has as much
right to vote at meeting Of bank directors be-
cause he sleeps on the steps OF the insti ution a.
man who votes TO control property when he
owns none himself. And yet property is con
Ioiled and the peoples money voted away in
hundreds OF casts-for instance in New York
Here mans aspirations are exceedingly
UNITED He can't be q Congressman, and he
'an hold only some Pitiful little corporation
office; and yet all this row is raised because
tOrsooth somebody's privileges are curtailed
The capital of the United States was removed
from Philadelphia TO Washington because OF
the mob and local influences. When that hody
came fere IL was not the intention to allow he
people here to vote, but to govern the city by a
commission. -
Mr.. Green wanted to know OF Col. Piatt IL i,
is not as laadable in man to desire TO protect
ms nome and his interests as to aspire to high
political EonOTs.
Col. Piatt said Mr.. Green's query reminded
him OF
THE OLD CoNDUNDRuM,
'what will three pounds of'beef cost at ten cent,
per pound. provided half is lean and half TAT. -
He then went on to say that he did not feel thai
his rights as citizen had been curtailed any
more than when he resided i'm Cincinnati. The
friends OF the bill had logged in lot Of afidlayits
showing most deplOratle condition of affairs.
and by the way, MIR. 0rdway had not given him
he originals of
THOSE ArPIDAv1rs
which he promised TO do.
MI Ordway said be had sent copies to him BY
mail. -
Col Plat said there was something singu,.,
about these original afiidavits; Mr.. Ordway had
promised to let him examine them, and as VET
had not done so.
MI. Ordway said they were in the hands of thf
printers. and that he would produce them
Col. Piatt said he had no doubt Mr. Ordwa,
could get i,000 affidavts, since il could bs
proved that the votes OF a number of men were
bought at the last election for $50. The sam
parties would doubtless make any quantity OF
afi.davits Tor the same sum.
MIR. Ordway denied the insinuation of Col
Platt, and asserted that the affidayits were bona
fGe.
Col. Piatt resumed, by saving that he had
some atfidavits which he would present as an
Offset to Mr. OTdway's. Mr.. Ordway's aft lavits
shoWtc bad state OF affairs, and oniy strength
ened his (Col Piatt'sl argument in favor of the
appoint ment OF the members of the House of
Delegates.
THE NEW GOVERNMENT
has been eset by obstacles from the beginnipp.
FIRST came the injunction and then the election
"a dirty piece OF business in any event, Then
came the Congressional investigation. II had
yet, Notwithstanding the obstructionists, hal
done more work and done it cheaper than il
could have been done in any other city. In is
now proposed TO turn out the men who earnest
ly and be nestly did this work, but a far better
course would be te do away with elections en-
trely, and 30 back to the original intention OF
the fathers, and have the capital governed BY 9
commlssien. We are having gre at row now in
this District all about nothing. We have repub-
lican clubs and democl attic clubs and we hold
political meetings, and We send delegates to the
frnliadeiPhia cony.ntion; The whole thing is
90 away with 1t entirely. will venture to saw
that 4 can bring ten taxpayers here who arr
ling to have the members Of the house of del
.gates appointed, TO every one brought here b,
MT Ordway, who is in favor Of their election
This fight seems TO me to be in the interest OF
contractors who have not made as much money
as they expected.
Mr.. LeBarnes.-''No contractor has asked In,
any change in the organic act nor is any CON
tractor represented on our side of the cues
item"
Col. Piatt said the bulk of property here he
longs TO the general government and il is pro-
posed TO turn 1t over 10 the District authOr.ti
The p OPPOSITION is absurd
Mr. Ordway.-"Our bill proposes the appoint
ment of three members OF The Board of I'm
prOvement. Is not this a sufficient protectionP'
Col. Piatt.-''NO, sir; il il no protection AZ
all. i submit nv affidavits."
MIR. Green said il would have pleased ths
friends Of the new bill better had some gentle.
man appeared in behalf of the District aflthori-
ties who supports the present federal admins
tration.
COL WV. A. COOK
said the District government does not propose to
trouble the committee much in this matter, lie
is the attorney for the corpOr alton, and ii he an
pears at all it will be as the Sergeant-st-Arms OF
the Senate appears-apart from his Official posi-
ton. The District government takes the ground
that the committee is amply qualified to dispose
of the whole matter in such a way that the in
terest of the people of the District will be sub
served and protected.
The committee then adjourned.
THE AFFIDAvITs
lfOurteen in number) presented by Col. Piatt
charges Ordway and his followers with bribery
at the late election, the packing of political
meetings, and generally with conduct similar 10
that alleged against the District authorities in
the afidavits Prese nted by Mr.. Ordway when he
was before the Senate committee the other day
BALTIMORE AND PoToMAC RAILRoAp.-Ths
track layers expected TO cross Charles Branch
at the Mill yesterday. The bridge at this point
ispne OF the longest and most Substantial in the
coubty, and has been completed come time
Hence they will rapidly carry the road on across
Southwest Branch, and after getting out Of that
section will come upon the level COUNTRY which