The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1873-09-27

of Congress of q territorial iQlpl q
government until last Monday, when
he gave place to his successor, Mr..
Alexander R. Shepherd. As the first
governor of the District Mr.. Cooke
has made very fair executive officer
and in the main has given satisfaction.
But as much can not be said of Mr..
Shepherd, who has during the same
period occupied the position of vice
president of the board of public works
As vice president he has virtually been
the controlling spirit of this board, land
has managed things in about his own
way without let or hindrance from
any superior officer or from any of his
associates on the board. Though the
lquestion is being warmly discussed
whether or not his action has met
| with the approval of the majority of
the residents Of the District, I think
there can be no doubt that he has
made himself one of the most unpop-
ular men ever heard OF, and all on
account of his official management
of affairs. Yet experience teaches us
that the chances are hundred to one
that any mar who is placed in charge
of public improvements will make
himself unpopular with the large ma
lority, and we can not expect an ex-
ception in this case. The local papers,
with but single exception, endorse
the conduct of the board and claim
that by far the larger number of cit
liens also approve it. They claim
that his appointment to the governor
ship meets with popular approval.
For all that, however, I am strongly
inclined to the opposite belief. I do
not think have ever met with dis
interested citizen of this District who
faYors the elevation of Shepherd to
the Office of chief executive.
The many charges of corruption
have been repeated again and again
until the entire country is familiar
with them. Shepherd is the object
at which all these charges are hurled.
1t is but justice to the man to state
that these charges are not proven,
and it is very evident that President
Grant does not believe them true.
His, choice of shepherd to the Office
of governor shows that he intended
!, that act as an endorsement of his past
administration of.affairs. The Presi-
dent himself has had some experience
in this line. No man was ever worse
maligned than he, but the people
gave him thair most emphatic on
dorsement by re-eleeting him to the
! highest Office in their gift. He is but
, doing like act in elevating Mr.
Shepherd to the highest office in the
J local government here. wonld like
| to hope that the President is not mis-
J taken as to facts, for, though | know
5 of no positive evidence of corruption,
: there is ample proof of very bad man
| agement.
81 There is another phase of this ques-
) ton of vastly more interest to the
) people of the country at large, and
: that is as to who is going to pay fol
the improvements lately made and
| now in process of completion in this
. fcity. One thing is certain, the Dis,
} trict of Columbia can not pay fol-
. them. The interest on the debt is q
. heavier burden than the property 10.
r Gated here can bear, and to pay the
: principal would require the absolute
| confiscation of almost all the private
real property in the District. Thai
an attempt will be made to induce
5 the general government to assume
. and discharge this indebtedness We
t have abundant proof. Mr.. Shepherd,
> the new governor, plainly indicated
/ as much in a speech delivered the
; other day to a delegation that waited
{ on him. He said he believed " the
: great work accomplished by the poo
. pie of the District would be recog
; nized and appreciated by Congress
/ He had always held to the idea that
when the representatives of the peo-
pie in Congress assembled saw that
people of the capital Of the country
} evinced disposition to help them
selves aid would be afforded them in
{ their work"