Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-06-05
WASHINGTON CITY.
The Legal Relations of the District
and the United STATES

The importance OF this subject leads us to sur
render a large amount Of space to-day to the
r,pOrt of the House Judiciary Committee
(through Judge POIsnd) upon the lie gal relations
OF the District OF Columbia and the United
States; matter the committee was instructe!
to report upon by resolution of the House.
AS We have said, this report IL Of the greatest
weight and importance. as the utterance of q
law COMMITTEES Of Congress, giving in precise
legal terms the results of 6 thorough inquiry
Into the legal relations between the federal gov
eminent and the local government of the Dis
fIiet OF Columbia, and the extent and character
Of the mutual obligations in regard to municipal
expenses. The report declares that the first ar
iicle Of the constitution vests In the Congress of
the United States absolute authority over every
shtful subject Of legislation within the DIG
1Tict without any reservation whatever to any
= ate or states, or % the people within the Dis
trict it-elf 'fTbis absolute control by Con-
ess," the committee say, els question no
llugeT admitting OF dOIb., II any ever existed
In q strict legal sense" the committee saw
there can be said 70 be no such thing as a local
government OF the District OF Columbia, for
there can be no government within the District
jndependent of that OF the federal government;
and whatever local authority there may be now
existing, or which nay hereafter be set I'D
within the District, 1t can Only be regarded Ie
gally As sn agency OF the federal government:
and whatever authority this local government
may exercise, II mist be regarded az the act of
the United states through their delegated rep
ICsentatIves."
Upon the next matter Of inquiry ss to "the
Extent and character of the mutual obligations
IN regard TO municipal expenses" the report is
conclusive in view Of the law, records, author
tiles, and preeedents cited that the National
capital was founded for the use of the United
nd r,Fa
eTnment and control, and upon a scale of mag
Difcence appropriate only for National capt
ISL, and IL never could have been contemplated
that the burden OF expenditures should fall
npon those citizens Of the United States who
might temporarily or permanently take up a
residence at the capital. The committee ~ in
this connection:
"Orginally we know there was no population
here 70 which the government could look for
contributions toward the expenditures: aud AZ
II city was not to become one OF trade aud
commerce and manufactures, the loo al pOpuls-
II u could not be looked to IN the future as being
sufficient, either in numbers or wealth. to carry
out the magnificent intentions of the fouRderS
Mr., indeed, wOuld IL have been just to impose
this burden upOn them; for, upon the theory
nPon which the capital was founded, all these
Expenditures would ultimately be for the bene-
4 OF the whole people, and justice would die
people"
The committee find that the early history of
legislation relating to the capital would indicate
that the founders looked 70 the general govern
ment almost entirely fer means to improve the
cty. The committee, in concluding this branch
d inquiry, says:
" Aside, then, from ali question of sentiment
or patriotism or pride in the national capital,
your con mlttee are impressed with the belief
II u the federal government su<tains at least
such relation TOW ards the citizens and the local
government as would require II TO contribute 10
y unlc;pal expenses an amount bearing the re-
latiCn 20 the whole amount requireI. which the
interest Ct the federal government here bears TO
the interest of the local government; and this
IEey believe 20 be at least One-hAIf.'
Upon the question Of pres cribing an accurate
baSls Of expenditures to be maintained By law
tie committee expresses the opinion that il
would be wiser and more economical, both to
lie national and local governments, to a. upon
definite sum, or proportion, to be contributed
by both, and that IL IL more important that
these appropriations should be made regularly
and upon some well defined principle titan tina.
hey should be large. Such a course, had il
been adopted IN $500 and steadily pursued to-
ward the capital, would have made Il to-day
the most beautiful capital city in the world: AMI
Ereh course now, steadily pursued, will make
IT so at no very distant day. We hardly need
invite careful perusal of this document by our
readers. 1t will naturally commend itself to
heir attention as Of paramount interest TO the