National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-12-22
THE DISTRICT IN CONGRESS-
INTERESTING DISCUSSION OF THE
SUFFRAGE QUESTION-BILLs INTRO
DuDED.

INTERESTING DISCUSSION OF THE
SUFFRAGE QUESTION-BILLS INTRO
DUUED.
Mr.. Wssh0un introduced a bill to provide for
q new frealarm telegraph for the District Of o.
lumbia. Public Buildings and Grounds.
HOURS OF LABOR.
Mr., Thurman introduced resolution lnstructiug
the Committee on the District Of Columbia to In
Quire whether any legislation Is necessary to
protect conductors Of street railroad cars in tho
District Of Columbia from being required to work
an unreasonable number Of hours in the tHeaty-
four and to report by hill or otherwise,
Mr. Edmunds safe this sublect had been al
ready before tho COMMITTEE on the Judiciary.
Mr.. Thurman said he had received letters from
the conductors and from citizens on this subject,
were required to work seventeen hours DAY. He
thought the Committee on the District was the
proper committee to consider the subject.
The resolution was then adopted.
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA GOVERNMENT
bill was taken MP, the question being on the
amendment of Mr.. Morton, providing that the
Board of Commissioners shall be elected by the
people instead of appointed by the President.
Mr.. Sargent criticised the elaborate phrase
ology of the bill, and said It would have been
complete If q Webster's or Woroester's diction-
airy had been added to it as an appendix. He
thought the bill was burdened with details, and
was so obscure that It would be hindrance
rather than q help to those called upon to CON
sIrue it. He asked why it was that the people OF
the District were deprived Of the elective fran
cbise, unless in one insignificant feature. Was
this to be understood as an admission that the
Republican party intended to abandon negro SUI
fraRe in this District-the capital OF the nation!
He was not prepared to do this, was not prepared
TO say to the colOred men in the South, to the
Republicans Of that section, that Congress was
now, in their hour OF trial; and aiteT the daTk
days of persecution to which they had been sub
iected since the adjournment OF Congress last
summer, to surrender such principle as that OF
the suffrage. AS he believed that the ballot was
necessary Ter the protection Of the colored man,
as he believed that the struggling people OF
Arkansas and mississippi and louisiana would
not think that they were deserted, he could not
vote to deprive the people here Of suffrage.
Mr.. Salisbury deprecated the line OF argument
used by Mr. Sargent, and was surprised that he
attempted to make party issue OF this question.
This was not a question Of negro suffrage, but
question Of providing the best form Of govern;
ment for the people Of this District. He had
hoped that Senators would address themselves to
this matter irrespective OF party considerations.
Mr. Logan stated that he would net now discuss
the bill. but he agreed with the Senator from
California, Mr.. Sargent, and could not vote to
take the suffrage from the poor people Of this Dis
Mr.. Salisbury asked why it was that the Sen
ate was now discussing the question OF govern
ment for this District. 1t was because commit
tee Of Congress had discovered and reported that
under government established on this this IN
limited suffrage the people had been bound down
by load of debt, which had aroused the whole
country. Now the Senators from California and
Illinois wish TO bring back such state Of affairs
Mr.. Logan said the Senator's argument was
brought this debt upon the District were appoint
ed by the President, and not elected by the peO-
Mr.. Salisbury alluded to the acts of the Legis-
lative Assembly of the District, and also said
said that the millions Of debt which had been au-
thoriZed by the popular vote had been so author
lied by people, the vast majority OF whom did not
pay one cent Of the taxes which they imposed
upon others.
latiOn here, and had opposed that provision in
the Territorial bill when it was passed. The
Legislative prayer Of the District was vested in
Congress. He believed that this city would be
better governed lift had its own mayor and
city council TO carry out the laws Of Congress,
and that it should also regulate its own police
affairs.
MI. Flanagan expressed his qualification at the
amendment Of Mr.. Morton, and said that, as a
representative of the South, he should cordially
support it. The Constitution knew not taxpayers
where the suffrage was concerned. 1t knew only
epcd fSs b a f,tS 5Iov be Of
the capital at this place. for the million Of cOored
voters in the country would vote in body to re-
move it to any other place. If this precedent of
excluding the colored people here was once set it
would soon be followed all over the South He
regretted that Mr.. Morton had not included wO-
man suffrage in his amendment. He would be
glad to have woman suffrage start here.
Mr.. MerrimOn obtained the floor, but gave way,
and the bill was laid over.
In the House yesterday bills were introduced
as follows:
BY Mr.. Dreamer, of N Y: In relation to the
Criminal Court Of the District OF Columbia
By Mr.. Chapman. of u. o.: Bill to amend the
act for q government of the District Of Columbia
1t provides for extending the powers Of The board
of audit Of the District Of Columbia to claims
against the late corporations Of Washington,
Georgetown and the Levy Court
Also, bill to more etfectually preserve papers |
in connection with the titles to real estate in the
District Of Columbia, and to detect fraudulent
cOnVeyRncing.
Also, bill to provide q cure for clouded titles
to lands in the District Of Columbia. This bill |
allows The owner to bring bill or petition in the
Supreme Court of the District, and there make |
is n NhnW Unh hn afr 81 An
PENDANT in suit, upon certain conditions speci-
ned in the bill.