National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-09-19
OURFUTUREG GOVERNMENT
THE views or HAELEE Kf1BOBRH
on THE DISTRICT PROBLEM.

LOCAL HISTORICAL REFERENCES -DI-
VISION OF REsPoN' IBILITY PROPOSED
oPPOsITION 10 ELDCTIONs-REPRESES-
TATION IN CONGRESS TAXES NOT TO
EXCEED ONE PER CENT.-THE GENERAL
6cVERNMEET SHOULD PROVIDE PERAdA-
EEET IMPROVEMENTS.
A represontativs Of TIE NATIONAL REPUB-
EIcAN yesterday called upon Mr.. Hallett XII
bO1Tn toSscertain his views in regard TO 3 change
II government, sc.
lIr Kilbourn has been identihed with the several
SGcrts made during the past eight years 70 bring
about q change in our Government 70 give II
enc Of national character, and remove It nom the
esena Of local politics. He was secretary Of the
several meetinEs held, and as such preserved
record Of the general proceedings, which viii be
sound interesting as reference at this time.
Reportsr. when were the first meetings held,
and what were the proceedings during the
agitation for change Of District government
several years ago3
M KilbO1rn. The frst meeting Of few promE
nent citizens interested IN the development and
proEress Of Washington was held at our once,
in the fall Of 1854 or fore part Of 1851 Probably
there were hfteen or twenty persons present
Chief Justice D. K. Cartier was chairman that
evening. II was . free, Informal talk Is to what
was Necessary 70 be done in order TO place WASH
inRtoa. as the Nations Capital, in the order Of
progress and to become worthy Of her position
IS the Capital Of our vast Republic. That meet
ing resulted in several others At the same place,
in which public interest became 50 great that We
had 10 meet in q larger hall. The following Is a
neWspaper report OF one OF our meetings:
ssTH GovBElRKT OF THE DISTRICT OF %
LUMBA-IlLPoRTAET MEETING.-A large meet
ing Of the substantial citizens and business men
Of the cities Of Washington and GEORGETOWN and
The INSTINCT held ErfunN evening At the
once Of Messrs, KilbOurn & Latta for the pur-
pose Of considering proposed plans Of government
1or the District Of Columbia.
a DT. O II Nichols was called to the chair and
John r ElYans, ESQ.,, selected for secretary.
a. A resolution declaring that the meeting was
IN favor Of consolidating the municipalities OF
washington and 0eorEet0Wn and the county
under one government was unanimously adopted.
- discussion then ensued as to the best form
Of government to be recommended 70 Congress,
which was participated in by Messrs. W. n.
Philip, John r. ElYans, John 7. Mitchell, Esau
Pickerell, william Wall, Alex. r shepherd,
ulysses Ward, Samuel Norment, DR.. ]. L KID
well, Grafton Tyler, q. I. Walker, Colonel Allen,
Crosby S. Neyes, Dr.. Nichols, and others, IN
which 20 much interest was manifested In the
subject that was considered best hold another
meeting before adopting any certain plans and
motion vas agreed 70 aclourning the meeting
a Committee was appointed, consisting Of DR..
Nichols James P y henR Wg' 4 Fodd A s5a
Dr. ]. ]. KidWel, to consider and report Dill or
bills 70 be submitted at the next meeting for its
"a meeting vas called ct Metzerott hall, which
Was very largely attended, and after fair inter-
change Of views, the following committee was ap-
pointed 20 prepare bill, 70 Be submitted 70 Con
Tress for the government Of the District Of 90
fumbia: DR.. G. II. Nichols, @. W. Riggs, n. d.
Cooke, W. b Todd, W. H. Philip, J. NJ Lattas
J. q. Wilson, L Clephane and A. X. shepherd"
Reporter. What did this eommittee7
Mr Kilbourn. It appears that during the agi-
tation for change Of government for the District,
senator L NJ. Morrill,, Of Maine, present chair
man Of the committee appointed by the last ses-
sion Of Congress 70 draft anew bill for the GOV
eminent Of this District introduced bin for the
government Of Washington which provided for
government by commissioners, and was quite
elaborate m its details. The above committee
took Senator MorrilI's bill as groundwork, and
after several months labor, reported bill which
il briefly sketched in the following report, taken
from one Ofthe city papers:
THR sovKRNMEKT or THE DISTRICT.
1--WE understand that the committee appointed
At tie tMetzerOtt Hall meeting some months
ago, - prepare such amendments to the bill Of
SenatoE Morrill,, for the government Of the Dis
tricf ns were needed to meet the views Of oar cti
sens and taxpayers, have completed their lRbors,
and the amended bin VIII probably be submitted
20 the Senate to-day by Senator Morrill, Il is
very thorol gh and complete, covering some hun
6Iss pages, and has evidently been prepared With
ne government is placed in the hands Of fve
oommiss5n irs-tWo Of them engineer ofncers Of
the ErTxy; two Of them residents Of the District,
who IIuSt have residence Of hTe years and IN
incunbertd real estate 70 the value Of $4,000
oaeE; tbs remaining commissioner 70 be ap-
pOintss without restrictions. The treasurer,
comptroller, collector and two other officers are
appointed By the President, by and with the ad-
vice and consent Of the Senate An other minor
oficers are appointed BY the commissioners. The
registers Of Wills, deeds, judges Orphans Court,
justices Of the peace and other officers are elected
by the citizens ct large, every male citizen being
entitled TO suffrage, except those debarred BY
ProTiSiSI i made for the funding Of the debt,
and 8 sinking fund established 10 pay 1t In twenty
years. Each portion Of che District pays its own
on no debt are not TO be taxed 70 pay the debt OF
the other portions. A board Of three, styled the
Secretary Of the Interior to appFaise the prop
orty the respective corporations, and ascertain
their Indebtedness and report 70 the Board Of
aThe bin provides for the appointment Of 3
coroner, preEcribes his duties, fees, &c; provides
for the annual estimate Of portion Of the taxes
10 aid the District, by the Secretary Of the Int
nor
The committees bill was introduced by Senator
R4mlin, March %, 1859, the first session Of the
FOrty-hrst Congress, and known as Senate bill
Nc. IA
Reporter. What action did Congress take upon
the measured
Mr.. KiIbOurn. This happened to 6e an unfOrtu-
nate Illl 10 NT0llaE NAal VI SuNcEuAlouE
contemplated the abridgement Of suffrage, as the
District Of Columbia is held as an experimental
ground by dsmsgogue Congressman, and the hue
and cry then raised by politicians was for a more
extended privilege OF 'voting early and often;' so
the committees bill was referred TO the Senate
District COMMITTEES, and BY those ''dear friends Of
the peoplen pigeon-holed and held in allegiance.
II was at 3 time when Congress was full Of Pres
identisl aspirants, and the long tOrch-light pro
eesslons Of the "blaek boys in blue" parading
Pennsylvania avenue had more stunning effect
on some Of the political demagogueS in Congress
than any substantial measure for the improve
ment Of the welfare Of the people which might be
presented.
Reporter. What was the next movement
Mr. Kilbourn. The next season smother effort
was made, and this time Territorial form Of
government was proposed, the legislative branch
20 be elected by the people and the administra-
tive branch 70 be appointed. A large meeting
was held at Lincoln hall, and the Territorial
form Of government started OF with grand
flourish, and resulted at the next Congress with
Our late form Of government, duly enacted, sc.
Permit me, right here, to introduce one Of the
numerous issues which developed as the struggle
for . change Of government was progressing The
charter Of the city Of Washington would expire
in the spring Of 1888. The leading citizens were
impressed with the idea that goVenmsnt Of the
District Of Columbia by United States Commits
aiOners or, at least, by direct Congressional
agents, was preferable to the dynasty Of local
politicians. drew up the following protest. &c,
secured the following signatures in q compile Of
hours, land let ne say no one presented 1t 70
hesitatee in promptly signing it,l and it Waspre-
scented to thg city councils:
70 Tie BoGTi II Aldermen Ind Co8iH0R COHneit
Of the City Of WGshfH pf0l. Jdcudrg p, 1855:
The undersigned, citizens Of Washington, prop
~ holders ard taxpayers. do most respectfully
yet earnestly protest against the passage by the
Board Of Aldermen and Common Council Of the
resolution requesting Congress 70 renew or ex-
tend the charter OF the city Of Washington.
We are IN favor OF Congress exercising exclu-
EiEe legislation IN al eases whatever over the
District Of Columbia.
=. Q. Robbins, VIM. B Todd,
L Clephane A. Q. Richards,
Riggs & Co, ID. 4 Eaton,
I'D. Cooke, Geo. II. Plant,
Aoees Kelley, s. p. Brown,
-, H. Stevens, W. H. Ward,
John D. Evans Richard Lay,
J. II. Lathrup, z NJ p King
; as y. Davis, u. II. Smith,
a. = eolomonsi W. @. Metzerott,
NAN. Wilson, Michael Green,
Chag Bradley Henri PradIev
gonn 4. Semnes, ". r. Riley Co.,
Jas. J. Nay Co., John Aiexsndsr.
John g; Clarke. John Lenthall
j. y. lsherEood, Jas. Sykes,
ID. W. Tomlinson, J. s. Com6s
oven Thorn 3 Co., glaggett Sumey,
J. II. Callan, b. =. Morice
Jas. @. Kennedy, ]. W. Angus
Thog II. Everett ID. x. Carter
A. g. Riddle, Andrew Wylie,
Al p Kickhoeher, A. B. Olin