Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-04-19
The Proposed Form OF District Gov.
eminent.

An intention was expressed in a recent
short editorial notice Of the bill, to discuss
AT some length the form of government for
This District proposed In Mr.. Hendee's mo1i-
fcatiOn OF the frame work OF the Morrill, bill
OflaSt session. This will be done in the hope
90 awakening attention In the mints OF those
most Interested in this very important sub
jsct, that is to say, property holders and law
abiding citizens. 1t Is this class. having
every thiug at stake. that by its disposition
TO conservatism, suffers our affairs to drift
ito precisely those channels TO which active
adventurous and agitators having hing 20
lose and AL to gain, like HO1nett and his
Leedy and ignorant followers. would desire
and co aim 10 lead them. The property
holding. respectable cOloTet citizen stands
exactly where the property hold .ug white
rests; their views are similar: yet, each
leaves the lazzarOni OF his race TO bring
about and give aid and comfort TO Tesolu.
lions like the one Mr.. Morton offered in the
Senate, providing for vote to decide
the question of suffrage in the District.
Mr. Buckner offers a scarcely less damaging
project in his resolution proposing TO cOnsign
Us TO the hazards OF another committee, to
sit during the coming recess OF Congress for
the purpose OF framing another form OF gov
eminent for our better government, and with
IL leave Us TO the delays aRd chances OF a short
session when time cannot be given to act
upon bill of such nature. Have there
not been committees enough, and de-
lays enough? We are told, from time to
time, of some mysterious project in process
OF perfection In the District Committee of the
Senate whereby our governmental affairs are
TO be distributed about the several depart
ments OF the general government, a loaf
here fish there; the police In one depart
ment and the court in another; the health
department in one and fire in another. and so
on. We suppose IL would be necessary to
establish another bureau OF yards and docks
in the Navy department to manage the coal
yards and wharf fronts OF our city, and that
an assistant secretary will be needed in
the War department TO head our militia
The plan Of parcelling out the NUM-
Cipal interests of 10000 people in such
a manner is so impracticable as to
hardly merit serious consideration. To
place this District upon a settled basis,
government, having well defined and per-
manent relation, financial and municipal,
to the government OF the United states, is
manifestly necessity IN respect to all our
material interests. 1t Is requisite for the
restoration of confidence and the return to
healthy and assured progress. The Joint In
vestigating committee In making It's report
10 Congress upon the affairs OF the District
in June, 1S1I, after stating that il had re-
commended the raising OF a joint committee
10 frame a government for the District. with
legislative control in Congress, used these
words, "They have recon mended the APP
pOintment of two members of each House
Tor the reason that they believe that the
committee should be non partisan and nom
political; so that whatever system OF gov
eminent may be established, IL will not be
subject to the shiftings and changes OF partv
politics" These views will meet the cordial |
Endorsement OF all classes OF citizens having
permanent interests in this District as they
should ofsn people of our country feeling an
interest and pride in the capital of the ma
tion. Mr.. Hendee in reducing the great length
and otherwise, in minor ways, modifying
the bill offered by the committee appointed
under the recommendation above referred
TO, has evidently been impressed with the
wisdom OF these suggestions OF the investi-
eating committee, and, as well. of those
contained in the admirable explanatory pa
per drawn up by the committee framing the
government TO accompany its bill. In thus
adopting the most important features of that
bill, and adapting it TO the proportions ne
cessary 10 secure action upon it, Mr.. Hendee
has evidently had only the interest OF the |
District at heart, and has not been actuated
by any particular views OF his own. Recog-
nizirg the appropriate character of the gov
eminent proposed in the Morrill, bill, he is
making an effort TO have Ii fairly cousid-
cred by Congress, an effort which should be
supported.
We have gone so far In these preliminary
remarks that IL will be necessary TO defer to
another day that reference to the features OF
the bill Itself which we had designed to
make.