National Republican., 1877-12-19
A DISTRICT GoyERSMESr.
Views Of Er- Governor Alex. r. shepherd on
Tho subject.


A representative Of the Post has interviewed
the Ex-Governor upon the important question Of q
new government for this District A his ex.
perience entities him to the respect Of an authority
upon the subject we subjoin his remarks;
The subject was opened by . reference TO the
"Hendcc pill, the subject Of which has been oftcn
published He said he regarded It as the best, pro.
what are theyf" he was asked. II would make
five commissioners instead Of three; one appointed
BY the President one elected by the Senate one by
the people Of the District Of Columbia for four or
SIX years; They to choose president commits.
District and they 81 should have fSi legislative % pow
crs, so far as municipal ordinances, &c. are con.
cerned, and relieve Congress OF this bother, and
make al. boards subject to them"
DELEGATE IN CONGRESS.
,.r,SS ~wSela "a you have the people further repre-
Yes. would have representative in Congress,
To protect and look afer District interests elected
bcr. There Is nothing In the Constitution to pre-
vent II, and one hundred and my thousand people
have. have some o. rights or the Declaration of Indeps
"And about The debt and expensesY"
81 think this: Let the United States assume the
much more as is Just Relieve tho people from a
burden which belongs TO the United States, and
would have been assumed ere this but for the Pc
and throw discredit upon such unfortunates as at
tempt 70 advance their interests aud adorn the
How would you adjust the proportion of ex'
pensef"
Let the organic act Ak the proportion of annual
expense TO bo borne by the United States Govern
ment aud District respectively, propOrtioned 10 tho
| respective landed interests held BY each. This
fixed permanently, will, in twenty-five years, give
city which will be credit and glory to the Re
| public"
You would have those ideas incorporated In the
| bill ?"
Yes; and think they will work well II en-.
bodied In bill. They have cost me many anx
ious days, months and years TO arrive at. What
| mcnt and here you have IL. Tho Presidential ap
polniee represents the country; the Senate ap
| pointee must have the confidence and respect oil
| that body and would represent and influence
| The commissioners elected by the people would
he representative men elected on general ticket
and be good citizens. fbr an inferior man could moi
stand the test-woud be too thin TO spread out ovei
the tcrrltur"."
TfE FUTURE OF THE DISTRICT.
"What would DO the immediate result o
thlsg"
The burden Of debt adjusted, real estate would
| respond instantly, and the expense of maintaining
| the District government divided equltably ant
permanently. All would be we'll"
Your plan, though. involves good deal OF con
| sOlldatiOn."
| II know II does, aud, in my Judgment the con
solidation of police, fire, health, education, i'm
| pruvcrnmcnt, under one government, strong, sim
ole and yet representative, would not only be oui
salvation, but wOuld firm model for other cities
| aud no question is more Important to the ratiol
| than this. lpray that some method may be de
yised which win relieve our people from the fear
ful load Ofebt and the uncertainty ~ to It's dispbSi
| tiOn. which now paralyZes our Industries anC
hangs like pail over us.