Evening star., 1877-11-21
THE DISTRICT BEFORE CONGRESS.
Hearing Of the Citizens Committee
by the Iiou>e District Committee.

hearing before the House District Committee
this morning. Among those IN attendance
were Judge Dent, W. u. Metzerott, William
stiekney, Crosby 8. Noyes, c B. Church,
Ben. q. Ioveioy, Joseph shillington, wm.
neit. Judge CASEY, W. II. Clsgett, ]. W.
klingle, Thomas p. Morgan. General Peter
Bacop, Columbus Alexander, George Oys-
Ter, Lewis J. Davis, Dr. Tindall, De We're
All the mem bers of the District committee
were present except Dr. Henkle, OF Mary
land.
Judge Dent addressed the committee, ex-
cuslns the absence OF the chairman OF the
legislative committee (Hon. Jere. WILSON,.
Mr.. s Niles then read the condensed re-
port OF the Committee on Legislation of the
Citizens Committee, as follows:
REPORT ON DISTRICT NEEDS.
To its Sc nate and House Of Representatives.
The anomalous condition of affairs In the
District of Columbia, affecting most iniuri-
ously the fortunes and happiness of it's citl-
zens, has Induced a voluntary association OF
taxpayers, for the purpose of soliciting from
the Congress OF the United States such re-
medal and beneficial legislation as may be
just and expedient. They appeal TO CbRyresS,
because the Federal Constitution has in-
vested that body with supreme and exclu-
slNe legislative power in this District-with
NE same absolute control and authority as
II exercises over the National forts, arsenals,
magazines and navy yards-and IL Is, there
fore. 10 the beneficent exercise of this Pile
nary authority alone, that they can LOOK for
relief
This association of taxpayers, known as
1.-The Committee of 1e0," initiated their pro-
ceedings by the appointment OF various sab
committees, for the purpose of obtaining
such special and reliable Information in the
several departments of local administration
as Will furnish b proper basis and guide for
tie relief ana legislation whic IN they ask of
Congress. These committees, composed of
citizens familiar with the operations OF the
departments severally assigned 10 them,
have reported; and we are charged by the
association with the duty of laying before
Congress a condensed statement of the ma
terial facts contained in these reports. to.
geiher with such additional Information as
we may be able 10 present.
IMPROVEMENTS OF STREETS, &C.
The present site of the city OF Washington,
embracing an area of ,l6l acres, was, on the
9Th June, 1891, conveyed by Daniel Carroll
and others TO the United States, ia frJfQ, Ito
be laid out for federal city, with such
streets, squares and parcels, and lots as the
President of the United States, for the time
being, shall approve and on the further
trust, that al The streets. together with sucn
squares, parcels, and lois as the President
should select and reserve for public use,
should be held forever, "for the use OF the
United States, !" the Government paying for
the lands SO reserved a. the rate of f35 500 6S)
per acre; and the residue OF lots To be fairly
and equally divided between the United
States aud the granIors.
The lands reserved by President Washing
ton under this grant aggregate 5il acres; aud
thus the United Sta es, for the consideration
of SS6.0t0, acquired title 10 3 6j3 acres, or
nearly yot~-tHhs OF the entire area of the
city, viz:
Area of streets ts-....................36 , 60i acres
Iesertallons .-..'..--...-.. 3tl
lots donated ,5oo 4"
Total. .56B "
1t was furlher provided ia these deeds that
the moiety OF lots donated to the Govern
ment should be sold, and thai the proceeds.
sfIer payment TO the proprietors OF the
S36, coo due for the reservations, should be-
held by the United States as a "grant of
the p6blic buildings, &C, under the act OF
Congress OF 10Th July, 1880, for establishing
the permanent seat of Government; aud II
appears that the fund derived from this gin,
Notwithstanding It's improvident manage
ment, paid, not only the $50 0oo due the pro-
prietoTs, but also the cost OF erecting the
public buildings prepared for the reception
of the Government in 1850, a1d OF their
restoration after destruction by the British
in The war OF 1872
IL is a fact, then, that the public buildings
originally provided for the use of the Gov
eminent, and the 5il acres of public reserva-
tions, now worth from s25 900 900 TO $50 ,00),-
600, together with all the streets and avenues
Of the city, were free Slh 10 the United
States from the original proprietors. Aud
the title OF the Government, as ratified by
the State Of Mary land, aud confirmed by the
Supreme Court of the United States, is so
complete and absolute that Congress may a.
any time close and occupy, and even aiien-
ate, any OF the streets, and the owners OF lots
affected thereby be without redress. Even
the moiefy OF lots which fell to the proprie-
tors, in the division OF the reside ABOVE re-
ferred TO, was reconvey ed TO them, suojer 10
such regulations as might be prescribed by
the President in regard, not only 10 the use
and Improvement OF the streets, but also To
the "materials and manner" of the buildings
TO be erected thereon. And the control Of
private property thus reserved was freely
exercised by the Government in the early
history.
The plan OF The city, as approved by Wash
ington, is on scale OF unprecedented mag
nlficence; with streets, 30 70 leo feet in width,
covering more than half its area; and, at tue
period OF its foundation, and for many years
thereafter, IL was without population, or re-
sources OF any kind; the improvement OF lis
streets, and the building OF sewers, bridges,
&c, being the sole and exclusive care OF tue
Government and It's agents. Ii was not until
1872 that TIE Corporation of Washington aud
The Levy Court Of the County were datltOri-ei
10 open and improve the streets and roads.
From the facts here stated, IL is apparent
that W ashlDgton was projected by It's found
al d improved exclusively by Congress, with
out regard, In a legal sense, 10 the voice or
wishes OF It's citizens. And, although the
appropriations by Congress, FOR general i'm
rrOvements in this District, have never been
at all commensurate with the princely grant
uIter which the Government now holds
nearly hundred millions OF real estate, Or
with tie grand design and expectations OF
the founders of tine Republic and Of its capi-
tai, as manifested by their early acis, they
have at all times admitted The national obli-
cations and responsibilities in this regard.
See Report of Senator Southland, 2i Feb, 1885.
Do. OF Senator Brown, 18th May. 1s5s. Do. OF
House Committee on u. OF c., 18th May, 1872.
10. OF House Committee on Judiciary, lst
June, 1874. Do. OF Joint Committee of Two
Houses, eth Dec, 1874. Do. OF Joint Commit
lee of Two Houses, 1876.
And these various expressions by Congress
sional Committees have been zeslously sec
onded In many OF the Executive messages 10
Congress.
A careful inquiry into the comparative ex-
enditures by The local and federal Govern
ments, for streets, sewers, and other inn
Provements, for the common benent, shows,
that while the appropriations by Congress
for these objects, up 10 the present, do not
exceed S6,VCJ ,0C0, the District Government
has expended for the same purposes not less
than So, 600 600; which sum, is represented
by a debt of about SIS 600 .0O0, aud the balance
OF S12 oC0, 600 has been furnished, in cash, by
the tax payers OF the District
III further appears, that these expenditures
by the local Government, except 5000 900,
expended prior 10 1871, were made, and
SIS 600 900 OF this oppressive debt contracted,
by agents of the United States, over whom
the citizens of the District had no control
Whatever, and for whose acts, therefore, they
a N M fnanIer rekpOnRible