National Republican., 1881-07-22
a Governor for the District Of Column

ton which confers upon Congress eXclu-
sive jurisdiction over the seat of govern
ment was not intended merely to
negative all other jurisdictions, but to
create an active and responsible one. Our
| Washington readers are aware Of the va
rious methods by which Congress has
| sought from time to time TO exercise this
| jurisdiction. Mayors and councils, Levy
Courts, District Governor, Legislature and
Board of Public Works, and District Com
mssioncrs have been among these dis
solving views. OF course the first ques-
ton of n stranger would be, Why is there
not chartered municipality, with an
elective legislative department TO make
ordinances and regulations, and an exocu-
! tive head TO enforce them? The reply
is that all the people of the Ma
ton have an interest in the Capital
and q constitutional right to u share in its
| government through the agency of Con-
gross. Besides the residents of the Dis
| trict ought not to he thrown upon their
own resources for maintaining the OK
pensos Of such u city as the Capital is and
is growing to be. All that can be lcgiti-
maicly expended to beautify the city and
its enyirons ought to be appropriated en-
tircly out of the National Treasury. All
other outlays which are directly or in
| directly caused by the presence here of
the scat of government should be met
in the same manner.
As to having n city government chosen
by the people here under municipal
charter to be granted by Congress, that
would be virtual abdication of the
powers and duties vested in that body.
1t has been seriously questioned whether
Congress has the right to delegate TO the
people of the District its jurisdiction de-
| rived under the Constitution. There can
be no doubt, however, that Congress has
the power and that it is its duty to main
tain its jurisdiction through agencies
created by law. 1t may create D,pdH-
mcm Of Hc Capital mot n Cabinet Office,
and vest in the head of that Department
the power of making all appointments
within the District. There may be in
this Department bureaus of police,
schools, streets, fires, gas and
| NhN'l, anu ltNNllhNs lllt lltt'lo vi
these holding their appointments
during the pleasure of the chief The
head of this Department could be called
the Governor of the District, and n coun-
ell or commission of his own appoint
ment could, subject to his approval and
that of Congress, enact code Of minor
regulations for the local government.
The selection of the Governor might be
safely intrustcd to the people of the
United States, who could exercise it
every four years. They would thus con-
fer great dignity upon the Office, and
their chosen Governor could, in the
splendid mansion which should be built
for him by the Government, extend to
worthy objects of such attention the
hospitality of the Capital. The District
is now II sort of Poor Farm, presided
over by highly respectable overseers,
called District Commissioners. The great
Capital City has no distinct, visible head.
The various boards in control of schools,
police, fire department, &C., are each n
law unto themselves, qualified by some
mystical and underlined attachment to the
Interior Department.
The plan so crudely suggested in tlds
article can be perfected or n better one
devised, having the same main feature of
n Governor chosen by the people of the
United States, and can be enacted into n
law before the holidays, and our new
Governor hold his first levee on next
New Years Day.
The o6iccr re propose for he Gorernorship
| is THE NICE-PREsIDENr OF THE UNITED
STATES. He is the second dignitary in
| the Nation. He is chosen under the
Constitution as the peoples second choice
for President in the event of the death,
resignation, removal, or disability of their
first choice during the term for which
both are elected.
1t is said that President Garfield sew
cral years ago suggested the idea of max
ing the Nice-Presidcnt Governor Of the
District of Columbia, and that the matter
has been favorably considered by him
and his advisers since his accession to
the Presidency Such scheme would
relieve the President of Il great pressure
of purely local matters, and would make
the people cf the Nation themselves re-
sponsible for the selection of firm, wise,
and honest head for the government of
this District.
We intend to make frequent reference
to this project, and hope to see it Il sub
iect of general interest and discussion.
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\ MARBLE tablet has been placed over
the west door of the Patent Office, lead
ing TO the model-room, containing the
names of Chief Clerk Lockwood, u gem
tleman named Schurz, and others. The
names of number of clerks, messen-
gers, and watchmen were probably
omitted for want of space. The tablet
should have been made of brass.
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WHAT has become of the parking COM
mission? Is it still in existence? Their
work certainly does not show as for
merly. The neglected parks and trees
need attention, Perhaps the Commits
sioners are at fault,
TuE report of the auditing committee,
which will be found in our local columns,
shows that upward of six thousand poor
families were relieved during the past
winter.
WHERE is the citizens meeting to make
) arrangements for the musical jubilee? Is
that project to be allowed to die out?
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4 apLIT is reported to have occurred in
ono of thn celestial bndios at thn nno-