National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-02-18
Conrrnss anna thn nistrlct.


The duty is imposed upon Congress by
the Constitution to exercise exclusive
legislation in all cases whatsoever over
this District.
Nothing can be done to promote the
welfare of this community of one hun
dred and eighty thousand unrepresented
Taxpayers without the action of Congress
is first obtained.
Our Board of District Commissioners
is merely committee to carry out the
will of Congress, they not having one
iota ofauthority except such as is conferred
upon them by the enactments of Con-
gross. They in no manner represent the
will of the tax.paying people in the pop
uar sense, but are merely the agents of
the United States, to administer and see
that the laws of Congress affecting this
District are properly executed.
The authority Of Congress is supreme
and arbitrary within this District, set
apart as the scat of the Government of
the United States.
The rights, privileges, and immunities
granted to or reserved by the people of
the United States outside of the National
Capital are circumsciibed and abridged
unto the intelligent tax-paying COM
munity of this District.
What is now demanded by this suffer-
ing and neglected people is prompt legis-
lation by Congress in matters affecting
the interests and welfare of this large
population of American taxpayers.
Prompt legislation is demanded in the
spirit of right justice, and fair play.
In the struggle for legislation by Rep
resentatives who have n constituency be-
hind them, and upon whose popular
voice their tenure Of Office depends, the
affairs of the unrepresented District of
Columbia receives no recognition.
There is one practical remedy for much
of the neglect now experienced by our
people owing to the non-action of Con-
gress, and that is to restore the rule in
the House setting apart one or two days
in each month for the consideration of
matters affecting the interest of this one
hundred and eighty thousand voiceless
American citizens.
The Committee on Rules in the House
have it in their power to award Justice to
our community by Immediately report
ing and recommending the adoption of
such a rule.
Without the adoption of such n rule it
will be practically impossible to secure
any congressional legislation in the in
terest of the people of the District of Co
lumbia.
1t was under similar rule of the House
as is herein suggested that the congress
sional legislation was enacted which gave
the impetus to the redemption and re-
generation of Washington-the Nations
CapitAl-from the slough of despond in
which it had so long existed.
1t was a serious blow to the constitu-
tional rights of this community when
that rule was rescinded, for while the
duty imposed upon Congress by the Con-
stitution to exercise exclusive legislation
over the affairs of this District remained,
the practical method of carrying out that
trust was neutralized by doing away with
the only means, practically, which per-
mitted District interests to be taken up
for consideration.
To Mr.. Speaker Keifer chairman of the
House Committee on Rules, The NATIONAL
REPUBLICAN, on behalf of the one hundred
and eighty thousand unrepresented loyal
tax-paying American citizens of the Dis
trict of Columbia, appeals in the spirit of
right and justice for the establishment
ofthe rule which will permit the affairs of
this large community to be considered by
Congress, under the special clause of the
Constitution of the United States which
imposes upon the legislative branch of
this great Governments exclusive authority
over the political, municipal, and general
of the people of the National
Capital.
And as in duty bound will ever pray