Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-07-21
The District should Have q Delegate
I'm Congress-.
he Editor of THE EvENISa STAR:

III NOn&feSSs
To the Editor of THE EvENISa STAR:
MOUNT VERNON, n. V, July IL 1885,
Reading last Saturdays edition Of THE STAR
in this cool, country dell, notice that a num-
Der OF my friends at home have somewhat in
creased their own temperature perhaps, by in
diligence in the harmless amusement of giving
expression to their opinions on the suffrage
question as applied to the District, both in the
past and in the future, and while there seems to
be general feeling opposed to suffrage. there
Is yet respectful minority whose views are en-
titled to consideration. The problem of how
best to govern large cities is one that is engros-
sing the attentive thoughts of metropOlitans
everywhere. and has not yet been satisfactorily
solved In my humble Judgment the govern
ment by three commissioners, as in Washington.
Is the nearest approach to positive success that
has yet been reached. 1t is economical, and
should subserve the best interests of the COM
munity without all the paraphernalia of petty
officers and their cOncOmtant of ''red-tape' an
noyance. True, the two civil Commissioners
should be citizens of the District and represent
alive men. and havehope that If this be not so
already. the appointing power will remedy the
defect hereafter. and feel in 80 doing that the
interests of the United States will be jealousy
guarded. rs they should be, by the army
engineer Commissioner. in conjunction
with his associates. - for the well
fare OF the District are in common
from necessity, with those Of the United States
All these Commissioners should be appointed.
But not SO Delegate i'm Congress, who, think,
should be voted for, under proper restraining
conditions, by all duly qualified citizens This
delegate should be the mOuthpiece to impart to
ms associate members, and to the country at
large. on the floor of the House, the needs of the
1ooOoO persons he would represent-men, wo-
men and children. as loyal, verify and inteli-
gent as those in the many territories whose
population is much less than ours. who pay less
taxes. and. notwithstanding which, have ALWAYS
had Delegate to represent their interests l
think experience has shown the good accom-
plished for the District during the short time
the Hon. n ?. Chapman served as its Delegate
Every one who has had any experience knows
how unpleasant it is, and how personal it be-
comes to the implOrer to ask members to do the
most simple things in the common interest Of the
District. They look upon all who presume to APP
proach them and occupy their valuable time as Just
So many positive bores. and courtesy alone pre-
vents them. in exceptional cases. from acting
and saying so in forc!ble if not over-polite Ian
guage; and this deters nineteen out OF twenty
ladies and gentlemen who do not care to be
snubbed even in the interest of the not always
appreciative public. 1t must be borne
man Is sent to Congress to represent
his own particular "deestrct' and If he has any
time left over. which he seldom has, he gener-
ousiy deyotes it to the much neglected nation
l1.
is a brook in his constituents territory so I'M
comfortably damp that to cross it. oyershoes be-
corae an absolute necessity for strictly sanitary
reasons. you will hear of THAT great natural
outlet into the ocean. upon which all the navies
OF the world can safely float the river and
harbor bill. while the poor District,-poor be-
cause it cannot make nor unmake legislators
receives in courtesy. but 1.-The crumbs that fall
from the rich mans table" and has been taught
by sad experience. to be ever thankful for them
Some able jnrists have claimed that it is uncOn-
stitutional to disfranchse the residents of the
District; that there can be no legal taxation
Without representation" and 1t may be remem-
bered that our ancestors made such claim, and
had quite lively dispute with England on that
subject over century ago. and that the de-
clsion rendered was decidedly in our favor but
without going back so far for a precedent ne
cessity and justice seem to point to the adyisa-
bllity OF our having Delegate in Congress- and
hope the time is not far distant when 1t will be
realized. A. s. SOJ0MOys.