The Washington critic., 1885-11-13
WASHINGTON. D. O., NOV. 13, 1881
THE DISTRICT IN CONGRESS.

THE DISTRICT IN CONGRESS.
1t is of very considerable importance
to the citizens of the District of Co
lumbia that by some means or other
they should be brought into nearer and
more accessible relations to Congress,
which body, although their direct
governing power, not seldom goes
about its District business in most in
direct and uncertain way.
1t often seems to be forgotten by our
friends ut the Capitol, that it is rs
much to the interest of the Govern
ment as TO that of the people governed,
that the wants and welfare of the Dis
irict should he closely looked after
The community of their affairs is such
nnder the present system that neglect
on the part of the Government must
necessarily be TO its own ultimate loss,
while to the citizen, who has neither
voice nor representation in Congress, it
is not only loss but a downright in,
justice.
Therefore It should be the duty of
press and people alike to contribute
without stint of whatever influence
they possess, to procure such arevision
of the rules of the House rs will guar.
antee to the District, at stated times,
the hearing and consideration of all
matters that Immediately concern its
welfare, more equally distribute the
important business with which the
House is overcrowded and secure IA
cilities, which the rules, rs they now
are, do not permit.
Yet our esteemed contemporary, the
STIR, seems to think that the PROPOSE
tion to amend the Rules is merely II
covert attack on Mr.. Randall by the
Morrison faction-that il is "mocl-
issue" and the old Morrison. Randall"
feud broken out in new place. un-
mindful of the fact that the severest
condemnation which has been made of
The present code has proceeded from
such papers as the New York Sun and
the Philadelphia Times and from the
most earnest followers and supporters
of Mr.. Randall in his last contest for
the Speakership.
We are the more surprised that the
Star should take this position for the
reason that in thepast it has bitterly crit-
cised the House Rules as obstructing
legislation, especially for the District,
the day formerly given the DistrictCom-
mittee having been taken away from
it by the revision of 1880. As u result
much important local legislation has
died on the calendars or in the com.
mittec room, and it has been found
necessary in every Congress since that
time 10 assign days to the District Com
mittee in order to secure the considera-
tion of any local business.
The fact cannot be overlooked that
however much Mr. Randall may desire
10 continue concentration of despotic
power in the Appropriations Commit
tee, or however much the Morrison
faction" may kick against it, there is a
strong and growing sentiment in both
the great parties, irrespective of all
personal considerations, to break up
This obstructive control, 1t is good
deal more than "mock-issue. To
the people of the District of Columbia
il is vital question. Mr.. Randall is
not an object of attack it is the prin-
ciple he represents. 1t is not Nor
rison- Randall feud over the tariff lin
which our citizens have no earthly in
teresD, hut great contest for just leg
islation and the facilitation of the pub
lie business, that concerns every tax
payer and even the humblcst citizen of
Washington. Let MS not then waste
any sympathy on Mr.. Randall nor
trouble ourselves about Mr.. Morrison,
but put all our shoulders to the wheel
tod do what we can toward getting the
business of the House out of the rut in
which it seems to have been willfully
and almost hopelessly side-tracked.
That once done, the District of Co.
lumbia may gain at least the partial
representation at the Capitol which we
are assured under the Constitution and
which our everyday necessities de-
mand, but of which for the past four
or five years we have, by one species of
hocus-pocus or another, been in great
measure deprived.