Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-02-21
THE DISTRICT GOVERNMENT.
Citizens Of East Washington Talk Over
the Proposed Hill.

The discussion OF the plan for District govern
ment proposed by a select committee OF the Citi-
zens' Committee OF one Hundred was opened last
night at a meeting OF Citizens Association No -
southeast Washington II is proposed to have the
report or the select committee discussed ly the
various district associations before action taken
by the Committee OF one Hundred. Dr. = A. II.
Mckim presided at last nights meeting Mr. NJ.
l. Weller moved that the association endorse the
report OF the select committee He said that since
the present form OF government had existed they
had had about twenty Commissioners, all OF whom
had come from tie northwest section. There had
not been any important oflice filled by an East
Washington man. However fairly disposed the
Commissioners might De they were not familiar
with the wants OF East Washington
orPosgD TO THE BILL
Mr.. Dawson was opposed to endorsing the bill
He said the plan proposed might have merit, but
lie feared the result OF any effort OF the kind be-
ieying that Il might open the door 10 much worse
evils than they now suffered. He did not think
the evils they now had were insuperable ones lie
thought &c an unwise thing TO Introduce project
Ike this In the Committee OF one Hundred. That
committee was not formed for such a purpose lie
believed In leaving well enough alone lie was
opposed 10 any movement looking 20 a change in
the District government Those who were here In
the days OF the teatner-duster legislature did not
want any more Of IL. Al present the city was rea-
sonably well governed. lie thought Il would be
| better governed II the Committee OF one Hundred
confined Itself 10 its legitimate duties Those who
desire suffrage can md IL within very short dis
lance outside OF the District lines. CiuZens OF the
District had come here with their eyes wide open,
knowing that they were subject TO the exclusive
RUE OF Congress In any way Congress might
choose TO exercise its rule
Mr. Eugene +. Arnold thought the lawmakers
should be chosen In some way so as TO reflect the
Will OF the people. He believed In suffrage the
oretcally. but was unwilling TO favor it on account
OF the innumerable e.iis that would iow from IL.
MR. BENJAMIN OPPOSED TO THE BILL
Mr. C. +. Benjamin spoke OF the report as being
| theoretical and not practical. The question, he
said was practical one and not theoretical one.
| The question was whether there was anything
| wrong In the present form OF government. Moth
| ing was ever found wrong with the system by
| these gentlemen until they came into collision
| with the late Engineer Commissioner. As 10 the
theoretical objection TO the executives making the
law, he said that the Commissioners had the
power only TO make police regulations and the
| like. He was surprised when he read the report
TO see how men could blind themselves. IL was
| not SO much that There was any Thing wrong with
the system, but they wanted other men In ONCE.
They gave no facts 10 show that the present gov
| eminent Was bad; that the results were bad.
| There was not city In the country so well and
| cheaply governed. The objections brought against
| the government were all theoretical. He had
heard no practical complaints against the govern
| ment Mr.. Benjamin said this project was gOins
TO end the Committee OF one Hundred. IL was
going TO put a quletus on that body. They were
| about 10 commit suicide.
WILLING TO GO THE WHOLE HOG.
| u.
| dred mad to go down for advocating this bill he
| was ready to go down with it. He was surprised
| that Mr. Benjamin expected that the wrongs the
people had suffered would be set forth In this
port. He was opposed 10 have an Army officer as one
ot their governors and he Insisted that tue peope
| OF the District were the worst governed In the
country. The Committee OF One Hundred was not
| dead by any means; they had performed a great
deal or service for the District but In his opinion
had never done greater service than they had In
| bringing forth this bill. lie had no fear that tn-
| per cent SO FAR as suffrage was concerned that
| was not a bugaboo 10 him. 80 TAR as he was con-
| cerned he was willing TO so the whole hog.
/ Mr.. Weller lid the cry 'let well enough alone
| was nothing new: that IL had been set up when
ever any reform was proposed. lie thought Col
| Ludlow was great Improvement on his prede
cesfor. III they were to have an Engineer Commis.
| sioner he did not think they could have a bettei
one than Col Ludlow. lie was the first Commits
| place as East Washington. He thought it wronG
10 question the motives or the men who drew up
. the proposed pan; He did not believe there was
anyone actuated by any ambition or motive Other
than TO serve their fellow citizens
| "a TREMENDOUS DUST"
| Mr.. Benjamin, speaking again, said he had lived
here for twenty-five years. and had never felt that
he had been particularly oppressed lie had felt
4 that he was better governed than any citizen OF
any other city In the country, and feeling that
way he was going to be slow to move Tor any
| change. This plan he claimed was Illogical He
| did not propose suffrage. ltwas plan for raising
| a tremendous dust IN doing very small thing.
The question was whether the present form or gov.
| ernment was so utterly bad, and made them SC
miserable that they were obliged to go TO Congress
for relief. In response 10 an Inquiry as 10 his
\ statement that the Committee OF one Hundred
| was on its last legs, Mr.. Benjamin said he saw
4 from the papers that their plan got little or no
support. and he thought that when they got less
than half its members present at meeting 10 con-
1 Slder an Important subject he thought that In
| dcated that there was lack OF interest. After
| further dlscussien IL was decided u postpone
action for q week.