Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-02-15
A PLAN OF GOVERNMENT.


n
One Hundred.
ONE coAHD9i0NRR AND COUNCIL OF FIFTEEN AP-
POINTED ~ TIE PRESIDENT PROPOSED IN PLACE OF
THE PRESENT DISTRICT aovRRNNENr-THE WOOD
LEY LANE BRIDoE-PRoPosED APPoRrIoNNRNr OF
EXPENDITURES BETWEEN CITY AND COUNTY.
when the Citizens Committee Of One Hundred
met last night Mr.. Reginald Fendall, president OF
the committee, left the chair, and as chairman OF
the select committee appointed to consider and
report upon the presidents address, submitted a
report. 81 deemed 1t my duty" he said. ION &C
cepting reelection to the presidency OF the CON-
mittee Of One Hundred to call attention to the
existing plan OF managing District affairs, about
which, IL Is useless to say, there is much and
growing dissatisfaction. To my mind this plan
has outllved It's usefulness, and must be modified
or abandoned. The people OF the District must
have some voice In some way in levying and dis
tributing the millions collected from them an
aoai Gy AMAZON AK Etner the present form OF
proved, or some other will take its place most
PROBABLY involving unlimited suffrage. Entertain
ject, and you ordered its consideration By a spe-
ciai committee. am directed by that committee
to submit the following reports"
THE REPORT.
The report was In the form Of printed pamphlet
containing 70 pages and entitled "a Proposal to
Improve the Present Form of Government" 1t
gives historical sketch OF the inception, success
sive phases OF development, and present condition
OF the District, laying stress upon matters that
the committee regarded as strengthening their ar
debstes by Congress- TO show that Representatives
then In Congress understood that In time the Dis
trict would nave representative In Congress, and
III the meantime local legislature. The report
concludes as follows: "Your committee does not,
In view OF the peculiar condition OF the District OF
Columbia and It's relation 10 Congress- ask that its
a nnfr arf,r ,lit,a
1ted manhood suffrage In the management OF local
affairs. Suffrage can hardly be regarded as a nat
ural right since 1t is generally restricted by sex
ana age, place OF nativity, and length OF residence,
and mental and moral condition; and In this csun-
try, In communities OF great age and OF successful
experience, 1t has been further limited TO those
men OF proper age. nativity, and length OF resi-
dence, and mental and moral condition, who can
read and write, and who pay direct tax, whether
their own local government, so that Ignorant,
worthless imbecile, and criminal persons who can
neither be relied upon for defense or support OF gov
ernment should be excluded from such privilege.
Recognizing the duty OF all good citizens TO as
sist cheerIuliy in such plans or local government
as Congress In Its limited field OF experimental
territory may see mt TO impose, so that each ex-
pertinent may have fair trial. your committee
still believes that an improvement may be made
In the present local government, and that Con-
greSS 0ugh, In the Interests OF good government,
10 improve the existing plan and give The District
one Commissioner instead or tai ee, as at present.
10 the end OF better discharge OF executive
duties. This Commissioner should be appointed
by the President and confirmed by the Senate.
Congress should also authorize council OF suita-
Die citizens TO be appointed by the President and
confirmed by the Senate, each to be a Resident OF
That portion or The District from which he Is APP
pointed, and sufficiently numerous 10 know or
conveniently Learn the wishes or the immediate
constituents. and this number your committee
believes should be fifteen. This council should
tue legislative brancn or the District govern
ment, and SHOULD have the King OF the local
laws ordinances, Or regulations to sucn an extent
as Congreo, may prescribe. The Commissioner
should nave Ihe appointment OF all the inferior
officers subject to confirmation by a majority OF
tne Council, and should nave veto power over
ali legislative acts or the council subject to be
overruied by two-thirds vote or that body"
THE BILL
The accompanying Dill opens with preamble
setting forth what are described as defects In the
present form Of government as follows:
l. IL provides Tor an executive consisting OF
three persons, and thus destroys that sole and
Personal responsibility which Is the chief guar-
antee OF l ithiui exercise OF executive powers
and prompt performance or executive duties.
.. II provides that one OF these persons snail be
an officer OF the United states Army, whose entire
education and experience have been In the line Of
military rule-a rule always despotic, and gen.
eralIy odiouS when applied 10 civil affairs.
3. IL clothes the commission with many import
ALT legislative powers anu these increasing by
reason or the inability OF Congress to consider and
enact all the ordinances Necessary for growing
municipality; and this Joinder OF legislative and
executive functions is III violation OF a runda-
mental principle or good government, and has
worked harm In practice.
4. The commission is too large for executive
duJies and too small for legislative duties; IL
owes no allegiance to the taxpayers; It is not in
harmony with majority OF the people; and 1t
fallS TO be informed Oh their needs.
THE COMMISSIONER AND THE COUNCIL
The bill provides for tine appointment by the
President, Within twenty days after tue approval
OF this act, of one person from civil LIE to be Com
missioner or the District OF Columbia, such Com
missioner TO have the qualifications, take the
OATH, receive the compensation, give bono and
have the Official term now provided by law for
Commissioner appointed from civil life. This
Com missioner snail exercise all the powers ana
authority now vested by law IN the three Com
mlSsionerS except as limited and provided by this
bill, and shall be subject to ali restrictions and
limitations and duties now imposed upon the
Commissioners. the President SNAIL also appoint
ANNUALLY fifteen persons, one from each or the
TrLe council districts designated In the bill, VINO
Shall be citizens OF the United States, hve years
actual resi- tents OF the District, and for years
actual residents OF the council district [. ON which
they are appointed. Tnese fifteen persons snail
constitute ''rne Council OF the District OF COL
the rate Oh $500 per annum. The legislation Oh
this council snail be subject TO repeal or mOuica-
tlon by Congress
POWERS OF THE COUNCIL.
The council Is given legislative power the fol-
lowing subjects: Assessments taxes health, abdte-
ment OF nuisances. plumbing, buildings police, fire,
regulation OF business aud local traffic wharves
licenses regulation or the liquor traffic, charities
public schools and officers and employees aud
aiirieS No Increase Of salaries and salary for
any new office created by the council shall take
effect until Congress shall maze appropriation
therefor, and the council shall have no power TO
apprO. pirate money or contract debts Tor any pur-
pose whatever. The Commissioner Is given the
veto power, but bill may be SSed over his veto
by a two-third vote OF the council The council
Is charged with the duty OF preparing Tor subnis-
sion through the commissioner TO the secretary OF
the Treasury the annual estimates and statements
showing the work proposed TO be undertaken and
TO prepare tor submission to Congress such bills or
sary eXpedient 10 bring to the attention OF Con-
greoS. The heads OF various dep .rtmentS OF the
District government are TO be appointed by the
Commissioner and confirmed by the council. Pro-
Vision Is made for the organization OF the council
the president OF which body shall act as Com
missioner IN the absence, Sickness or inability OF
the Commissioner. The bounds Of the rfteen
council districts also defined, eleven OF tuem
covering the territory INCLUDED now In the city OF
Washington, another comprising West Washing
meetings Of the council shall be open to the pubic.
AN ENGINEER OFFICER.
The fourth section OF the bill says: "That the
President of the United states may. from time to
time, detail an officer from the Engineer Corps OF
the Army OF the United states who shall, subject
to the supervision and direction or the Commits
sioner, have charge or the work OF construction,
repair, and Improvement OF streets, avenues.
alleys, water department works, sewers, roads,
bridges, and all other engineering work OF the
District Of columbia. And the President may also
detail mol more than two other Officers from said
corps to act assistants TO said chief engineer"
Another section provides, "That FROM and alter
Washington, shall include all the territory within
The limits OF the District VI Columbia coded by
the state or Maryland"
The report was sigaed by ReginaldF endall, chair