Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-01-07

The members OF the new District Committee of
the House made each others acquaintance yester.
day. Some OF them have yet 70 become acquainted
with people OF the District, but the majority of
served on the committee before with credit.
Throughout It is a good committee, and the peo-
pie Of Washington may expect good work from IL
without danger OF disappointment. 1t is through
this committee only that the District can reach
Congress, and from It must come all legislation of
local interest. Accordingly as they active and
practical or slow and Indifferent will the District
matters in Congress flourish or drag. Generally the
bills relating 70 District matters are introduced
Into the House BY members Of this committee, and
all such bills have TO be passed on by the whole
committee before they can get on the House cal
endar. These thirteen men are the Lawmakers OF
the District. Citizens who wish certain legisla-
ton for the good OF this community are given
meanings by the committee from time to time
during the session sometimes these hearings are
before some OF the various subcommittees, but all
chance at some time to discuss with the whole
committee
THE COMMITTEE IN SESSION.
At these hearings the committee room is gener-
ally crowded with people interested In the matter
under discussion, and sometimes the debates are
the citizens acting the part OF delegates who can
talk all they want 70, but have no vote. Those
who vote are the men at the table.
The long committee table stands in the middle
or the room, which Is one of the largest of the
committee rooms In the west corridor OF the gal
iey hoor the hrst door TO the right at the head Of
the stairs At the end OF the table is the chair
man, who Is the speaker OF this little legislature,
and 10 bis right and lett, running down the table
according TO their rank on the committee. sit the
other lnemsers, SIX on each side when they are all
present.
In order to keep up with the work the members
Of this committee are obliged to study very care
fuily the wants and needs OF the District and all
the matters connected with It's government They
soon come 10 take pride In their work and In the
city. There Is dignity In being
The LAw-NAKING POWER OF THE NATIONAL CAPITOL
Frequently the members become completely
absorbed in this work and feel an amiable pro-
prietorship over the District. Hot debates some
times occur between the members OF the COIN
mittee and citizens who come before them.
These hearings are TO enable the citizens TO make
their wishes known and to explain them, but they
take up too much time for them TO be granted in
diScrtnatey. IL Is only on very important matters
that they are allowed. For all ordinary matters
private conferences with subcommittee or me-
MORALS In writing sufice. The regular meetings Of
the committee are private.
THIS COMMITTEE
has generally had men OF considerable ability
upon it. It's first chairman was Philip Barton
Key, OF Maryland. 1t was upon motion OF Mr.
Key that resolution was adopted, January 81
1S0S, creating the committee, TO consist OF seven
members. Mr.. Key was then made chairman, and
with him were associated MesSrS. Nicholas Van
Dyke, OF Delaware (who was aIterward a senator
from New Jersey; John Love, or Virginia; James
Holland, OF North Carolina; Robert Brown, OF
Pennsylvania; Edward st. Loe LivermOre, Of
Massachusetts,, and John Taylor, OF South caro-
lima. This was In the Tenth Congress. The COM
mittee was given charge OF all matters OF legisla-
ton relating 10 the District OF Columbia. Later,
from time TO time, IL was increased until the pres
ent membership OF thirteeen was reached.
During two Congresses the District had a dele
gate In The House and he served on this commit
tee. Mr. n. P1Chipman served these two terms,
and at the end Of his second term the form OF
Government for the District was changed and no
other District delegate was elected.