Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-02-29
THE DISTRICT GOVERNMENT.
The Citizens Committee POssDOn,
Action Oh II cir Proposed Bill,

There was an unusually full meeting OF the
Citizens Committee OF one Hundred last night.
Tie purpose OF the meeting was to consider the
report OF the select committee OF which Mr.. Fen
dali Is Chairman, proposing a bill 'to improve the
present form OF government OF the District by
providing for Commissioner and a council Of fif-
teen, appointed by the President, In place Of the
present board OF three Commissioners. minor
lty report, prepared by Mr. Jesse B. Wilson, OPP
posing the proposed change, was presented last
night, and the discussion OF the subject was then
postponed for two weeks.
When the committee met MT. Wilson read his
report as a minority report OF the committee.
THE MINORITY REPORT.
MI WILSON'S report said at the opening, 81 have
not withheld my name from the report OF the
majority on account OF. any objections which
may have to the details OF that report. Since our
committee deals in matters OF mere suggestion,
recommendation and petition, addressed TO the
rulers OF the District therefore matters OF detail
nave no material Importance as found in our sug-
lie heartily approved he said, OF the major part
OF the report and agreed with the majority in some
OF the Important positions taken by IL In regard To
some or the legal reforms needed in the District,
but he was unable 10 agree with the majority In
their conclusion In regard TO the revolution which
they recommend In the system OF government for
this District. Mr.. Wilson then devoted consider
eDle space in his report 10 the anomalous condi-
ton OF the law" in the District. which he said
"iS not seen merely in the nebuIouS. confused,
Chaotic, and contradictory state OF the laws which
literally renders many or them 'unSearchable and
past finding out, but IL Is also seen In the absence
OF all law relating 10 some OF the most important
Affairs OF ciyli life and government"
THE LOGIC OF THE MAJORITY.
Mr. Wilson then considered the position of the
majority respecting The District government.
''The body OF the majority report" Mr.. Wilson
aid, sis devoted to showing that we ought here
70 have popular government, based upon the
SURFACES OF the people, and ought to abandon The
President
at Senate. While this Is the burden, and entire
scope and effect OF the argument OF the majority,
YET the conclusion which 1t reaches embodied
In the bill which accompanies the report Is singu-
larry out OF harmony with the argument. After
having proved that u popular government for the
District Is the only that ought to be tolerated,
AMI that men appointed by the President have
been, and must IN the future, be expected to be
the conclusion that, In the future not one
OF the officers OF the government OF the
District ought TO be elected by the people;
and that, instead OF having, as We now have in
the board OF Commissioners, two men appointed
by the President and senate. charged with the ad-
ministration Of the law. we shall hereafter have
sixteen such men, all appointed by the President
and confirmed by the Senate! And the majority
thus presents TO u.s. hot only this anomaly In the
way OF contrast between the argument made and
the practical CONCLUSION reached, but presents,
also, the practical question In arithmetic, which
is this: IL these six men, during the period OF the
Board OF Public Works. and these two men, during
he period from 1874 Up 10 1877, waste s50OOO,0OO
in six years, because OF the fact that they were
appointed by the President and confirmed by the
senate, then how much money would sixteen men
waste in the hundreds OF years OF the future
during which the majority proposes TO have these
sixteen mcn, I'll appointed by the President, en-
Gagged In wasting the public mCney-so engaged
they must be-, according 10 the report Of the ma
jority. because they were appoin ted by the Pres-
dent"
After referring TO the constitutional provisions
respecting the government OF the District. and
living Arguments against popular government
Mr.. WilsOa proceeded TO present ~ statement OF
The ,al objections to such Popular government
here
OBJECTIONS 10 POPULAR GOVERNMENT.
"The first and main objection" he said, sis
found in the simple fact that permanent as dis
tinguishcd from provisional legislature. created
and acting within the bowels of another legislature
Il not only absurdlty. buL almost a monstroSity.
IL Is 10 good reply To this allegation OF absurdity
TO say that the abSurJty Is found In the gov
ernm established IN our territories, where leg
islation is tolerated, by local body, which is sub
jet Il the supervision OF Congress. The TWO cases
ere 10 no essential degree analogous or parallel.
The local governments, which are toler-
ated, by Congress, In the territories
temporary and provisional only, are dc
signed 10 take care of the people, and the land OF
the government, until the people are sufficiently
numerous 10 take care OF themselves. Then such
governments are designed 10 and do instantly pass
Vision of Congress and where in the nature OF the
case the care. in detail over them by Congress is
Impossible. But ia the case OF this DISTRICT IL is
exactly IN these respects, the opposite. The Dis
tct Is the very home OF Congress. and OF the EX-
ccutne OF the nation. Here The enormous and
which are embraced in the public buildings OF the
nation and ia the records OF its legislative execu-
i've, and judicial departments. Here the millions
OF money OF the nation are stored III Its Treasury,
and are 10 DE guarded against SpOliatiOn. Here
the Congress. as well "A the executive and Judi
cal branches OF the United states, must be Sc
cured IN eX mption from moleStatiOn, and from
all extraneou5 or alien Influences. The secure
inent OF this exemption was tue sole cause OF the
creation or this District aad OF the exclusive con-
troll thereoyer b. Congress And in coDtempla-
ton oil law here are 10 remain forever this resi-
dence, and this dominion, OF Congress-"
EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE DUTIES.
"Apothcr suggestion" the report went on ais
here;proper. Much Of this report by the majority
Is devoted to stating the wrong which is alleged TO
be involved In the present government OF this Dis
trict, IN That the executive and the legislative
power are said to be united In one ana the same
body OF men, namely, in the Commissioners some
suggestions, In reply TO this criticism, proper
one Is that 1T Is doubtless true that Congress,
through neglect, has lett TO the regulation OF the
commissioners some matters, probably many
matters, OF such importance as ought 70 command
the lie yislaton OF Congress, ana ought not 10 be
left 70 regulation by the Commissioners. But the
remedy Tor this ought 10 be found, not In the
throw OF the existing governmenJ, bat IN passing
ers. To the enactment OF such needed laws, in
stead OF the overthrow or the government, the
majority OF the committee ought, submit, TO
have devoted the efforts or their report"
REASONS FOR OPPosING CHANGE.
1.-THE disasters which came to this District Mr..
Wilson said, ''dUring the three years pointed to-
ly the majority report, as disastrous, from lS1I
10 1871. IN which We had popular legislature and
Doarl OF pubic works, Is proof enough TO satisfy
all thoughtful men, cOslZanJ Oh the facts, OF the
lnmsnse danger In renting out 10 any sucr local
legis allure, wheth = created By the President or
by the vote OF the people, the business OF making
these laws.
"Two other propositions, akin to the one last
stated. assert; and, Without attempting 70 enter
upon the proof thereof submit them TO the can
md Judgment OF all observant and impartial peo-
! pie. These propositions are:
First. That the government OF this District,
| since the establishment OF the board OF Com
InissionerS III 1874, has been, with ali It's
admitted shortcomings, by far the best
which ms District has ever had; best In
the material improvements made; best in
the health, security, cleanliness and beau
tlncation secured; best In the growth and pros
perity OF the city and people; best In the
Judit1ouS and economical expenditure OF the pub
\ Tic moneys; best IN the Respect and confidence
which IL has commanded from Congress, and in
the contributions received from Congress to the
upoCilding OF the material interests OF the Dis
| Jrict. and best In the approval which that GOV.
eminent receives from the body OF the people
"knd the other proposition iS that instead OF
the body or the people being opposed TO the present
government and DESTROYS OF returning TO what the
maj Jrity report calls popular government, such
IS We had from 1871 TO 1874 the truth Is tn the
\ any such change as Is recommended by the ma
Jortty 10 the committee. This last proposition Ia
not capable OF proof otherwise tn IN by taking
q census or the opinions OF the people. AS lar
IS such census has been recently taken and eX-
nib ted IN the journals OF the District IL fully con-
recJ proof Is not practicable, yet the observation
of citizens must confirm I've statement have
| Just made"
MI. wilson also considered more at length some