Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-02-18

STAR reporters have interviewed many citizens
Is to their views respecting the report now pend
proposing a new form OF government for the Dis
trict. This report proposes, In brief, that the
powers now vested In three District Commissioners
be entrusted TO one Commissioner appointed by
the President as executive Officer and council
composed OF fifteen members appointed by the
President, one from each OF fifteen council dis
trcts into which IL Is proposed TO divide the Dis
tr1ct OF Columbia. The results OF the interviews
printed below represent ali shades OF opinions re-
spectlng the District government.
r Fendall, OF the committee, says: 81
recognize the propriety and justice of the
some voice In imposing taxes on themselves, In
e9pending the revenues derived therefrom and In
rally AFFECT their welfare / deprecate an agita-
tion for unlimited suffrage as remedy, and De
leve the plan Indicated In the modlncatlons OF tne
zens' Committee Will remove the cause OF
discomfort without disturbing its main
a ane e D 1 eon1ro of the finances Of
the District, where it Is now-in the hands of'Con-
gress and the Treasury Department. IL proS6ae =,
the mode and wishes Of the people at large III re
lieves Congress OF much legislation OF strictly
CONSIDERATION OF important matters of a more gen.
eral nature IL provides for better executive
and dispenses with the dominating military eie-
menr in this department. After careful debera-
ton. i have reached the conclusion that either
plan similar TO the one proposed or SUFFRAGE, VIII
soon be tr ii here In order to remove the prevail
ing dissatisfaction, and my Judgment commends
10 me a trial OF the former first"
Charles C. Glover is Of the opinion that any
change in the present form OF government Is
dangerous. what had been recommended In the
report was at best an experiment, and in practice
might prove to be neither beneficial nor desirable
There was at present, he thought, no need or pop
ular demand for a change. The present govern
ment was economically and honestly managed
There were no great abuses TO correct and as far
n
mand for a change In the government
al am opposed to the plan," observed Henry
A. willard. "The Commissioners answer every
purpose. They perform the executive duties In
our government, and Congress the legislative
dut.es We want nothing 10 stand between US
1ary dictatorship In the District, and, rather than
have that, i would even prefer suffrage. But
we have got nd OF the military Dictator and now
we viii get along very well under the present
government would even be in favor OF having
only one Commissioner"
81 have always thought" said John W.
Thompson, "that there should be one head In au-
tnority In this District. With one responsible
authority it seems TO me an excellent thing to APP
point number OF citizens, whose duties 1t would
be 10 consider the legislation needed by the Dis
trict. This city Is becoming TOO large to expect
Congress 10 continue to act as It's alderman. be-
sys In man Ing this s as lar
the revenue TO be paid into the United states
Treasury, as at present, and the appropriations TO
be made upon estimates, which would be furnished
by the board OF citizens. In this way IL Is likely
that the interests OF all sections would be looked
after"
Judge Samuel Shellabarger said: "As was in
Congress at the time the present form OF District
government was adopted, had and have great
Interest In the matter. As TO the present sugges-
unqualined opinion. In the first place our depen-
dence upon Congress Is cOnstltutOnally necessary,
and whatever form exists II Will not change that
condition OF things. i am decidedly opposed to
any kind OF suffrage here. The shifting nature Of
the population and various other peculiar condi-
ions that exist here would render any plan OF suf
mage undesirable. cannot see very much OF a
change between the present and the proposed
plan, but II, as YOU say, these fifteen cOunctlmen
are 10 be appointed as representatives. OF the diner
emit sections or the District, think that am In
favor OF IL Yet, there Is not enough difference 10
fight about"
VIM NJ Gait when asked what he thought OF
the proposed new form OF government, replied:
81 haven't given II much consideration as yet. /
am perfectly satisfied with the present form OF
government and think II one OF the best In exist
Once, provided tits carried on properly. don't be-
Heve In an Engineer Commissioner" continued Mr..
Gait, "but think m an should be detailed from
the engineer corps, no should be the secretary of
the board. Three Commissioners suit me very wei,
provided they remember ina. they are Intended
Idon't believe In franchise In the District"
B. II. Warner was Of the opinion that this
city Is not a local affair. ''It does not" he
tinued belong 10 the citizens OF the District. IL
Is too expensive an enterprise for them To develop
or even TO assume charge OF under the form OF
an sS n a son @ the he e. eaPta
large, and every true American is interested In
seeing Washington made the most attractive and
beautiful. city OF the world or course the citizens
pay their taxes as they do In every other place.
and we are not In that sense dependent TO any de-
AL that the Government does and all that Is sx-
pectec. Is the assumption of It's fair share OF The
expense In maintaining the city In accordance
with the magnificent plan OF Its founder, the first
President. To accomplish this end and at the
same time TO protect private rights, IL seems TO
me that the present form OF government Cannot
H. nr1nrtnlQ n nnr
best citizens 10 represent the interests or the peo
pie, and the Engineer Commissioner Is supposed to
doShis also. sometimes objection may be made
10 the personal demeanOr OF oricials and their
manner OF treating the general public, but new
the present form Of government was adopted our
a0airs have been getting into better condition,
and the records and system or doing business, the
collecting OF taxes, and the disbursng OF money
was never as complete as now. Ii we cannot be
well protected with our Board OF Commissioner
the Secretary Of the Treasury the President OF the
United states, our committees In the House and
Senate, and the generous supervision OF every
member OF Congress, don't know what Will secure
Jesse b. Wilson, who viii make a minority
report 70 the Citizens Committee OF One Hundred
opposing the proposed plan, said: 81 have lived
here under the old forms Of government, the old
corporation, and the territorial government, and
believe the present form OF government Is the best
We have ever had There Is something TO show
for the expenditure OF money" Mr.. Wilson said
that he did not think there was any good reason
for making the changes proposed. The select
with the duty OF considering what could be done
In the way OF improving the present form The
proposal made was not an Improvement but a
suoyersion OF the government He would have
been prepared TO sign bill providing that all
three OF the Commissioners should be appointed
from civil life.
Frederick Douglass said: "The present gov
eminent Is n very good one but sometimes he
added. with twinkle Ia his eye "a Little partial
rather like the plan proposed by the Committee
OF One Hundred think II would be better II the
legislative functions OF government for so large
city were vested In a larger body than az present
and body selected as IL Is proposed from the DIFF
ferenJ Sc lions OF the city. think we would be
more likely 10 get even aud exact Justice would
like 10 better think, II there were TWENTY-FIVE in
the council representing the old legislative dis
tr1cts.r When the reporter spoke OF suffrage Mr.
Douglass raised his eyebrows eXpressiyeiy: al
hardly think we are prepared for suffrage yea" he
said II tnink need little more Intelligence
and virtue. think on the whole that favor the
plan Of the committee"
said John A. Baker: my opinion Is that we
have now the best form OF city government In the
world This agitation for a change I regret be
Cause It's effect may be mischievous. II a clamor
Il raised about the ears OF Congress for a change
II would be a very natural thing for Congressman
10 say: III these people want 10 govern themselves
well let therl do II, and let them support them
selves. too I do not believe the combined wis
OF government than we have now. Why, look at
what II has accomplished IL has made Washing
Ton a great and beautiful city,"
g. T. Dunlop. OF West Washington, was OF the
opinion that this form OF government Is the very