Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-02-28

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Citizens Association No g, Southeast Washing
ton last night took up again the discussion OF the
report and bill providing for new form OF govern
ment now pending before the Committee OF One
| Hundred. Mr.. Jno. E. Herrell as a member OF the
select committee, explained briefly the contents Of
the report, which he said was, In his opinion a
| very valuable document, calculated not only TO
enlighten our own citizens, but to inform men,
| bers Of Congress Mr. Benjamin. called attention
| to what he claimed were defects In the bill The
| appointment OF the single Commissioner he said,
! was not made obligatory on the President. He is
simply authorized to make such appointment; he
| might, II he chose, continue the present three
! Commissioners In power. On the other hand 1t
was made obligatory upon the President 10 ap-
! point the council OF fifteen very important
power was withheld from this council 1t had no
power TO appropriate money. They had the
| anomaly OF legislative body that could not
appropriate money. IL seemed to him, too that
II was beneath the dignity OF such a body to have
20 submit It's estimates to the Secretary OF the
Treasury.
Mr.. Benjamin discussed at some length the DIFF
ferent questions presented by the report as to the
ting that the persons who made the laws should
execute them He commended that the Commits
sioners DID not make the laws. They had no legs-
latfve power beyond the power or making such
minor regulations as were necessary TO enable
speaking, any legislative power. They could not
alter the laws. 10 seemed to him that the state
uentS MADE In THIS report were
DESIGNED TO N1slEAD
Such legislative powers as the Commissioners
held would be found everywhere vested in mayor,
boards OF charities, or other municipal officers 1t
was not true, as the report said that the reyula-
lions Tn Il the commissioners had power to make
touched the people most nearly. They did not al
ter the descent or property the procedure OF
courts, or touch upon any OF the great lhngs that
Affect the liberties or citizens. lie claimed that
there were enough TO make such legiS. atfve pro-
visions as tue commissioners were AUTHORIZED to
make. III the Commissioners constituted the en-
tire government OF the District reasons Urged In
Ia this report for change might have some force,
out as IL was these Commissioners were nothing
more than administrators. IL was mere Ques-
whet her these Commissioners should be appointed
or elected. Following out the logic OF the report
SINE 10 the people, and that the people could turn
ont, and no such government was proposed by this
committee. lie could mol see the force OF the OBJ
lection that the commissioners hal not time 10
ie'arn from citizens OF tue needs OF the city. IL
there was any rec In this /, seemed 10 him hat
IL would call for government OF from 200 10 300
COMMISSIONERS, 80 tnat every citiZsn would have a
COMMISSIONERS TO BUrrON-ToLE.
BE did not think any gentleman would claim
that the present Commissioners were worked to
death IL they had not time to attend 10 the mat
tiers before them did anyone think that fifteen
men at $500 piece would have time:
As 10 that passage or The report referring to the
formation OF citizens associations as an evidence
OF dissatisfaction with the form OF government,
order TO help the District government TO get ap-
preparations from Congress-, not express dssatis
Iactlon with the government. He did not believe
Eat the people OF the District OF Columbia were
dissatisfied No proof had been offered that there
MAS any dissatisfaction on the other hand, THE
r. ur or f1ve who favor the proposed change and
" or sixty who were opposed TO 1t. He had never
and he was dissatisfied becaus he thous at II was
wrong 10 deprive a man of the right TO vote
Every one VINO voted to indorse this blu was going
statement haI he ueo
were dissatisfied As TO the proposed change he
argued that II was a change OF form rather than
Them they were TO have sixteen. one thing he
noticed In the historical part OF the report and
take charge extensively OF the government thew
let them md the means 70 carry IL on He thought
that y they must change the government they
should change IL according TO the spirit OF the age
and the national CUSTOM and let the citizens vote
Mr.; Herrell said that after all Mr.. Benjamin had
saia ne had sald nothing TO show where he stood
Mr.. Benjamin called attention to the fact that
the gentleman Nr Hereby was one OF those who
nad signed the report.
Mr. HERRELL STANDS BY THE REPORT.
MI. Herreii said that he knew he had signed the
report ana he was proud OF it, After years OF cit-
z-nshp here he believed that they needed change
In the form OF government. The committee
onought the plan p! scented was, under the cir
cumstdnces, the best, the most feasible and the
most conservative. II the present commissioners
had zone all they could, they had made a serious
passioe at this season. There was not u single
street IN East Washington that was paved from
one one end 10 the other He was not complaining OF
tne commissioners. They probably did as Wei as
any gentlemen they could get But they haven't
tne time; they cannot do the work. The Commits
sloners had always come from West Washington
or a little corner near Rock Creek Tney had
never nao one east OF Sd street west Human nature
was human nature everywhere even with Com
mssion-rs They looked after the inIrresfs oY
tnelr own section lie referred to his own expp-
n nee IN endeavoring to get improvements In East
aEf.x.
money In rem S, bee. Use or the bad condition OF
tne street. 10 hale paved the whole street himself
aet ne mad been to the Commissioners year after
year ana nau oeen promised that the improve
heht should De made, hut IL has not been made
THE STREET IMPROVEMENTS.
nv Mahoney said that this bill dfd not Improve
the condition OF affairs far as the improvements
OF streets Is concerned The bill put the matter OF
street improvements In charge of an engineer
omcer, ana the council had nothing TO do with ~
A member suggested that the council had the
Me NJ % sM sSg me STREETS for Improvement,
mean tnat tney would be improved.
Mr. DODGE ExPLAINs
MI W. &. Dodge, a member OF the select COM
mittee. was present and made a full EXPLANATION
OF the reasons that had Influenced the committee
ne SAID, considered the proposed change a con.
seryative change. In reference to Mr. BenIamin's
criticism OF the words or the bill Mr. Dodge said
tnat the words "nay appoint" &C.. had ALWAYS
, peSn construed Dy the courts as mandatory. The
OIL, NO said did no. propose 50 RADICAL change
as ne would Ike. The committee knew very well
.liatt tne majority OF taxpayers here were opposed
W popuiar sAnraSe, and that members OF Congress
we're, 80 they thought it better that they should
MY propose such government.
III Ms. Do1ee said that he would favor suffrage
t run u properly qualification. A Congressman
aoiu hil however that he could not: vote for such
- - ncdsure oetsiuse IL would defeat him M home
- coninittee wanted them 10 get as near a non
,, aoLA vi government possible-a board that
,i Iepft~ent the different sections Mr. Uodye
,D ISSUE Win Mr. Benjamin as to the extent or
TIE legislative "' vi
- fo"ERs or THE COMMISSIONERS
"Aat trey were striving for was this board renre
Srn'ih4 Inherent sections to make thest, yarous
aosusIons, out primarily TO make tie estimates
iney "a East Washington wanted some of the i'm
R.oseineuts He spoke at some ieDpth on the Tact
ie tne commissioners had aIwa vs. been anpoi MED
hoi nv. the west End. He sid there were Schemes
s,n,i pas vi .oot today the execution OF when
sreo.H ANY run ten 10 twenty million dollars
49, "ou'a nho Within @ year their burden Of
u.oeo anu taxes Increased. The gentlemen who
owned THIS suburban property arosind The c,Iv
noulu oouoie the Indebtedness ff they had rhs
poMef. AZ tney HAD council OF tftes n they conid
prevent such expenditures Take for fnsrsnce
INC appropriation or So, 600 mads tor the WotIev
Lane pridge. He had learned afIer loavfn0 the
Soaunittee-room that the whole object WSs ro
ooIsu bridge Tor q street railroad One o. tina
men interested In tae bill had told him thas VA
the purpose. -~" ""S
rH1 STAR" ISTxxvuwa
Mr.. Dodge said he was astonisned that anv
one should say that there were no synsof dissatts