Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-02-25
CITY AND DISTRICT.
WEST WARRINGTON OPPOSES 1T.
The Proposed Plan OF GOvernment
Discussed M q Public Meeting.

TELL WHY THEY ARE OPPOSED TO IT.
The citizens OF West Washington responded last
night 70 the number OF a score or more TO an invi-
tation 70 meet at 1851 High street and discuss the
report and bill now pending before the Citizens
Committee Of one Hundred. Mr. John T. Mitchell
presided. and DIR. Richie acted as secretary. Dr.
Richie made himself quite hoarse reading the long
report OF the select committee OF hundred for
the Information OF the gathering, and Mr. Mitchell
relieved him OF the task OF reading the bill.
Mr.. John stake opened the discussion Heknew.
he said that IL would please many to return to the
old system but he was totally opposed TO any
thing Ike Suffrage, unless with a qualification.
He thought Congress had been very liberal to the
District, and would not rebound 70 their interest
10 make any material change In the form Of gov
eminent.
Mr. LKErcH FAvoRs THE REPORT
Mr. John Leetch moved 20 indorse the report.
He said he was at loss 20 see how any good citi-
zens who gave thought 10 the matter could md
much fault with the recommendations OF the re-
Tor his part he had views on that subject de
thought they should be ashamed TO have men tell
the people Of the District that they should Inc, not
pablo OF exercising IL properly and lntelllgenly;
II the same principle OF government were applied
10 the states as Is applied here IT would give ri
TO rebellion within month
Mr.. George W. King asked whether the fifteen
council districts were divided OF according 10
Mr.. Mitchell said he thought their boundaries
were nxed by their area
Mr.. King suggested that it was not fair TO give
West Washington but one representative in the
council
be offered In the Committee OF One Hundred TO
give West Washington two representatives.
Mr.. King said that he thought they should have
Mr. Craig said the bill did not provide that the
Commissioner should be resident OF the District
Mr.. Mitchell thought IL dbl. but after looking IL
over failed 10 md any such provision, and re-
marked. That's so; he may come from Kam-
schatka"
WHY Mr. MITCHELL OPPOSES 1T.
Mr.. Mitchell spoke at some length in opposition
70 the report. In his experience with the District
government, he said ne had found one exceedingly
sore spot, and that was the Engineer Commits
siOner. He thought that all the trouble had gro~n
out OF that Engineer Commissioner. While he
had no personal grievance against any of1cer who
had served In that capacity, he was well satisfied
that all the distrust and dissatisfaction grew out
OF the fact OF having military officer as a Com
missioner. He thought that was the principal
diinc ulty with the present form OF government TO
have one Commissioner and a council OF fifteen he
said was TO multiply their troubles by flve. He
sure that II the Angel Gabriel and an angelic
eOhOrt came down 10 govern the District OF Col
umbia they would have difficulty. The problem
OF the government OF large cities was the great
problem OF the age and this problem especially
Ia municipalities where there was suffrage.
He referred 10 the admirable organization OF the
present government and the Official honesty that
prevailed He was not disposed, ne said, TO grum-
lie al any burden OF debt imposed on the people
for the improvement OF the city. II IL had not
been for shat man shepherd" he said. the seat OF
government would have been moved away from
here. IMr. shepherds name was greeted with ap-
plauSe. While IL might De, Mr.. Mitchell continued
that portion OF the money was inJudiciously ex-
pended, still the results justified all the expendi
ture and more. In 1s71 the value OF real estate In
the District held BY private owners was $50, 0OO,-
600 Now II hal grown TO f13s, 100000 This had
been accomplished under the present form OF gov
ernment. He referred 70 the large appropriations
improvements.
for the courts. and Tor maintaiI1g various insli-
tutlons Tor which the GltiLens OF the Dis
charge that the United States was unjust
10 the District was unfounded. The report.
he said. contained much ancient history,
and his conclusion was that what was proposed
70 be done was not worth the candle. There
not enough In it TO justify the change or the risk
gress for extended privileges they would have
raised against them the large number in Congress
eral than just TO the District and were only wait
ing for an opportunity 10 make u change. The
three Commissioners now had the advantage, he
said OF the advice and assistance OF the various
officers at the heads OF the different Departments.
50 they could acquaint themselves with the needs
OF the District. There was not the necessity here
OF council 10 20 10 70 inquire as 10 the needs or
necessities OF the people. lie did not think there
ers 20 seek Information who had not been pleas
antly and eOurteOusy received. He would except
only one particular commissioner.
out OF the 1O7 citizens interviewed by The STAR
and including many Of the best citizens, he found
that ninety were against any change, seven were
doubt and nve or six had not read the bin He
thought IL could be very safely stated that the
great majority OF 5000 CITIZENS were opposed 70
likely 10 be brought about by an agitation Of the
matter.
Mr.. Leetch insisted that there would be no risk
at all OF losing the support now derived from the
United states IL did not propose TO enlarge the
powers OF the district government. As 10 the
haroOr Improvement, the Government was doing
here only what IL was doing In navgable rivers OF
the states He would rather. he said, entrust his
interests and the future interests OF the District
To fifteen citizens, composing a council than 20
two citlzens- Taey were not raising the question
u suffrage at all
Mr. GORDON SEES NO GOOD IN IT.
Mr.. J. Holdsworth Gordon said he was unalter-
ably opposed to the proposed plan He did not
see that anyt thing would be accomplished by IL
save probably providing Offices for fifteen
patriotic gentlemen who might think they could
perform the duties OF Commissioner better than
the gentlemen now In once the only way they
could Judge OF the utility OF any system was by
the Results accomplished. Under the present
system they had been benefited and had not sur
fered- When the old corporation Of Georgetown
passed out Of existence they had nothing but
mud hole. He referred TO the great Improvement
wealthy people, who came because they admired
the system. They needed Northern capital and
Northern enterprise, and to cAange the form OF
government would drive them away What bene-
mt would De derived In having fifteen men 10
squaDb.e? He was perfectly wiling 10 entrust his
saTy 10 20 back u the daysOf Esop, he said, tell
the fable OF the frogs and the Stork.
Mr.. Tenney agreed with Mr.. Gordon, and was
opposed 10 anything tending toward a return TO
the Old system.
WHY THE COMMITTEE WAS FORMED
Mr.. NeGowan-"what caused the formation of
the Committee OF One Hundred If there was not
dissatisfaction -
Mr.. Gordon said he Could answer that IL was
announced that citizens should meet 10 form a
committee 20 advise with and TO assist the Com
miSsi0nerI Now tina, committee when appointed
left the main track, and Was running like a train
without a locomotive.
a. a member OF the Committee OF One Hundred ne
had never flown the track. He had never opposed
the Commissioners AS for those who spoke
against the old system, he said he would be
ashamed TO condemn the acts OF their fathers
II the question were brought Up he believed the
great majority OF the citizens wanted the right OF
suffrage, restricted by property Qualification
Inc men who wanted TO sustain the present form
OF the government were doing as boys do when
they Play the game OF "follow your leader"
Mr.. Robert Tenney said that he was teetollay
Who wanted suffrage In the District OF Columbia?
Who could look at the recent convention at Will
lard Han and ask for suffrage? Only few months
asO be was Ii the city OF Alexandria on the day
before election, and he was thankful that such
scenes as he saw there were not enacted In this
city. For one he did not See the fault IN the pres
ent form OF government With the proposed Com
missioner and council he feared they would have
the Old story OF the tail wagging the dog.
Mr. 6KEESLEEs WANTS NO CHANCE.
Nj. Archibald Greenlees said he had never lived