The daily critic., 1890-10-01
AN OPEN LETTER.
A NUMBER OF PERTINENT INQUIRIES
ADDRESSED TO Mr.. NGOMAS.
The weil-K nowu Maryland Member
Accused of acting In Hynocrit-
fcal Manner Toward the
District

Ua Lo1s 2. McComas d. g.. House Of
Reprcetlhrcs, Washington, D. G.
SIR II, as claimed by your friends,
you are a sort Of Common. Councilman
for our District, It seems proper that
cur people should know something of
your opinions as affecting our rights
and our interests. On the 22d instant,
therefore, ! wrote you as follows
SIR; Pending the consideration Of the
District Appropriation bill In the House of
Representatives on the 30th dav Of July
uitimo Hon Thomas NJ. Bayne is reported
70 have stated TO your presence that In his
opinion Congress is absolutely without
power 10 delegate authority % snv munici-
pal government TO legislate Tor this Dis
trict.n
On account Of the. vital Importance of
that question 10 our people and OF the
representative relation to our District
affairs. which you seem to occupy, I
have the honor respectfully to request
TO be Informed whether or not you CON
cur In that opinion. Please have the
Kindness to write me az your earliest
convenience.
But no reply has been received.
Apparently, TO perpetuate an auto
cratic and oppressive government in
this District, combined effort Is being
made TO delude our people and the coun.
try into the belief that a municipal gov
ernment for local purposes in this Dis.
trict Is absolutely Incompatible with the
Constitution, and Mr.. Bayne seems 20
have been put forward az the pompous
pretenderof the jurisprudence OF Chris.
tendon TO aid and strengthen that
monstrous imposition. which you timely
ventured to sustain only by inuendo or
insinuatIon.
You say ''the people come here with
notice in the Constitution as to the
power and duty Of Congress with its
exclusive control Of this District" |
first came here in 1897, and found In
this city Of Washington municipal
government with legislative powers
created by act Of Congress. More than
a quarter of century thereafter l
came again and found a similar govern.
ment still In existence. But / never
received any notice" that It's creation
and maintenance all that time had been
in violation Of the Constitution Of the
United States as YOU now muster suii-
Cient courage to laaauate.
/ believe Il Is true that funds were
furnished by a few wealthy specula.
tors Of this District TO aid your election
to the Fifty first Congress, and that an
understanding has existed between YOU
and others interested, TO hurry through
the House Of Representatives the Dis
trict Appropriation BILL with a view to
cut of discussion Of the merits of the
bill by taxpayers Of the District, and
prevent the disclosure Of improper
practices Of the District authorities.
And, should you desire TO have my
reasons, ! shall furnish them for publi-
cation with pleasure.
am Republican, and | desire that
the control of our national Government
should remain In the hands Of those
who have always stood true TO the flag
and sacrificed and suffered for It's main
tenance. But have no fellowship with
an imposter, who prostitutes HIS Office to
ignore and oppress common people,
and 10 impair or abridge the rights aud
prerogatives OF American citizenship.
With distinguished consideration, re-
specdully, 5. Q. CLARKE.
Washington, D. c., Sept. 30, 1890.