Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-01-12

this corporation Citizens petitioned and
the mayor and councils memorialized the
Senate and House for relief. (See particu-
lars IL. X. Doc. No. IL. ID session, 80 Con-
gress; II. II. Doc. 1s. LIST session same
Congress, and Senate Doc %, of January
=. 1854, and ii. X. Rep, 1856. of same ses-
sion.) At the end of this period the city
debt was stated by the mayor In his mes
sage at $1y3,ooo.
And yet. with the single exception of the
subscription to the Chesapeake and Ohio
canal stock, no improvidence or unfaithful-
ness could be imputed TO the city corpora
ton. The taxes had been diligently COLI
lected and honestly applied. Prior TO 1885
the expenditure of the city for local inn
provements had been $4,000. i'm addition
TO the amount contributed by the United
States.
The enormous outlay upon the streets ana
avenues of the national capital would have
sufiiced to put the final touches OF improve
ment on every city of narrow streets like ST
Louis, but. as every Union soldier I'm the late
war who visited Washington at that time
will testify, none OF its best avenues were
then In good condition and most OF its
streets were muddy in wet weather and an
kle-deep in dust in dry weather. Mud holes,
dirt and cobblestones were the rule. IL il
not to be wondered at that few western
men proposed 10 remove the capital TO St
Louis. II must be admitted that. at that
time, Washington did not appeal TO the
pride or aesthetic taste Of the American,
people One OF the potent causes of its con-
dition was il had for many years been re-
Sarded by an influential and sometimes
dominant political element as the capital OF
4 confederation soon to pass away. Its pub
lie buildings were temporary barracks. and
Its broad avenues were soon 10 become pas
ture grounds. The duty OF Congress to the
capital city was, however never repudiated
and seldom forgotten.
The New Era BEGINNING.
). Fifth period: 1S65-1ss3-The enactment
of the law of February %. 1885, was one OF
first 49,
hess of established nationality. 1t was tbs
first movement of the new population OF
Washington to make the city what a ma
tional capital ought TO be. The limitation OF
So a front foot IN the expense of street i'm
provement had made them cheap and rude:
and the prohibition of such improvements,
unless peutIoned for by the owners OF
more than half the abutJing property, had
enabled ricn men and syndicates OF land
owners To prevent the laying Of sidewalks
and the paving of carriageways. The new
law abolished the limitation and prohibi-
ticn- The city corporation began to act
freely. Ordinances in great number ordered
improvements. the total cost OF which was
TO be taxed on abutting property. The
charges were onerous and caused much dis
content Discussion ana agitation involved
the entire District and Congress, and re-
suited in the enactment, February n, ISL.
OF law providing "a government for the
District OF Columbia" This law gave to
the people the election of the House OF
Delegates and of a delegate TO Congress,
and 10 The President the appointment OF the
governor. the council, the register. the re-
coruer, the attorney. the marshal and the
board Of public works This board was
given entire control of the streets. ave-
nues, alleys and sewers of the city," ana the
right TO assess special taxes and disburss
the monies when collected These special
assessments Were against abutting proper
~, and were not to exceed one-third OF the
cost OF the Improvement, a reduction Ia
veraeie to owners The former system Of
charging the whole cost was oppressive.
tending TO force owners in straitened cir
cumstances to sell out TO capitalists
In practical operation. the effective pow
ers OF the new government proved 20 ~
vested in the governor and board OF PUP
lie works. These went TO work with arnax-
ing energy on a comprehensive plan" OF
grading, sewering. paving and sidewaIlxing
the limits Of revenue. All moneys In the
District treasury, from taxes, special as
sessments and appropriations, was spent.
debts were incurred by millions and special
assessments were showered upon real es-
tate owners These appealed to Congress
against the board of public works and
asked an investigation. This was granted.
After exhaustive inquiry, the United states
officials complained of were condemned
Congress passed. June -. 1874, AN act
for the government of the District OF Co
lumbia." &c. This abolished suffrage In
the District and transferred the powers
OF the governor of the board of public
works TO three officials called Commits
sioners. 1t left In them unimpaired the
power TO levy special assessments. which
had been the chief EVIL complained or
The complaining citizens were justfned
and. at the same time, punished The
board of public works was condemned. but
continued under a new name. (See n X
Rep. Ga, first Sess.. Forty-third CongressJ
Misleading Terms.
VI. Sixth period. lss4-lss4.-The law OF
June ~. 1874, providing a temporary form
OF government for the District, and the law
Of June IL, 1878. providing a permanent
form" Of said government. are substantial
ly similar. so far as regards our present
inquiry. The titles are misleading. The
casual reader is led TO think OF the District
of Columbia as a municipal corporation,
with some attributes Of independence or
the United States. with its own revenues
and separate functions: and of its citizens
as clothed with the rights and privileges
OF the freemen Of other cities He is apt.
too, to be struck with the generosity OF
the 20 per cent appropriation" clause.
which reads as IL that 80 per cent were q
donation from a muniilcent patron! The
truth reveals a different state OF facts.
From June -. 1874. the District of Column
bia has been an undefinable myth, a cor
poration not to be classified. for IL has no
parallel 1t cannot make a bond. create
a debt or pay one 1t is liable TO suit and
judgment. but IL cannot pay a judgment.
for It's revenues are taken from IL daily
locked OD IN tne nlte0 states treAs-
ury. Its managers are agents Of u higher
power. Ii is an executive department OF
the United States and not a government,
though SO called I'm the statute ironically.
Its citizens have no rights or privileges a.
such. They are the only citizens Of the
republic who have no voice I'm framing their
own laws or managing their own affairs.
They don't vote taxes; they only pay them.
They have no control the assessor
and collector. They can't oppose oppres-
sion by any means. except the courts ana
humble petition. They live. said Senator
Ingalls,. under absolute despotism.
tSee Record. December II. lssS. page 229l
If the citizens of the District don't like
IL, they can go elsewhere" washington
Post. July -. 1871 In their illusions TO
the District " IL were an independents
corporation government. the laws OF
1874 and 1878 are examples OF sardonio
pleasantly in legislation. The - per cent
appr opria ton clause. instead of purporting
TO be a gracious gift by the United states
TO the District. should have read as fol-
lows:
I'm consideration Of being permitted TO
hold property within the District. the own
ers OF real estate shall be taxed one-hef
of the amount of the estimates. made by
United States officials, and approved by
Congress. OF the annual expenses incident
to managing the District OF Columbia.
The District Commissioners followed ZEAL
ously in the path tro6den by their prede-
cessors, the board of public works. From
July. ls14 to June. 1875 their chief work
was to continue and complete the improve