The morning times., 1897-02-24

The Board of Trade is now on record for
home rule That body met sterday after
noon at the Builders Exchange to discuss
the question of local men for local offices
II was the first time III its history that
the body undertook totakc partin purely
political matter, although il was held at
the meeting that there was question in
viewed which relieved the discussion prac-
tIcaIly Of its essentially political phase.
The discussion was warm at times, and
earnest III all times, With differences of
opinion which made tile debate all the more
Interesting.
The large attendance AT an hour of the
day when most business men like To toe
at home Indicated the interest taken by
the body in the matter proposed for be
bate. Il WIS perhaps the rumor that
one of TIE itices at least Was 10 be filled
10y a gentleman from ONO, which led To
the early meeting of the board.
Among those attending We're: President
: W Woodward. ] Ohm B Wight, secretary;
DR. a r. Pardon, Josiah MHlard, w. c.
Dodge. nr Louis w. Ritchie, Theodore
w Moves, II. l.. Biscoe, c. C. Lanca ster.
Tracy l.. Jeffords, oscar ". White, Henry
h LOCKER, George L Emmons. Myron NJ.
Parker, George L. Graham, LoTing Chap
pell. Dir c. b. PUrvis, 4. Ross Perry, W.
J. Van wickle, Archibald Greenlees, Fred
erick l. Moore, John JOY Edison, Weston
Flint. B L. Janney, ". Redin Woodward,
w J Frizzell, Ward Thoron, George ii.
Dana. Julian C. Dowell. Levi ]. Bryant, Z.
Welsh, Ashford, Capt r. W Tyler, Lorin
NJ Saunders and r. A. Phillips.
President Woodward. opening the pro-
ceedings. said that he nad called the
meeting at the request of half a dozen
directors TO discuss the policy OF appoint
ing local men TO fill the few local offices
of the District.
Mr Theodore w. Noyes one of the direct
ors who had sugge sted the meeting,
offered the following resolutions:
Whereas the official affairs of a mu-
nicipality are necessarily best conducted
by residents thereof. acquainted with local
conditions and needs and responsive to
The local public sentiment which finds a
voice in the praise or blame OF their neigh
b0rs, while the importation of non-resl-
dents to fill such offices exposes a mu-
nicipality TO the tender mercies OF Off
unrestrained for a respect Tor a wholesome
local sentiment;
And whereas it is equitable in the cases
OF offices sustained directly or indirectly
by fees paid exclusively by local property
owners or taxpayers that those who con-
tribute the funds should have prevailing
voice in designating the officials TO be COM
pensated exclusively from their contribu-
tions;
And whereas the nation has wisely rec
ognizedthe applicahilityo yofthe above stated
principles to localappointments in the Dis
tTicUOf Columbia and has, through Congress,
enacted that a three years residence is es-
sential 10 eligibility TO appointment as
acivilian District Commissioner. and has in
the platforms of both great political
parties extended this eligibility To the
other local Federal offices, by declaring,
either specifically concerning the District
or generally concerning the District under
the classification OF Territories. that al
the Federal officers appointed for it should
he selected from bona fide residents there
of: therefore he it
Resolved. That the Washington Board Of
Trade. mindful of the welfare of this
municipality. heartily indOrseS this actor
ofthe political parties and OF Congress, and
the sound principles upon which it is based
and declares its firm conviction that these
assurances against the use Of the loca
offices as rewards TO nOn-residents for na
tional and partisan political services ren
dered should never he violated either il
letter or in spirit
Mr.. II Ross Perry secondng the resolu
lions npenc the debate. He argued that
WaslinglOl wa unique anon Z ci,iesi n tht
reSpec. Of The absence of home rule. There
was no place in the CO Intry az this moment
where they could not assume that they
could and would control their affairs and
offices. The position Washington was in
was not az t'y un-Amercan. but it was the
rev,rS -gich mad been established