Evening star., 1900-02-19
The Organic Act.

During the discussion in the House Sat
urGay over the question of dividing De-
tween the District and the government the
expense of caring for the parks In the DIS
trict Chairman Cannon of the committee
on appropriations declared that Congress.
being the common council for the seat of
government. could at any time and in ny
manner it might choose distribute the cost
of the local expenses without reference to
the crganic act of 1873. In other words. he
sought TO lay down the doctrine that Con-
greSs can at any time and in any manner
amend this act without formally going
through the processes of repeating or
changing it,
This doctrine is dangerous and must be
denied and fought in the interests of that
Washington for which every citizen and
every broad-minded legislator is hoping. 1t
cannot he squareIy defended save upon the
slippery ground of the unrighteous custom
of enacting general legislation upon the ap-
preparation bills
The organic act of 1873. providing form
of government for the District and speci-
flying the manner in which the local ex-
pen=es are to be met. on the half-and- half
principle. distinct legislative PROPOSE
lion. 1t was contract entered into form
ally between the people of the District on
the one side and the houses of Congress
acting for the government of the United
States-on the other 1t established condi-
items calculated to advance the prosperity
of the District 1t invited residents. capt.
tlIists. Investors. city-builders of all classes
Millions have been placed in the District
Is result of that contract, which would
probably not have been brought hither uu-
Ger different conditions.
Ir ;e+r he iOb of n
any time it sees fit to repeal the organic
act. in its entirety or in part, and to sub
Stitute therefor some other compact for the
purpose Of establishing government for the
District. But in all justice. in all equity, in
cGnsidera tiou Of the interests which have
b come vested here under the promise Of a
continue ton of the conditions of the or
eanic act such action should be taken di-
rectly and frankly and not indirectly and
by Subterfuse. as in the cases already re-
corded If violation of the law Of 1878,
The process CT enacring general legisla-
ton upon Appropriation bills is not d fair
test of the popularity or the usefulness of
a law sought To be affected by this process
II takes an unfair advantage. Operating
under peculiar rules and with the prestige
"f the committee on appropriations. these
occasional assaults upon the act of 1873 can
h. successfully managed, WHSFed> an open
proposition to change the fiscal relations Of
the District and the government would
doubtless be defeated. The citizens of the
DiStric. would infir;itely prefer a square
test of this question to these guerrilla
assaults upon the organic act. If defeated
in such a campaign. they would at least
know their status, instead of being threat
ened with invasions while existing under
the nominal protection Of a statute.
1t Is due to those who have made this city
their home during these past twenty years.
10 those who have brought capital here for
investment. to those who have wrought
literally and wisely for the evolution of an
ideal capital city that either these surrep-
titious encroachments upon the fundamen-
tai law cease henceforth. or that the whole
broad question of the organic act. Its mean
ing. Its validity and Its future vitality, be
broached in open field. for a supreme test
of strength.