Sunday morning globe., 1901-08-18
A Good Suggestion.
Washington, Aug. II, 1901.
EDITOR SUNDAY GLoDE'

EDITOR SUNDAY GLOBE:
The Republican fraud, known as the
District government, is repugnant to
all honest, fair.minded people. II is
responsible to nobody but the bene-
ficiaries Of its wrongs. But would Mr..
Roses proposition increase its despon-
sibility to the people Of the city? If
the Congress must continue to legis-
late, and the U. S. courts adiudicate,
then one Commissioner or Mayor is
sufficient, and it does not matter much
from whence he is appointed, But
why can not the people of the capital
rule themselves? Because the old
model Of the American city govern
ment that took no notice Of institu-
tions, was tried, and with negro voting,
failed, is no argument that free gov
ernment, even with negroes, is a fail
ure. For who can prove it was not a
part Of the FederaBstic, Whig, Black
Republican program to enfranchise
the blacks to make all self-goyernment
impracticable? At least, history shows
no Republican effort to make univer-
sal suffrage Oncluding negro suffrage)
practicable, although by universal suf-
frage was the only way to make a gov
ernment "of the people, for the people,
and by the people, the Republican
shibboleth in time of weakness. In
fact, Mr.. Roses scheme seems to be a
Republican plan how not to do what
you would make people believe you
are disposed to do-to establish free,
fair and responsible government. Does
anybody imagine, as long as outsiders
rule Washington, that the District Will
be governed right? II the city govern
ment Of the capital is to become re.
sponsibe, 1t must be ruled from the
inside selfgoyernment Is the only
guarantee the city or citizen can have
for order. protection and fair treat
ment
I suggest that the government Of the
District Of Columbia be placed in the
hands Of a city assembly, made up Of
representatives Of the people, organ
ICED into two houses, and the admins.
tration be placed in the hands Of a
mayor (elected by a majority Of all
voters for five years., advised and
controlled by a council Of four men,
selected from the majority faction or
party in the lower house of the as.
sembly, the council to hold the direc-
ton Of the administration as long as It
controls the support Of a majority Of
the peoples representatives In both
houses. | suggest to make the assem-
bly, truly representative Of the people
as they live In society that the Dis
trict be divided into twenty-five divis.
ions, each division containing about
10000 people, and each division be re-
Quired to elect and seat a delegate to
the lower house of the assembly every
man Ia bona ide citizen) the head Of
a family, or capable of being such, vot-
ing. and that the divisions known as
Northeast, Northwest, Southeast,
Southwest old Georgetown, the county
West Of North Capitol street and the
county East Of the same street, each
with two senators from the city at
large) be required to elect and send a
representative to the city senate, every
man the head of a family or capable Of
being such, and paying taxes on at
least $500 worth OF real or personal
property voting With such a govern
ment in which all are represented,
legislating, gdiudicating (through In
ferior courts Of its own creation) and
executing its own rules and decrees,
every citizen might have some say in
the government under which he lives
His vote would be some guarantee Of
his rights. II, W, G.