Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-05
Objections Presented to Both Houses
Of Congress.
DISTRICT UNDER TIE CONSTITUTION
Considered in the Status of a Mill
tary Reservation.
A VERN ENT LIN E

| by Mr.. Towne and to the House by Mr..
| Grout:
| To the Senate and House of Representa-
| tives of the United States:
| On behalf of the National Patriotic Fed
GRAFTON, we, the subscribers, beg leave to
| submit several objections to the two bills
| Is. 1929 and s. 2i29) which relate to the
steam railroads that enter the District of
| Columbia. We object to the final passage
| of these bills:
| 1. Because they are in derogation of the
| war powers vested in Congress by the
| federal Constitution, and violate in particu-
lar the spirit of that clause which relates
| to the territory to be occupied by the
United States as the seat of government
| and which therefore forms the essential
constitution of this District, as we'll as the
pedestal on which all the other war pow
| ers'' are placed According to that clause,
| the federal district is in the same category
with forts, magazines, arsenals and dock
yards"-a fact which in itself shows that
the trainers of the Constitution intended
such district to be held primarily as a
| military reservations; that 1t was in mill
tary, and not commercial, considerations
that the grant of a power "to exercise ex-
elusive legislation in all cases whatsoever
had its origin. and that in framing this
peculiar power, the constitutional conven-
ton meant to cover not only the forts and
ferent parts of the United States. but also
the entire district which should become the
seat of the general government; extending
the application OF the power to all such
places alike. and limiting it exclusively to
them. That clause conveys the seventh
and last of-the enumerated military powers.
and provides a habitat for the national
military establishment. Let US examine it:
Congress shall have power:
TO exercise exclusive legislation in all
cases whatsoever over such District mot
exceeding ten miles square) as may by
the cesStOn of particular states and the ac-
ceptance of Congress. become the seat of
government of the United States; and to
exercise like authority over all places pur
chased by the consent of the legislature Of
the state in which the same shall be, for
the erection of forts, magazines, arsenals,
dockyards and other needful buildings"
Here District is in precisely the same
construction with forts" etc. But this
is not all The whole clause is enumerated
among the the powers relating to war; as:
l. ITO declare war" etc: 2. ITO raise and
support armies" etc; 3. "To provide nd
maintain navy 4. ITO make rules for
the government and regulation of the land
and naval forces 8. ITO provide for call
ing forth the militia" etc. 6. ITO provide
fo- organizing arming and disciplining the
militia etc; and 7. ITO exercise exclusive
legislation in all cases whatsoever over
the federal district and all it's forts, maya
zines, arsenals. dockyards, military and
naval academies. etc: Hence. we contend
that the security of the federal govern
ment vesting primarily in the military
strength of its own capital, was indisputa
bly, the consideration which moved the
trainers Of the Constitution to insert in 1t
this particular clause and that this clause
is, as have said, the constitution OF this
District.
Military Questions Involved.
Now, we submit that in view of the es
sentially military peculiarities of this Dis
trict. Congress ought to own and control
ipSt oil
ties all bridges across the Potomac and
Anacostia rivers touching any part of it,
and that Congress should not grant vested
rights in the streets, parks, avenues and
approaches of the capital Of the nation to
foreign corporations which might or might
not be loyal in case of war. Why were the
buildings and grounds of this city placed
under the supervision of the War Depart
ment? Is not the fact that they are under
such supervision itself significant? And if
so, why were not these bills referred to the
military committees of the Senate and
House Of Representatives to be considered
and reported on? What have the Commits
sioners of this District, or the railroad COM
panies. or the citizens associations here to
do with the fundamentally military ques-
lions involved in these bills? And what
have the congressional committees on the |
District of Columbia to do with them?
Would any other military proposition be
referred to those committees? If so, what
is the use of military committee?
Military Railroad Proposed.
The true remedy for existing inconven-
fences would seem to be the construction |
of military and post railway around the |
city, to be owned and controlled exclusive
ly by the government. 1t is true that such |
a road might not seem to be a present and |
pressing necessity. But either that or the |
scheme proposed by the railroads and the |
District Commissioners Is a necessity: and |
surely the military considerations should |
prevail over the purely commercial. Be- |
sides, know 1t to be the opinion Of an |
eminent military authority that military |
belt line, with suitable bridges would con-
sttute highly valuable national work, |
and one that could be supported by the |
same train Of reasoning which underlies |
the provisions made by Congress for the |
Naval and Military academies and for the |
construction of forts, magazines arsenaIs
dock yards and other needful military and |
naval works Of a precautionary nature |
Ana we believe that as a national work |
the cost of it's construction should be borne |
exclusively by. the national treasury, to |
which the people of this District contribnte |
proport1onately with all other inhabitants |
of the United States
Objections for Esthetic Reason.
2 We object to the said bills because |
they would forever destroy not only the |
strength but also the beauty of the ma |
tlonal capital for esthetic as we'll as mill
tary principles shamefully disreear6ed
in both bills
d. because the said bills prODose by
means Of the taxing power and the writ Of
ad quod dammem, to take the property of
one individual or corporation and give it to
another, which is contrary to all reason,
justice and precedent, and could not be
sustained as an exercise either of the power
taxation or the right of eminent domain.
f. Because the said bills discriminate
against other persons in favor of the rail-
road corporations by special exemptions
from taxation on improvements
g. Because the said bills appropriate pub
lie money and property to the use of pri-
vate corporations, and thus involve prtn-
ciple and precedent which would open a
door for intolerable corruption and fraud.
g. Because the measures proposed in the
said bills are neither necessary nor proper
for carrying into execution the powers
vested in Congress by the Constitution
and. therefore, cannot be supported by the
power to dispose of, and make all needfuI
rules and regulations concerning the terri
tory or other property Of the United States
Z. Finally, we beg of you to consider our
objections to these bills, to the end that
some more equitable and prudent scheme
for the relief of this city may be devised
by Congress, keeping in view especially the
military and esthetic ideals of the foun-
ders Of the republic and the constitutional
rights of the people.
JOSEPH BRADFIELD,