Evening star., 1901-09-03

given the territorial government to borrow
money for the extraordinary expenses OF
improvement, gave the guarantee of the
United States for the payment OF the prln-
cipal and interest of the bonds issued on
that account. 81
The Local Constitution.
'In fulfill1nent Of its promises. Congress,
in 1878, passed the act, which the Supreme
Court Of the United States has termed the
Constitution Of the District Of Columbia
giving it a permanent government by three
Commissioners, to be appointed by the
President Of tae United States, who exer-
else all the executive power and to whom
thority to make regulations enforcible by
penalties for the public safety, health ana
comfort-a unique grant to an executive
government. In the same act runs the
provision for the division OF the expenses
of the District Of Columbia half-and- half
between the United States and the District
Of Columbia. Twenty-three years expert
ence has proved that this is the ideal form
This is attested by the fact that there Is
no probability that it will be materially
changed at any time In the future. Inc
ia ct that 1t Is an exception TO all otnei
governments In the United States IN that
it provides for taxation without represen-
tation and Is autocratic In form, grleVes
some good people In the District VINO care
more for sentiment than for substance, ana
PrteVeS
vantage Of the untoward conditions which
the restoration Of the suffrage wouio m
eyitably produce. But the people OF the
District of Columbia generally believe that
sibie for them, and If any serious attempt
were made to change it 1t would be over
whelmfngly defeated. They know that the
absence Of partisan politics in the Dlstrlct
Of Columbia has made its government pure
ly a matter Of business, and that 1t has
been carried on with absolute honesty win
conspicuous efficiency and economy. ana IN
accordance with its official motto, 'Justltla
omnibus
saThere has been no suspicion OF malad-
ministration, of corruption or OF blackmall
The Commissioners and the other oMceIs ol
the government Of the District OF Columpla,
invariably, have had the confidence ana
support Of all that is best in the COM
munity. Under the organic act of 1878 two
Of the Commissioners are to pc resloents
of the District Of Columbia, and the tnlrd
Corps Of Engineers, the civilians serving
for three years, the Engineer Commissioners
having no fixed term, but as rule serving
for shorter period. Under the unwrltten
chooses the civilians from different political
parties, and one Of them has always been
lawyer, though the law requires only tnat
they shall be residents OF the Distrlct:
appropriations are the basis for the annual
action of Congress, and Congress, through
it's committees consults the Commissioners
about all measures affecting the District,
Commissioners. The annual budget OF the
Commissioners amounts now, In round
numbers. to about Sc, 100000, which has TO
be appropriated in detail by Congress-, half
District revenues, and all the accounts OF
the District, because Of the national par
ticipation, are audited, not only by the au-
ditor of the District but by the United
fofn nao nav~>
that pass such scrutiny c6uld not long be
dishonest, even If there Swefe dishonest men
in the government Of the district.
Unique GSveIAment.
'"This unique governraentw would not have
continued, and would not have been sue
cessful, had it not bern ii fact more re-
sponsive to public opinion than any other
in North or South Amerfaa. self-govern-
ment Of the most direct and effective char
acter is the possessionrbf the people OF the
District Of Columbia. Thee President has
always chosen as Commissioners men
the support Of their 'feHoN citizens. and
the Commissioners and Congress have al
ways welcomed every expression OF the
public VIII: The govefnm6nt Of the Dis
trtct OF Columbia is, therefore, admittedly
the best in the United States. because it Is
q government by the best citizens, with
partisan politics, the professional politician
ns s90osr assres
to exhibit at the Pan-American exposition
its form OF governments a. its best and
most characteristic product. which cannot
It is becoming the most beautiful capital
In the world. and has doubled It's popula-
ton and wealth under It.
In the celebration, on the 18th OF last
the founding Of the District Of Columbia,
the speakers at the Executive Mansion and
at the Capitol showed that the District OF
Columbia had held Its own IN the progress
come the commercial Emporium OF the
drst order for which George WashinGton
hoped. any more than 1t had become tho
home OF the national university OF which