Evening star., 1902-03-11
DISTRICT Government
It's Beginnings Discussed by
{. Mr.. WgB: Bryan.
!
SCOPE OF jaw OF 1890
UNIQUE GRANT 9F POWER TO
FEDERAL SQHBRNMENT.
Laws Of Virginia end aAaryland Adopt
ed Temporarily-Ths National
Interests Subserved.
SCOPE OF jaw OF 1890

Interests subserved.
The regular monthly meeting OF the
Columbia Historical Society was held last
evening in the banquet hall Of the Shore
ham. In the absence from the city Of Mr..
John A. Kasson, the president Of the so
ciety. one Of the vice presidents. DR.. Aims
worth R. Spofford, presided. A paper en-
titled THE Beginnings of Government In
the District was read by Mr.. w. B. Bryan.
At the outset the speaker asserted that the
purpose in the minds of the trainers of the
Constitution in comforting by that instru-
ment upon Congress the right Of exclusive
legislation over the district selected as the
permanent seat of government was to place
the federal government on a footing Of inde-
pendence in the territory set apart for its use.
There it should be supreme, its dignity and
authority not being subjected to the caprices
or weakness Of any state or local power. 1t
was stated that the first reference to the
subject of comforting upon Congress such
powers is found in the message from the
general assembly Of Pennsylvania In 1888
inviting the national body to return to
Philadelphia from Princeton to which place
it had gone when the state failed to afford
proper protection. The state authorities
also desired to be informed what jurisdic-
tion was deemed necessary over the place
where Congress might meet.
When the first resolution providing for
the selection of a permanent seat of gov
eminent was introduced in Congress-, a few
months later, 1T contained clause confer
ring jurisdiction upon Congress Practical
ly the same provision was made a part of
all similar resolutions offered during the
seven years following when the question of
Capitol site was before the national BODY
In the meanwhile the constitutional con-
vention completed its work. and for the
~, ra% fNv
effect that Congress might be the supreme
authority in a federal district, and In IN
doubted response to the sentiment of the
day. the clause was inserted in the Con-
stitution.
Even after the passage Of the law Of
1I9O fixing the location Of the national
seat there IS no suggestion that either
Congress or the public viewed this cues
ton from any other point than that of the
Scope Of Power Granted.
As to what appear to US today important
phases Of the situation-the scope OF such
unique grant of power and how it could
be exercised in form Of government based
on the principle of the representation Of
the taxed-seemed not to have troubled the
minds of the fatherSt Itowas expected that
the newly selectedbtastfict would become
the center OF a large population At the
same time, there lis no record that the
method to be adopted for providing for
the political rights Of q people. who. while
citizens Of the United States, would not
Of any speculation or that 1t entered as a
factor into the consideration Of the mat
ter. Even in those luminous expositions of
the Constitution found in the Federalist
this phase Is but vaguely touched upon,
and 1t is there that Madison rather lamely
suggests, as substitute for what would
be lost by the change, that Congress might
set up local government.
The silence as to what may be termed
the political side of this situation was pre-
sumably not due eithsr 70 ignorance or in
difference. During the years that inter-
vened between 1890 and 1900 no recorded
gress to the effect on the political status Of
| citizens by the exercise on the part of Con-
gresS OF s. power over the seat OF govern
ment. 1t must have been we'll understood
that under the Constitution the people of
the new territory would be deprived Of a
direct representation in the government
under which they lived and would have no
voice In national affairs and not In local
al-alrs unless with the permission Of Con-
gresS.
Effect of Law Of 1890.
It was pointed out by Mr.. Bryan that
Jurisdiction was assumed by Congress over
the District when the law Of 1890 was en-
acted. BY that enactment the laws Of Mary
land and Virginia were accepted until the
time fixed for the removal Of the govern
ment thereto and until Congress shall other
wise by law provide" The legislatures of
the S Two states during the period from 1870
TO ISOO enacted laws relative to Tile District
a. the very outset in its dealings with the
District Congress, therefore began the
poilcy OF deegating its powers of legisla-
Iioh 10 otner agencies, at first broadly and
then strictly limited. More than q quarter
OF a century ago, when the present form of
| government by commission was established
congress for the first time began the exer-
else In Its completeness of it's constitutional
power over the District
1ne national interests being subserved in
the acquisition of the District where the
federal government would be the only and
|: shewn by Mr.. Bryan that there was an
parentiy no Interest, manifested in the
political future Of the. citizens of the Dis
lTict OF any attentions given to the subject
now the peifGcaR rights of the people
could, be preserved in a district set ana TT
under this constitutional grant of power
,iInere is no record ola further step In the
erection OF federal control for a period Of
Hiore lnan ten years after the enactment
or Inc law of 1870 A committee was ap-
pointed soon after Congress assembled in
the new District in the fall of 1SOO to which
vas relerred that portion Of the message Of
fresloent ADAMS in which he raises the
question: as to whether the local powers
over the District vested by the Constitution
IN Congress shall be Immediately exercised
Inc committee entertained the opinion that
Virginia ceased within the District after the
nrst Monday In December 1900, the date
nxed by the law OF 1890 for the removal
u .he s government to the new site.
In order to supply body Of laws the
committee reported bin to continue In
forcs the laws Of Virginia and Maryland as
ex1s'lng the first Monday in December, 1900
A Further Provision.
1t was further provided that the execu-
tive and judicial officers of the states should
continue In Office in the District. BY this
bill, the writer statedi aabody Of laws was
provided, and also atset Of federal officers.
making the Districe more directly subject
to FEDERAL content. s Under such a law Its
citizens would no longer be subject to the
laws OF the respectte1asaftes, and In conse-
quence would ceaseI to SH citizens of those
states 1u.F-sa
This measure, as well as q similar one
presented In the SenAtepawas recommitted.
the Views OF the Quantities relative to