The Washington herald., 1907-11-25
A Mayor for Washington.

Editor The Washington Herald:
noticed in The Washington Herald
recently a quotation from an sd-
dress by Hon. Ashley NJ Gould. justice
Of the District Supreme Court, in which
he suggests what difference there
would be in our municipal government If
this city had a common council and had
control OF its own affairs.
As We all know, the present form Of
government is not in any particular rep
reseutative. and the citizens or the Dis
trict have no right to be heard by peti-
tion upon any question affecting their
interests when. under 'the old form
Of government. the elective franchise was
conferred upon the citizens OF the Dis
trict, there arose many Objectionable
practices which resulted in ignorance
and responsibility having greater in
fiuence in the affairs Of the District than
was desirable or Tor the best good of the
people. The right 70 exercise the fran
chise was not IN any degree restricted,
and. there being so many voters who
were ignorant and irresponsible, many
abuses arose. and as a result Con-
gress abolished the elective form OF gov
ernment and established the present
commissioned form.
1t seems 10 me that there may be some
middle ground which. If adopted, will
avoid the objections and criticisms
which have been raised against both the
forms mentioned.
I would suggest that Congress create
a municipal form Of government with
all the powers of the ordinary munich
pality. TO be controlled and restricted by
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danger the rights OF the United States
in its property interests, and not TO sub
ject its revenues 10 the disposal Of the
proposed local government
1 think there should be created a COM
mon council. a board Of aldermen, and a
mayor, the common council to be elected
by the vote Of the taxpayers Of the Dis
trict. and for such purpose the District
should be divided into twenty assembly
districts. each district having a repre-
sentation in the council OF two members
TO be elected for two years. That any
resident taxpayer should have the right
to vote, whether or not he be a voter
somewhere else, and that the exercise
OF his right 10 vote in the District should
not in any manner interfere with his
right to vote elsewhere.
That there be ten aldermen. to be ap-
pointed by the PRESIDENT, al DelnB resi-
dents of the District and property owners.
to hold Office for four years.
That such legislative assembly be au-
thorized TO hold one session each year
not to exceed ninety days in duration.
and that such session end before the 1st
day of January each year, so that such
Of its acts as may be necessary may be
submitted to Congress at the then pres
ent session
That such assembly may have among
other powers the right 10 pass laws pro-
viding for the extension Of streets and
improvements of the District and TO ap-
propriate the necessary money therefor,
but that such acts shall not become
effective as laws should Congress at its
then present session reject the same.
That all appropriations OF money TO be
expended for the administration of the
District and any money affecting the
moneys Of the United States shall be
reported TO and acted upon by Congress
before such appropriations shall become
available.
The mayor shall be elected by the tax
payers for a term of four years, and
shall have the powers OF the head of an
ordinary municipality.
No change in the Federal court system
need he made. These are some Of the
cardinal features Of the form OF gov