Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-05
PLAN FOR 0. C. GOVERNMENT
HOME RULE THE BASIS OF A
NEW PROPOSAL.
An Appointed Governor and an
Elected Legislative Council
of Seven Members.
To the Editor OF The Star:

To the Editor OF The Star:
Your excellent article i'm The Star Of
October 81 on Approximate Self Rule"
meets my hearty concurrence. / have
read it carefully many times and have
prepared a bill which I hope to see in
PRODUCED at the coming session Of Con-
gress designed to put into practice the
theory advocated in that article. My bill
Is intended to make the right Of petition,
guaranteed by the Constitution, effectual
as compensation for the denial Of the
right Of suffrage in this District, and at
the same time to preserve to the federal
government its constitutional right Of
exclusive legislation here. 1t is also de-
signed to secure efficiency and RESPONSE.
blity in the exercise Of the executive au-
thority here. In order to secure these
desirable objects the idea is to have one
chief executive officer to be called the
governor of the District of Columbia and
legislative council.
Bona Eide Resident.
The governor is to be appointed by the
President and is to receive a salary Of
$1,000 a year and to hold office for
term of four years. He is required to
have been a bona f1de resident of the Dis
trict for three years at least. Immediately
prior to his appointment, and is to have
the usual powers of territorial gov
ernor.
There is to be an engineer Of the Dis
trict of Columbia. detailed by the Presi-
dent from the officers of the army, as at
present.
There are to be an auditor, an as
SCISSOR Of taxes a collector Of taxes,
corporation counsel. a superintendent OF
schools. a major and superintendent Of
the metropolitan police and a chief OF
&ro n11
compensation shall remain as at pres
ent until changed by law. These shall
all be appointed by the governor and
shall hold office each for a term of four
years. No person shall be eligible to hold
any of these Offices unless he shall have
been bona fide resident Of the District
FOR three consecutive years Immediately
preceding his appointment. The board
of education is to be abolished. and it,
duties devolved upon the legislative coun.
Gil.
Legislative Council.
The legislative council is to be COM
posed of seven members one from each
councilmanic district-which districts shall
be laid of by the governor within thirty
day after his assumption Of Office. and
shall consist Of contiguous territory and
uatiOn. All local legislative power shall
be vested in this council. It's members
shall be appointed by the President; but
no person shall be eligible to the Office |
until he shall have resided five years in |
the district to be represented by him. |
and shall not have claimed residence or |
elsewhere: nor until he shall |
have filed a petition, signed by at least
900 bona fide residents Of the council
manic district in which he resides, ask
ing for his appointment. Members of the
legislative council shall hold ONCE for
four years: shall receive compensation
for their services; and may be designated |
by the governor to fill any of the subOr-
dinate executive offices above named, ex-
cept that of engineer, in addition to their /
legislative duties. While 20 engaged /
they shall receive the emoluments OF the |
executive Office, but no compensation for
services rendered as members Of the leg
lslative council.
Congressional Declaration.
My plan also contains a declaration on
the part of Congress that 1t is hereafter
to he the policy of the government Of the
United States to secure to the inhabitants
Of this District approximate self rule, and
that Only bona fide reSidents of the Dis