Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-29

this spirit. =. ~
TT was through the action OF the
Board of Trade" said Mr.. Wortninstoh
that the plan was prepared ioI 'ns
extension of the plan OF the Guy "
Washington over the entire Dhst,ic"
The Board of Trade presented TO I'm
gress the act of 1898. under when tne
extension was carried out and the ialu
owners in the county preVehteu ~.
running the plan of the city py solls
on with their misdtting subdlVlslons
until il would be too late to apply a
remedy"
Scores Two Organizations.
Mr.. Mackenzie who had shown lit
tie resentment at being corrected as 10
the activities of the civic associations,
retorted
The Board of Trade and Chamber OF
Commerce are plutocratic orsanlza-
tions. They go in for profits only.
The citizens associations ought TO go
in for greater questions than getuns
sewers and sidewalks and should take
q hand in the broad questions relating
to the government of the city
Il hope You didn't take 1t that l salo
all the efforts made in the city OF
Washington are altruistic," said Sem
ator Works
Mr. Mackenzie continued in his argu.
ment that there should be a change OF
government and that the people OF tne
District had no way to express them
selves properly through the present
channels. Half turning to the press
table. he announced:
The newspapers here are more o,
less controlled by special interest and
/ hope they will make note OF II.
He continued. saying that the TAX re-
form association has no complaint 10
make of the District government, pu.
that he personally would rather see 'he
officials elected by the people.
Isn't the modern trend OF govern
ment toward efficiency" asked Repre-
sentative Gard.
And if. as you say. you have an eff
fcient government here now why
should you want change
The ideal is efficiency" replied MI
Mackenzie. but it should be combined
with democracy
Attacks Citizens Committee.
Mr.. Mackenzie attacked the "humil-
ity" of the citizens joint committee,
declaring that it had come before the
congressional committee admitting
freely that the people of the District
had no rights and seeming to glory in
the fact, and using it as an argument
TO bolster IN the half-and- half plan.
He read from the citizens committee
brief quotation. which he interpreted
as declaring that local self-govern-
ment of municipal affairs could not De
established here.
Mr. worthington interrupted to point
out that the citizens committee brief
had made no such assertion, but mere
ly pointed out that Congress could not
delegate to the citizens of the District
general legislative powers. He said
that the Supreme Court of the United
States had determined this in Its de-
cisions.
Perhaps I misinterpreted the state
ment in the citizens committee brief"
said Mr.. Mackenzie. L am sorry that
the United States Supreme Court has
so held, but l am glad that the citizens
committee does admit that form OF
municipal government could be estab-
1ished here under charter of Congress,
and that it is not opposed to it"
The representatives of the citizens
committee merely smiled at the last
suggestion of Mr.. Mackenzie
Turning to the civil service question
which has been aired somewhat during
the present hearing, Mr.. Mackenzie said
the adoption of the system had changed
Washington from a city of boarding
houses into a city of homes, since the
government employees can come to
Washington now with some assurance
that they will not be turned out Of
Office to make room for spoils hunters
They bring their families to WASH
ington now and buy homes" he said
This makes Washington like other
cities of this part of the country"
Representative Gard asked.
What practical plan Of self-govern-
ment for the District have you to sug-
fest"
Suggests Charter From Congress.
Congress could grant the District a
charter giving specific directions as to
municipal powers" replied Mr.. Mac
kenzie.
IF the local government determined
what should be the expenses of the
al Hut
the government be expected to pay one
half Of the sums expended for improve
ments?"
of the capital the federal government
should pay for" replied Mr.. Mackenzie.
THE purely local services Of govern
ment shoNd be paid for by the Dis
trict- The people here should be al
lowed to tax themselves and spend the
money for purely municipal services.
Mr.. Mcfarland pointed out to you the
troubles which existed in Washington
before 1878. But there was only a
handful of people here in the early days
of the District. They did the best they
could and Congress did nothing. But
changed conditions now exist. and the
problem should be studied in their
light"
Mr. Mackenzie went on to point out
that in earlier days the bosses" had
ruled both cities and states in this
country. The cure for this, he said.
had been found in making the govern
ments of the cities much more demo-
cratic, and he suggested that very
democratic form of local self-govern :
ment in Washington would prove a
benefit.
Mr.. Mackenzie had turned his back on
the committee and was addressing his
remarks apparently to the many mem
bers of the Tax Reform ASSOCIATE in
the committee room.
The committee is at this end Of the
room, suggested Represen tative Coop
er. interrupting Mr.. Mackenzie, who
turned and apologized. saying that he
was more used to addressing meetings
of citizens than congressional commit
tees
Senator Chiffon wanted to know II
any census had ever been taken of the
District to show how many of the peo-
pie here were only temporary resi-
dents Mr.. Mackenzie replied that he
knew % none.
The people Of the District have re-
ceived $4,000 900 from the national gov.
erur,ent." said Representative Rainey
1T they had had representatives In Con
gress you suggest. al! the time, how
much more do you think they would have
gotten out OF Congress-
II don't know said Mr. Mackenzie
but while have not had represent
at.ves In Congress. certain influences
seem to have been at work obtainine
legislation here, and II we had elected
representatives in Congress the leys
lai!ve benefits might have been more
evenly distributed over the CITY"