Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-30

Leads Up to Organic Act.
James Hugh Kelley of the Tax Reform
Association resumed the stand when the
committee met today, taking up his dis
cussion of the history of the District
which led up to the passage of the act
of 1873, called the organic act of the
District.
He discussed at length the conditions
in the capital, both political and finan-
cial; the activities of the board of pub
lie works. which resulted in plunging the
District into heavy debt. He pointed out
that people in the District argued at
that time that it was necessary to make
big public improvement in the Capital
of the nation to Washington. Gen.
Grant, then President, he said, was IA
vorable to the idea of building up the
capital. He quoted President Grant as
saying that If the nation could spend
billions of dollars for war it could raise
few millions to make the capital at
least presentable.
THE board of public works met the
situation with heroic remedies" said
Mr.. Kelley.
He said that a tax burden of some
$6.000.00 was first called for and voted
by the popular assembly here by a
vote of about 10 to 1. Seven months
later, he said, 1000 citizens signed
reckless extravaganza of the board Of
public works. A committee of Con-
gress he said. investigated and report
ed that the board of public works
was making headway. and recommend
ing that Congress do its part IN AID
Of the capital.
"a report was made by a minority of
the committee, composed of two demo-
Gratis" said Mr.. Kelley, in which it
was said the board of public works had
Tor
mending that the power be taken from
the board and placed in the hands of
the popular assembly"
Mr. Kelley argued that the political
situation had it's effect upon the capi-
tai in those reconstruction days.
After some six years." he said, 1T
was found that about $50.000,000
had been expended and contracted for.
The party in power came to the con-
cIusion that it could not continue to
support such a policy as was running
the District so deeply into debt and
making the government responsible for
these expenditures.
Not Adverse to Paying Share.
He said it was plain that some new
form of government would have to be
devised for the District. Congress, he
said, expected that some form of COM
mission government would be provided.
Mr.. Kelley, argued, however. that the
main question at stake in Congress,
however, was not SO much the financial
side as the governmental side. He said
that Congress knew the government
would have to make the improvements
needed In the capital, and that 1t was
not averse to assuming the obligation
of the government to pay its share for
here.
Hrrha hA Nv
OF the District should be so
as to practically abolish
it." !
He nuoted from speeches made by for |
mer Senator Blackburn, then In the
House, in support of the organic act |
of the District of 1873. saying that the |
House had then become democratic.
"He was from Kentucky and did not !
exactly think 1t wise to give the color !
ed man the ballot in the District" said |
plan in the organic act |
was only incidental, and that the main |
question considered by Congress was
what form of government should be es-
tabiished here. and how administered.
Further Quotations From Debate.
Mr. Keeley produced further extracts
from congressional debates in the
period prior to the enactment of the |
law of 1878. One representative re-
ferred to was quoted as saying that |
Congress had the responsibility of de-
claring what is the best form of gov
Of the District of Columbia.
He also said that in answer to ques-
tion. Representative Jacob Cox had
said the proposed bill departed from
the ordinarily accepted standards Of
American municipal government and
that it should not be passed. This
was because Of his belief that voting