Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-01
FIFTY YEARS AGO
IN THB STAR


IN THE STAR
After the close Of the civil war an ef-
fort was made to improve conditions
in W a h . g o n.
Local Public though the ansatis-
factory state Of the
improvements. municipal govern
ment and the lack of funds seriously
Handicapped all public works. The Star
in progress. saying.
ut will doubtless be gratifying to
our citizens and all who take an inter-
est in the affairs in the federal me
tropolis to know that outstanding
the limited means at the disposal OF
years the amount of work done on the
streets and avenues was greater than
during any previous period. IL must
be admitted that the mayor has done
all for the improvement OF the city in
this respect that could be reasonably
expected from him, with the means at
his disposal. In making the improve.
ments noticed below he has received
efficient aid from Mr.. Forsyth. the re-
firing city surveyor. who in many cases
personally superintended the work. His
labor has been greatly Increased by
having to make the calculations neces-
portion of the work on real estate
owners. The commissioners OF i'm
provements of the several wards nave
also supervised carefully the improyss-
ments. and the work has generally
been faithfully done. Cen.
Michler. who has charge Of the public
buildings and grounds. has shown a
disposition to cooperate with the CITY
t.. lie 4, oy~xyf Inn a
and has already done much In fmprov-
ing the public grounds and avenues.
He has a large force of men at work
! and with but little money compare
many improvements"
With reference to the form Of the
Districts government, then becoming a
subject OF discussion
Civ District in this city and in
Congress, The Star
uoVeInmentS. June 20. 1867. said:
The alleged heterogeneous character
of the present government, or rather
governments. of this District-for
there are now at least five separate.
sometimes conflicting. Jurisdictions.
namely, Congress. the corporation OF
Washington, the corporation OF GEORGE
town, the levy court and the metro
politan police commfssioners-is be-
ginning to attract the attention OF our
citizens. Those who favor a change
say that our anomalous condition Is
owing to the neglect of the national
legislature, when the District was found
ed, to devise a plan Of government for
the same, and with our present sys-
tenn, II 1t may be called one. Is thing
of shreds and patches. the result OF
sixty-seven years legislation by Con.
gress for a community not represented
In that body. Without discussing the
questions involved in this controversy.
we propose to notice briefly his
torical fact of some interest In con-
nection with the subject.
ION the 18th of November: In tho
year 1900, Congress assembled Tor the
first time In the city of Washington,
says a writer of. that time. to be the
seat of justice. learning and science.
the foundation of good laws and the
! rallying point of all the republican
virtues During that session a bill
was introduced to form the govern
ment of the District of Columbia, but
for some reason it failed to become
law. 1t proposed the appointment by
the President of a governor to serve
three years, unless sooner removed; and
the establishment of a legislature to
consist of a senate and house Of rep
resentatives. The District was to be
divided into two precincts-'one on the
u,
Potomac'-the house of representatives
to consist of fourteen members. seven
from each precinct, to serve two years,
chosen by citizens Of the United States.
freeholders resident twelve months in
the District, and the senate to consist OF
six members, three from each precinct.
to serve six years, one-third of the
number to be replaced every second
year, and to be chosen by eight electors.
four from each precinct, elected by the
freeholders qualified to vote for mem
bers of the house of representatives.
The governor was to have the veto upon
the passage of all laws, and the gov
ernor. the members of the legislature
and the electors were to be prohibited
from holding any office under the United
States or any state. The legislature
was to pass all laws needful for the
government and police of the District,
repealable or alterable by Congress, and
was to have power to levy taxes. but
1t was provided no law shall be passed
for taxing the District for opening, paw
ing. repairing, improving, lighting or
regulating the streets in any town or
city within the District This would
seem to have contemplated leaving the
municipal governments of the Districts
cities intact"