The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-07-21
CAPITAL CITY
REAL ENTITY,
>ISOP|N|ONOF
LAW READERS
By BILL PRICE.

That Congressman Ben johnson Of
Kentucky was guilty Of misinform-
ing President Wilson. when he told
him that there no longer exists a
legal "City Of Washington" causing
the President to adopt Done in the
District of Columbia" on important
state papers, is the charge today of
leading lawyers and well-informed
District authorities.
No decision has been reached as to
whether the attention Of President
Wilson will Immediately be called to
the blunder the chairman Of the
House Committee on District Az
afiH Is said to Lave made, but it is
known that such q step is contem-
plated and that the Attorney Gen.
eral may be asked for q legal opin-
ion upon the question.
Took II In Good Faith.
President Wilson accepted John
sens statement about there being no
city OF Washington" in good faith,
and did not refer the matter to At
torney General Gregory, OF the De-
partment OF Justice. johnson has for
q number Of years sought interviews
with the President to tell him about
District affairsSa as he sees them. The
President ordinarily relies on the Dis
trict Commissioners for guidance as
70 these affairs, but he has been uni
formly courteous in granting the re-
quest OF the KentuckiAn for inter-
views and attentive to letters which
4r. johnson has sent him.
Section Of the act of February
q, 1871 is the authority for Mr.
Johnson's information to the Presi-
dent that Done At the City Of Wash
tneton" Is really not legal and
brought about the Done In the Dis
trict Of Columbia" recently used BY
the President for the frst time.
District authorities and lawyers
have reached the conclusion that Mr..
johnson did not read Section 40 Of
the same act and had not followed
other laws since that time in which
Congress has repeatedly recognised
that there Is city of Washington.
Section 20 distinctly declares that
that portion OF said District incioSed
within the present limits OF the City
Of Washington shall continue to be
known as the City Of washington;
and Georgetown shall continue to be
known as the City OF Georgetown"
Term Is85 Ace eOBeIusIve.
To further emphasize Johnson's al
legged blunder, official attention was
today called to the act of February
2, 1895. decsaring That from and az
ter the passage OF this act all that
part OF the District OF Columbia en-
braced within the bounds and now
constituting the city of Georgetown,
as referred to In said acts of Feb
ruary 81, 1871, and June 20, 1874, shall
no longer be known by the name
and title in law of the city of George
town, but the same shall be known
as and shall constitute a part of the
City Of Washington, the Federal Cap
ital"
This act Of 1895 is declared by Die
trtct authorities to have been the last
on the subject. 1t not only reiterates
the provisions OF previous laws as to
there being a City OF Washington,
but designates that city as The Fed
eral Capital" expressly for the pur-
pose OF having Done at the Federal
Capital" used by Presidents in their
State papers.
The Presidents since that time, IN
til johnson induced President Wilson
TO make q change, continued the
form Done at the City OF Washing
ton"
Attention was also directed today
to the fact that the Postofnee De-
partment continues to recognize
Washington and that the new city
postoffce building was built for "ths
City Of Washington"
No @IeSe MRJeste7 Here.
There Is to be no such offense as
Gf1ese nafeste" in the TTpTtad States