Evening star., 1921-11-06


President Washington and the ap-
pomtment of commissioners to ar
range the purchase Of lands, the sale
Of lots donated by the owners OF the
soil. the grant OF the necessary con-
cessions by Maryland and Virginia
the construction OF the necessary
equipment
X
Even while these measures were
proceeding. those opposed to the Po-
tomac site continued their efforts to
effect a change. In 1900 the archives
Of the government were brought from
Philadelphia. in seven large boxes
and four or Ave smaller ones" The
local population was swelled by the
advent of the permanent force Of the
administration. some fifty-four Office
holders. Conditions were deplorable.
Early visitors to the capital have de-
scribed them in scathing terms.
In 1907 series OF Letters on the
over the signature Of an anonymous
writer styling himself "Crito." In one
Of these he said:
"In the meantime. be it known to
the good people OF the Union. from
New Hampshire to Georgia (for !
diction. that ninety-nine hundredths
of the youth of the United States
grow up to manhood without ever
having seen the capital of their coun-
try), that the national bantling called
the city OF Washington remains. after
rickety infant. unable to go alone.
Nature will not be forced. A sickly
child cannot be dressed and dandled
into healthy constitution. This
embryo of the state will always be
disappointment to it's parents. a dis
worthy godfathers and godmothers.
and an eyesore to all its relations to
the remotest degree OF consanguinfty."
Critic advised in conclusion that the
seat Of government should be remov-
cd to philadelphia. "the very focus
OF foreign and domestic influence"
X 4:
This unohicia1 advice was actually
considered by Congress. One Of the
documents included In the old volume,
now in the Public Library, which has
been mentioned. consists Of the text
OF q memorial presented to the House
OF Representatives February 2. 1903.
in support Of a motion made by Rep
resentative Sloane "that the House do
come to the following resolution:
Resolved, that 1t is expedient, and
the public good requires, that the seat
Of government be removed to Phila-
delphia for - years: and that a
committee Be appointed to bring in a
bill for that purpose"
The memorial set forth that the
establishment OF q permanent seat Of
government at any place was not
was in fact contrary to that instru-
ment. inasmuch rs the Constitution
guaranteed to every state, and con-
sequently to every citizen, a repub-
lican form of government, whereas
form a District Of Columbia 4 large
number Of citisens were deprived
OF representation. shat inestimable
right and privilege Of freedom" The
memorialists noted that the word
permanent" was not used in the
Of government and contended that
therefore ths act of Congress perma-
nently fixing the capital In Washing
ton could not be binding on future
Congress-. there being no constitu-
tional power given to one Congress
by them appointed: their power
terminating with the time for which
they were elected. their successors
have an equal right to remove and
sit in any place which they think
more beneficial to their constituents
and more convenient to themselves"
1t was further urged that the
President having the appointment of
all officers Of the District and the
direction Of the expenditure Of i'm
the Treasury Creates an influence and
dependence on the executive danger
ous to the liberty and Independence
Of the nation"
mortal Il worthy Of complete quota
tion, setting forth additional reasons
for removal:
because It creates heterogeneous
system, repugnant to ths principle of
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