Evening star., 1922-09-03
ny JAMES A. BUCHANAN.


operates Is unlike any other IN
i the United States. 1t Is really
what might be called chaperofed form
of government because Congress con-
trolls the purse strings and Dictates 10
an extent, at least. the policy OF the
i local administration. While other mu-
inequalities have their mayors and COM
mon councils. boards of selectmen, su-'
pervisors or city managers and assist
ants, Washington has an entirely diff
ferent system.
At the head of local affairs are three
commissioners, one of whom Is an
Army officer detailed from the Engineer
CORPS, while the two others are ap-
pointed by the President Of the United
states. The duties Of all are outlined
by law.
The people OF the District Of Colum-
bia have no power to demand any form
of legislation. They may request. but
if their pleas are not approved by the
committees in the Senate and House. or
are not passed by these bodies and ap-
proved by the President of the United
State.. they have no recourse. Being
without the right of suffrage. they can
not ever have the power to remove the
officials who have been placed in charge
Of the city's affairs.
X y X X
IN the earlier days of the District OF
Columbia there existed form OF
government that was different from the
one under which the citizens now oper-
ate For instance, on July O. 1890. an
act was> passed locating the capital at
GEORGETOWN. The President was au-
trorized to appoint three commissioners
T." survey and find the boundaries of the
District This territory, which was
rcu miles square and contained $4,000
acres. included one county in Maryland
and one in Virginia. The commissioners
entered upon their duties and, on April
-. 1871. laid the first boundary stone.
The district they named the Territory
of Columbia"
u was about this time that Maj.
rierre Charles L'Enfant, French en-
sineer, who.-had served in the revolu
tionary war, prepared plans for the
formal city. A charter was granted in
1902
Great dissatisfaction ensued and the
people petitioned for a more liberal
form Of government. This request was
granted May 10, 1920. and the new
charter provided that mayor be elect
cd by the people. 1t also provided for
board of aldermen. to be composed of
Two members from each ward, to serve
for two years. These men were ex
o1cio Justices of the peace for the en-
tire county The board of common
council consisted of three members
from each ward, each serving one year.
Dissatisfaction continued. and a mass
meeting was held July 27. 1910. in front
of the City Hall, in order that dele
gates might be elected to attend a con-
vcntion which had for its purpose the
bringing to Congress notice of alleged
wrongs said to have been perpetrated
upon the people. From that time until
Monday, June l. 1857. there were pc
RODS of grave discomfort, and later
there was a riot, which resulted in the
death of several citizens.
Turing the period following the
- civil war a temporary arrangement
was made giving a territorial form Of
government to the District. This con-
sisted Of a governor and other executive
officers and a legislature composed of
p legislative assembly and a house Of
delegates The act providing this gov
srnment was passed by Congress Feb
ruary Fl. 1871, and 1t wPt into effect
June / OF that year.
The first governor was Henry d.
Cooke OF Ohio. The board of public
80
herd, S. P. Brown, James MacGruder
and A. B. Mullett. The legislative as
sembly consisted of seventeen members
and the house Of delegates had forty
six members. The delegate to Con-
rress was Norton P. Chipman.
Gov. Cooke resigned September 13,
1873. and was succeeded by Alexander
r. Shepherd. who served until June 20,
1874. when this form Of government was
abolished and a government by Com
missioners established In its place.
The municipal authority was vested
temporarily in three Commissioners by
an act Of Congress, June 20, 1874, but it
was not until June IL, four years later,
that this form Of government was made
permanent. The present form was pro-
vidcd by an act Of Congress approved
June IL, 1878.
The revenues for the support Of the
District government are derived from
taxes on n>private property and privileges,
receipts and miscellaneous private
sources. Citizens are required by law
No pay so per cent Of tho expenses
rThe original law was 50 per cent. Reve-
hues Of the District are paid to the
collector of taxes, who, IN turn, de-
rosits them in the Treasury Of the
United States, whence they can be
dra wn only, pursuant to authorization
by Congress, upon itemized vouchers
sertified by majority Of the Commits
.sioners. except for the interest on the
funded debt. which is drawn and dis
persed solely by the Treasurer Of the
United States, the ex onicio commits
sioner of the sinking fund
The District judiciary consists Of
Eupreme Court, Court Of Appeals. a
Police Court, Municipal Court and a
Juvenile Court.
The Supreme Court IL composed Of .
chief Justice and five associate Judges.
The Court Of Appeals consists Of three
Judges and was created to hear appeals
from lower courts. The Police Court
has two judges and they are appointed
by the President for term Of six
k.rrs. The Juvenile Court has one
jl1ge. The Judges OF the Municipal
Court are appointed by the President
Jar a term Of four years and have civil
T. g.