Evening star., 1927-10-31
YORK REHEARSES
CAPITAL H0N0RS
Pennsylvania City Was Seat
! of u. S. Government $50
Years Ago.

York, Pa, this Fall celebrates thu
1sOth wear of it's nine-month career
as Capital of the United States.
When Gen. Howe marched his Brit
ish and Hessians into Philadelphia 15(
wears ago, Washington wintered a.
Valley Forge and Congress winteree
IN York.
"York shares the honor of having
Been Capital of the United tSates WIFI
eight other towns: New York, Phlia
delphia and Lancaster, Pa; trenton
and Princeton, n. j.; Baltimore ano
Annapolis, Md, and Washington, -:
c." says a bulletin from the Natlohai
Geographic Society.
During it's first 25 years Congress
moved as frequently as New YORK
apartment dweller. Indeed, when IL
was endeavoring to select 'perma'
nent seat Congress came near achleV'
ing perpetual motion by voting for
alternate meetings at two capitals,
one on the banks of the Potomac ana
one on the banks of the Delaware.
Baltimore Second U. S. Capital.
Lancaster was Capital of the
United States for just one day, sep
tember 27, 1777. After a single meet
ing in Lancaster the Congressman de-
cided it would be safer to put the Sus
ouehanna River between them ana
Lord Howe's redcoats, so they al
iourned to York. Once before the
Continental Congress had fied Phila-
delphia. While Washington was cross
ing the Delaware the year before, the
LEGISLATURE moved to Baltimore Tor
two months.
"Eyacuation Of Philadelphia by the
British in 1878 permitted Congress to
make the metropolis of the colonies
again the Capital and so it remained
until an incident five years later which
led angry Congress to demand an lnde
pendent Federal district. Although the
wnr was over the Legislature found
itself short of money to pay soldiers
and dismiss them. Eighty men In
the Lancaster barracks mutlnied
and marched on Philadelphia, where
they were cordially received by
brothers.in-arms. They menaced IN
dependence Hall, where Congress, in
sc ;ion. appealed vainly to the Pennsyl-
vania State government for protection.
Indignant at the insult, Congress ad-
journed to Princeton. N. j., and re-
solved that when it established a
National Capital it would be indepen-
dent Of any State or city protection.
Holds Meeting i'm Annapolis.
sNassau Hall and Princeton living
accommodations cramped Congress so
ft adjourned to meet the following year
at Annapolis. In the graceful-spirited
Maryland State House, Washington
resigned his commission while the dig
xifled lawmakers received him with
their hats on. Gen. Washington com.
pleted his brief address. bowed. and
the legislators lifted their hats but
bent not an inch.
Next year Congress met in Trenton
two months before proceeding to New
York. Washington was inaugurated
FIRST President of the United States on
Wall street, where stands the present
8ubtreasury Of the United States.
Washington, D. c., owes its choice
o the insistence that the permanent
government seat should be in the
geographic center of the United
States! The Capital, is was urged.
should be located neither north of
the Delaware River nor south of the
Potomac River, on tidewater, but far
enough inland to be safe from enemy
attack.
"Booster" Methods Employed.
vigorous bidding for the Capital
OF the United States forshadows
present booster methods. Kingston.
N. Y, was first In the field with an
fnvitation. Annapolis urged its GEN.
tanl location. Historic Williamsburg,
Va, petitioned. When Congress once
actually votea to create capitals on