Evening star., 1948-04-17
Other Home Rule Experiment..

To the Editor OF The Star:
The first question that comes to my mind
in consideration Of the home rule bill Is: Why
should we in the District Of Columbia pat
tern our system Of government after the same
one that is being adopted by other cities OF
every size over the entire United States? How
could we expect such system to be successful
in city that is unique among cities? WASH
ington is Federal City. With the adoption
of the home rule bill and the insertion Of
politics into the CITY, the whole original purpose
of the selection of the District of Columbia
for the seat of the Federal Government would
be defeated.
In selecting the location of the seat Of Gov
ernmeht Of the United States, the most i'm
portant consideration was that the jurisdiction
of the general government must be supreme.
There could be no divided sovereignty, no State
to exercise equal authority with the general
government, or any authority except Federal
where the Government was to be placed.
As soon as the location of the District had
been settled upon in 1791 the President ap-
pointed three Commissioners to take over the
governing Of the city. These were Thomas
johnson, Daniel Carroll and DR.. David Stewart
all men with the full confidence of President
Washington and with the advantage Of being
familiar with local conditions, widely known
in the locality of the Federal District and in
State and national relations During the fol-
lowing II years of the control Of the city by
the Commissioners, when the city planning was
one Of the most difficult in its history. there
was no instance of maladministration.
When President Adams came to the "Presi-
dents House" in 1900 to be its first occupant,
it was natural, with the expansion of the
city, that the government Of the District OF
Columbia again should become a topic for
discussion. After consideration Of various re-
ports such as the Lee Committee and the
Woodward Plan proposed under the name OF
"Epaminondas, 1t was determined that
different form of government be tried. The
act of 1902 provided for the corporate form
Of government with two parties, Republican
and Federalist to cast vote-with equal rep
resentation in the City Council. This was
period Of experiment. There followed the ap-
pointnent of a city superintendent, but, not
to Jefferson's satisfaction, he appointed Robert
Brent the first Mayor OF the city in 1902. There
followed a succession Of Al Mayors
This municipal form OF government finally
was abolished by Congress In 1871. During the
next four years there was a series OF governors,
ending with Gov. Shepherd. Many residents
now living will remember that this govern
ment was unsuccessful and that in 1874 we
were back to our first form Of government,
instituted by George Washington himself.
have given brief summary of the gov
ernment of Washington to show that other
forms of home rule, with its representation,
exercise of the franchise, and City Council
have been tried None of these, however, has
proved as successful, as history shows, as that
of our Board of Commissioners. Therefore, I
come to the conclusion that it is more expe-
dent for us to keep our present government
without any division of sovereignty as origi-
nally planned The government of the Dis
trict of Columbia should be kept on differ
ent plane from any other city in the United
States, above the politics, voting and rioting
that is bound to accompany all elections.
Instead of seeking new form Of govern
ment for Washington. we should put all our
efforts and finances into bettering and
strengthening our present system.
MARGARET LARNER WOTHERSPOON.