Evening star., 1948-05-02


To begin with, the
people Of the National Capital never
had full suffrage. and except for the
single occasion, when they voted as
a part Of Maryland in the presiden-
tial election of 1900. they never
exercised the right accorded all
other American citizens.
As q matter of fact, no candidate
at that time received the prescribed
majority of all electoral votes.
Thomas Jefferson, who ran as Re-
publican. received 70; Aaron Burr,
also Republican, who resided on
F street where the Press Club
Building now stands, received the
same number; John Adams, the in
cumbent and a Federalist, obtained
65, and another Federalist, Charles
c. Pickney, 63. John Jay, the first
Chief Justice, received but one vote.
The choice devolving upon the
House of Representatives, Jefferson
received the votes of 10 States,
which, being the largest vote cast,
for candidate, elected him Presi-
dent. Burr received the votes of
four States, which, being the next
largest, elected him Vice President.
AS Hines Recalled 1t
Christian Hines, in his early
Recollections of Washington City"
has this interesting account of the
foregoing election held in George
town in 1900:
The house (used for the selection
of the President) was a one-story
frame and stood on High street be-
tween Bridge and Water streets, and
little east of the Canal Bridge
George Peter, who was then a lieu
tenant in the Regular Army, had,
think, his recruiting office in a
three-story brick house directly
south of the tavern, or pretty near
where Waters warehouse now
stands. In those days there were
two political parties-the Federals
and Republicans. The Federal
Party upheld Mr.. Adams and the
Republican Party supported Mr..
jefferson. ="
However, since Mr.. Hines was
then but 10 and was still a minor 1t
is quite probable that he himself
did not vote, though other members
of his family, including his father,
John Hines, did vote as Maryland
citizens.
The people of Washington never
have been permitted to vote for
Representatives in Congress, as do
the States, although they are more
directly interested than the rest of
the country, since all of their affairs
are exclusively controlled, according
to the Constitution. by the legisla-
tive branch of the Government.
Several Forms of Rule
Locally, according to the judgment
of Congress, Washington has had
several forms of government It's
first charter, granted by Congress on
May 3, 1902, provided for the gov
ernment of the city by a Mayor, to
be appointed annually by the Presi-
dent, and for an elective council
Of IL members, divided into a first
chamber" of seven members and a
second chamber" of five members
Under this and an amended charter,
Robert Brent was appointed the first
Mayor and served from 1902 to 1911,
when he resigned. Daniel Rapine ,
was appointed by President Madison :
to fill out his uneXpired term. When :
the charter of May 4, 1912, went into =
effect, which provided for the elec- :
ton of the Mayor by the City Coun- \
ell. Mayor Rapine was selected to ;.
succeed himself. :,
In like manner DR.. James H. u
Blake was appointed to succeed =
Mayor Rapine in June, 1918. and =
continued to serve until y8l6, be-
Ing followed with one term by Ben 3 3
jamin G. Orr Q817-8 and Sam
lel N. Smallwood. who was selected q
by the City Council in 1919 and =
served until another charter went {
into effect in 1920. The new charter !
provided for popular ballot and un- :
der this system Mayor Smallwood Z
served until succeeded in 1922 by j
Thomas Carbery In June, 1924,
Mr.. Smallwood was again elected,
out died on September 80 following.
The system of electing the Mayor by a
popular ballot continued down until |
,he territorial form of government :
went into effect under the act of II
Congress approved February 2l, J
1871. U
Emery's Name Remembered r
During the meantime the follow r
ng Mayors served. subsequent to +
Mayor Smallwood Roger c. Weight Z
nan, Joseph Gales, jr.; John P. Van t
Ness, William A. Bradley, Peter o
force, William w. Seaton, Walter T
Lennox, John w. Maury, John T. Z
Towers, William B. Magruder, James $
). Berrett, Richard Wallach, Sales a
!. Bowen and, lastly, Matthew G. 7
emery, who was elected in June,
$40, and served until June /, 1871.
OF the city's 20 Mayors perhaps p
Nf i