Year: 1870

The District I'm Congress.


The full report of the late debate in the Sem
ate on District matters shows that IL partici-
pated in by a large number Of the members,


and the views expressed were of the highest
interest to all who have the we fare of this COM


munity at heart We do not remember any
previous debate that has shown 50 intelligent
comprehension by members of the wants of the
District, and Of the nature of the relations be-
tween Congress and the District. 1t is evident
that Senators have been led by the recent dis
cussions in public and through the press to give
more attention to District matters than hereto
fore, and we augur happy results from the intel
hgent understanding they have reached Of what
Is needed to improve the condition Of affairs
here.


1t will be noticed that nearly every Senator
who spoke expressed the opinion that the present
mode Of government for the District is wretch
edly defective and needs a speedy change.
Senator Wilson, who 1t has been given out was
opposed to a territorial form of government,
expressed himself decidedly in favor Of that


plan, with all the offices elective.


1t Is noticeable, also, that i'm this debate,
taking so wide a range as il did, and eliciting
an expression Of views from so many members
not word or syllable was uttered in sympathy
with the capital-moving project; on the con-
trary, every speaker seemed to look upon this
rs the permanent seat of Government, without
doubt or question, and entitled a. the nations
permanent capital to receive thoughtful care at
their hands The debate sprang up upon the
bill appropriating $50 900 for the temporary re-
lief OF the poor and destitute people in the Dis
trict of Columbia. Mr.. Pomeroy wanted the
bill amended so that the appropriation might
be administered in a way to provide labor and
promote industry. IL, said he, the great water
power ON the Potomac could be made available
Tor the turning Of the wheels of machinery if
factories could be established here, In this city
could be made like other cities in providing
self-suPporting means of labor for the popula-
ton, there would be no occasion for contribu
tions Of this Sort He would like to have an an
preparation large enough to pave the streets and
avenues of this city. He believed if they could
now make an appropriation to pave the avenues,
or some portion of them, in Washington, and
employ the poor in that way, they would be pro-
hio'ing their interest better than by giving them
money and provisions as mere objects of charity.
MI. Davis said that one of the great evils. in
this city especially, is that so many people who
are able to labor and who have not the means
of hving without labor are aIlured to come here
and after getting here, without the means of
support unless by labor, they either have nol
the opportunity to labor or are unwilling To do
IT. He would suggest that this is not the best
place for persons who are able to labor to OBJ
tain employment. Mr.. Pomeroy answered that
he did not think it was. Mr. Davis recom-
mended that some system be devised TO send
away from this city the persons who are willing
W iaoor, but who are unable to obtain employ
meht mere and who cannot live comfortably
without labor Mr. Thurman objected to the
mode OF distributing the appropriation, and in
this connection said


. We hare IN this District a ,aorsm,at loor
ing TO a much bitter government, IN NM juiymeni
thdn hts District has erer had; sometking IN tn
mature Gf q TERRITORIAL government; a Government
that would be less expensive. yentu1e to saw hv
one half than the present government of the
Dlstrlct; a government that would protect the
taxpayers Of this District to a degree that they
never have been protected, and would give this
District what IL ought to have. a Delegate in the
other House Of Congress What has been the
late OF that proposition, suggested believe by
far the most substantial citizens of Washin1to1
and Georgetown? i understand it has met the
bitter opposition of all the present officials and
DO not care particularly about placing i'm their
hands an electioneering fund of s3oOOO and
SlO,eo worth of clothing with which to election
eer for the maintenance OF the present state of
things and to promote their own relection.''


MIR. HamlIn explained that the Distributing
agencies were not partizan, and proceeded n
give the statistics Of the number OF colored per-
sons and others needing assistance. He said:
could show, ii necessary, that the appro-
priatons OF every kind made to this District for
eu purposes amount 70 hardly six per cent. upon
the n,,s sneys that were given to this Government
by the origilcl proprietors of the soil here. We
have at least Sf0o ,e vU OF property in this Dis
trict; and from every considerations, apart even !
from that which Is of itself sufficient, that it
Is our Capital, We are under every moral obli-
CATION t0 contribute some proportion toward
the maintenance of the local government h-
and toward the aid which must be oivsn 10 i,:
poor" gwen " iS


r' WI nui MN rLquired If the District had no


10 % Ia" for the support OF the INDECENT?


.- !" ,rrill, OF Maine, said:


undoubtedly the people of the District are
hot without conyeniences for the poor. i un-
derstand that % be the fact; but here is this
general fact known to the Senator and known
to US all, which explains the necessity, think,
of this bill, and which has before called for SIM
liar legislation on the part OF Congress during
the late rebellion, when the coored people were
fleeing from rebel communities, they came in
large numbers To this city place of refuge.
A great many Of them came here To the Oppres-
sion, perhaps Of the people OF the District of
the people OF this District while taking care of
their own resident poor, should be charged with
the additional poor OF the region of country
around about, because the coiored people fled
here from all sections, Virginia, Maryland; and
far a. possible they came to this District.
They were thrown upon this community under
these circumstances-waifs,h having no home,
no land, no property of any description,
relations. political civil, with the community.
The people OF this District did not feel bound
to support them except As a charity, and they
are not called upon to do IT. Congress cannot
ignore that fact; and submit that Congress has
been in some way accessory to that fact. 1 do
not mean except In general way, but there has
been state of affairs in this country which ac
counts for this general fact, and here to-day
there are twenty or thirty thousand poor, dis
uessed, indigent, absolutely INDECENT people of
the character described by my colleague. Now,
what is to be done? l. it fair to throw this
charge on the people of the District of Colum-
bia? Is il not the duty of Congress, in view Of
these facts, To relieve these people? That is
precisely what understand TO be the case


Mr.. Thurman still contended that there ought
to be proper system OF poor laws for the Dis
trict in order that the charity Of the Govern
ment might be dispensed through legitimate
channels. He said:


"There is not one able-bOdief man now of
the colored race in this city OF Washington who
cannot get employment ii he will agree to leave
this city and go into the rural districts and
work like white men work; and every bill of
this Kind that you pass Is merely a bounty upon
pauperisn. IL is bounty that you offer to these
men to come to this city Of Washington. 1t is
not temporary relief at all. IL is a permanent
institution You pay these men To leave the
fields that they could till and where they ought
TO be at work and come to this city 10 be sun
ported out Of the public purse by the public