Year: 1870

j: Is quite a common thing to hear people say
they would lie warmly in favor Of the bill in
tTo,iuced in Congress to change the form of
government for the District Of Columbia if both
the branches of the proposed legislative body
and the Governor were to be elected by the
people of the District. Is not this asking or ex-
pecting little too much? It must be remem-
bcred that under the Constitution the district
in which the capital of the country is located
must always remain under the exclusive juris-
diction of Congress, and that the nation (repre-
ssnted by the Federal Government) has prop
erty interests here nearly if not quite as large
as those of the people Of the District; and it is
not likely that the former will be willing to sur
render into the hands of the latter the whole
power OF levying taxes and expending the rev.
enues thus produced without retaining sons
controlling vUice or influence i'm the matter ex-
ccpt in the form of an appeal to Congress for
adverse action upon legislation supposed to be
inimicsl to its interests.


Ii B manifest, therefore. that fair and lust
division Of power in the premises can only BE- Sc
cured by having the Governor and one branch
OF the Legislature appointed by the President
and confirmed by the Senate, while the delegate
in Congress, the other branch Of the legislative
body and the necessary minor officer are filed
BY popular election. In this way, the general
government,-or, in other words, the country at
large, will be directly represented is right and
proper, IN the new government, while the cleo
tive franchise will still be preserved to the peo-
pie OF the District TO the full extent required by
their int6rcsts as compared with those of the
general government.


At present, as is wcll understood. the people
here have no Voice in shaping the legislation by
which they governed. while under the pro-
posed plan they would gain an active represent
alive advocate On the floor OF Congress and an
equal voice in the local law-making power 1t
follows, cOnSeq uently that, instead of being re-
stricted, the elective franchise in the District
viii really be extended, and that her people will
gain what th,y have never yet had and 20 much
need to develop the resources and beauties OF
their lccality-the authority and ability to take
care Of themselves, without having to call on
Congress for leave to lay down a needed street.
crossing or erect new lamp-post. And as for
the petty office-holders who make the heavens
ring with their howls at the mere idea of having
the public teat pulled from their hungry
mouths, let them possess their mercenary souls
III peace There will still remain the local
Crices To be Filed; and the probabilities unhap-
ply are that the influences which now secure to
them the spoils from that source will be as
potent under the proposed new system A
change in the form OF government will not
necessarily work a change in human nature
at least not Immediately. The cormorants may
therefore as well reconcile themselves grace
fGily to change that must come sooner or
later, If Washington is to remain the capital of
the country. Nothing is more certain than that
II will not so remain il the present MIXED and
disgraceful condition OF things is to continue for
AL time to come.