FIFTIETH CONGRESS, 1887-1889. 1191 
When the local government of this District was abolished by the 
Forty-third Congress I then very seriously questioned the wisdom of 
that action, and every year since that time has satisfied me more fully 
that the government now held over the people of this District is 
wrong. Itis un-American. It is not in accordance with the princi- 
ples upon which we have organized local governments in this country. 
The people of this District ought to have a local government of their 
own, and the Federal Government ought to have such jurisdiction and 
control over the public property of the Federal Government as is nec- 
esssary to take care of it. Inthe arrangement of the compromise the 
interests of the Federal Government, which would apply in that gov- 
ernment, were abolished, and it was then determined that the Federal 
Government should pay one-half of all the expenses annually incurred 
in the administration of the government of the people. 
At that time, perhaps, it was a fair apportionment. The city was 
small; perhaps not exceeding. 100,000 inhabitants. It has passed 
beyond that, and the property owned by the Federal Government 
then was around this Capitol and in the streets and parks belonging 
to the Federal Government, which were retained by the Government 
for its use at that time. Now the city has extended, and is continuing 
to extend. The interest of the Federal Government is constantly 
decreasing in proportion as the interest of the people is constantly 
increasing. As my friend from Pennsylvania said a few moments ago, 
the apportionment is now excessive upon the Federal Government, 
and the people under the local government are not contributing what 
they ought to contribute toward the Government. I believe, sir, that 
we ought to stop this unnatural partnership, and the Federal Govern- 
ment ought to appropriate each year out of its own funds whatever is 
necessary and its equitable proportion for the protection of its public 
property and the interests of the city. 
But, sir, what interest has the Government in buying a park for 
the people of the District of Columbia? The park belongs to the 
people, not to the Federal Government. It is not for the interest of 
the Federal Government that there should be a park on Rock Creek 
or in the midst of the city. It is for the comfort and convenience of 
the people, and not for the Government, and the people ought to pay 
for it. We will continue this condition of things until we dissolve 
this unnatural government and give the people of the District of 
Columbia the same rights that we give the people of Texas—repre- 
sentation upon their population, charging them with their own local 
self-government. 
Mr. CLrements. Mr. Chairman, I now yield ten minutes to the gen- 
tleman from Georgia |Mr. Blount]. 
Mr. Biount. It is singular what a prejudice against the Treasury 
of the United States is manifested in connection with all the arguments 
