FIFTY-FIRST CONGRESS, 1889-1891. 1473 
Mr. Ciements. And I want, before the gentleman interrupts me 
further, to say that it would be wholly at war with the interests of the 
people of the United States; it would be utterly incompatible to have 
local legislation in the District of Columbia, with the interests of the 
people at their national capital, and for that reason those who framed 
the Constitution set apart this District under the absolute control of 
Congress. It is not any denial of the doctrine that we all hold dear 
that the people shall have self-government, but it grows out of the 
fact that this reservation, like any other reservation which the United 
States acquires or retains jurisdiction of for national purposes, because 
local interests might be very different. * The local appropriations might 
be wholly inadequate to meet what might be deemed necessary for 
national purposes by the National Congress. 
Mr. Peters. And there would be a continual conflict between the 
local authorities and the United States authorities if any other system 
were adopted. 
Mr. Ciements. Yes, there would be a continual conflict; just as 
now there is a continual complaint growing out of the supposition that 
the people here ought to have the government of the District and the 
management of its affairs in its own hands. Obviously that is not a 
correct idea. It is absolutely necessary that the affairs of this District 
should be controlled by Congress, which represents the people of all 
the States, all of whom have an interest in the national capital and in 
the District for the purposes for which it was reserved and established. 
Mr. Hearp. It is not my purpose to take issue with the gentleman 
as to the propriety of or necessity for the form of government which 
obtains here. I pass that question by. My criticism is that the law 
being enacted providing that one-half of the expenses of the govern- 
ment of the District are to be paid by the people here and one-half by 
the United States, Congress should be just and equitable in dealing 
with the people in matters where the voice of Congress controls and 
where the people of the District have no voice except through Con- 
gress, and that the spirit of the law making that division of expense 
contemplates only necessary and proper appropriations. 
Now, I think that in fairness the gentleman should have answered 
the question of my colleague [Mr. Bland] far enough to have stated 
that while it is true, as intimated by my colleague, that there is no 
other city in the country where the General Government pays part of 
the taxes and relieves the people of taxes to that extent, it is also the 
fact that the Government pays one-half the taxes here under an agree- 
ment made by Congress itself upon the hypothesis that that is a fair 
proportion for the Government to pay on account of its large holding 
of property here, and that it is not in any sense a gratuity to the 
people of the District. 
Mr. Ciements. If the gentleman will allow me to complete my 
H. Doc. 732——-93 
