Washington D C history - Act of 1871
They say that Congress has no authority to enact the Act. Unfortunately, they didn't look too far for any such authority. Let's look at Article I, § 8, clause 17 of the Constitution:
"[Congress shall have the Power] To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the Acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States, and to exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and other needful Buildings."
So, if the power to "exercise exclusive Legislation" doesn't give them that authority, what does it give them?
They say that the country was broke, however, they were still building the Continental Railroad to span all of the way to the Pacific Ocean. The problem, which a little research about Washington, D.C. will show, is that there were no improved roads, there was poor drainage and no sewage facilities. It was a poor showing for the Capitol of a great nation.
Alexander Robey Shepherd was head of the DC Board of Public Works from 1871 to 1873 and Governor of the District of Columbia from 1873 to 1874. He is also known as "The Father of Modern Washington." He circulated a petition to Congress requesting that they establish a separate entity (municipal corporation) for what was then known as "Federal City". Try Googling him, if you really want to know what the Act is all about.
Prior to the Act, Congress had let the City run down, as they had more important things to do. By creating the corporate entity, they also gave it the power of taxation, and the authority to manage the city, independent of Congress. Within just a few years, both as Public Works Director, and later Governor, he created a modern city that became a showpiece to the world. But, who wants to let facts get in the way of a good story?
So, let's look at the first section of that Act and see what it tells us:
"That all that part of the territory of the United States included within the limits of the District of Columbia be, and the same is hereby, created into a government by the name of the District of Columbia, by which name it is hereby constituted a body corporate for municipal purposes, and may contract and be contracted with, sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded, have a seal, and exercise all other powers of a municipal corporation not inconsistent with the Constitution and laws of the United States and the provisions of this act."
Well, first, the corporate name is not "United States", it is "District of Columbia". Next, its boundaries are set as "the territory of the United States included within the limits of the District of Columbia." That is the land previously described in Art. I, § 8, cl. 17, "over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square)". The "body" is created for "municipal purposes", which term can readily be found with a simple search, and is very limited in its nature.
Next, we can look at Section 2:
"That the executive power and authority in and over said District of Columbia shall be vested in 'a governor, who shall be appointed by the President by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, and who shall hold his office for four years, and until his successor shall be appointed and qualified. The governor qualifications shall be a citizen of and shall have resided within said District twelve months before his appointment, and have the qualifications of an elector."
You will not that the "corporation" is run by a "governor", which happens to be the title of Shepherd, beginning in that role in 1873. It also states that he must reside in the District for twelve months before his appointment. So, since then, which President resided in DC for 12 months prior to his appointment?
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http://www.outpost-of-freedom.com/documents/District_of_Columbia_Organic_Act_of_1871.pdf