Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-09-20


the New York Herald argues that the removal
Of the National Capital to that point would be
most serious drawback to its moral, in
teilectual, and social progress. He says that
ST. Louis Is now city of splendid reputation,
with good public morals, while the standing
and position Of private families has Q healthy
flavor that makes q private residence and as.
sociation there widely coveted The inf usnces
and the natural evils of q national capital at
st. Louis would, In his opinion, seriously
strike against the barriers that the best society
has built to protect itself against the ensroach.
ments and assumptions Of outside unconge
powers. He says in this connection:
"By the removal OF Washington here-for
when you remove the capital you remove ali
It's featares-you bring q horde Of political
thieves and lobby scoundrels, who have no
otner aim IN life than In making q living ont
OF politics 1t Is notorious that the city of
Washington 10 to-day the worst governed. most
immoral and dirtiest metropolis of the Union
The reputation Of ST. Louis as the national cap.
itol would be exactly what Washington is now
This city Is great commercial metropolis; IL
Is the centre Of vast interests which If left free
TO develop themselves must give it rank as the
great city Of the West. Trammel these inter-
ests with political intrigues and political MACH.
nations and ST. Louis would be ruined The
influences would be such that hundreds Of her
best able men now engaged in mercantile and
commercial pursuits, would turn their attsn-
tion to politics, and while they are now re-
spected and esteemed, they would be looked
upon rs politicians OF these latter days are
looked upon-.Men TO be had at lheir price,
Now, there is considerable force in these ar.
guments by this level-headed Missourian He
writes very extravagantly, Of course, when he
says that Washington is the Is worst governed.
most immoral and dirtiest metropolis of the
Union," but otherwise his allegations have
force. The machinery of our municipal gov.
eminent Is undoubtedly a very clumsy affair,
and works pretty badly, but this Is largely the
fault Of Congress; but If St. Louis should
ever be so unlucky as to get the seat of Gov
eminent on her shoulders, she will find her.
self in the same fix; for Congress must always
have the supreme control over the Govern.
ment city. And pretty muss Congress makes
OF the business Visitors coming here are nat.
urally disguised with the appearance of things,
and without inquiring into the matter suppose
that the city Is responsible for the failure TO
correct the evils. They would be surprised To
know that some Of the worst nuisancss absut
Washin gton have their existence solely in the
fact that Congress cannot find time 10 legis
late TO give this city the authority to
deal with them The miserable Centre
Market sheds on Pennsylvania avenue
afford an Illustration in point. Years ago
Congress put peremptory stop to the erection
Of a new market house building OF a character
TO be creditable to the city, but has never to
this day been able to give sufficient time to the
matter TO say " hat shall be done with the con-
Germ. SO with the canal, and the avenues under
Government control. The divided responsi.
bility between Government and the city i'm
regard 10 them results in their remaining s.as
they were" And every year Congress has less
and less time TO give to District affairs in cen.
sequence of the growth Of national affairs. 81.
Louis would indeed get a fine King Log to rule
her, in the National Government!
Washington is dusty and muddy by turns in
consequence Of 80 many of her streets being
unpaved, but Is not ''dirty'' in the sense in
which the word Is generally used. There is
very little 70 offend the sense of smell, for in
stance, In Washington-always excepting the
canal; and people needn't 20 out Of their way
10 smell that, unless they want to-
The talk about the immortality OF Washing.
ton is all fudge. There are really less houses
Of ill-fame and fewer street prostitutes in
Washington than, probably, in any other city
OF It's size In the country. The war undoubt-
eddy brought good many here, but they left
with the war population. Is there any other
CRY Of the population Of Washington where
there Is as little street drunkenness, or where
the Sabbath is better observed Ii 50 we don't
know II. The idea of the terrible immortality
of Washington comes mainly from the sensa-
ton writers of the Townsend and McKslway
school. who are nothing If not "spicy," and
who find 1t suits their Police Gazette style of
readers to believe that Washington is sort of
moral charmed house.
Washington has defects enough, but immor.
atty is not a notable one. The present form of
city government is undoubtedly a wretchsd
failure, and must necessarily be so, compl,.
Gated as II is with governmental authority. Ii
Congress will give over using this District as
experimental ground for solving ali sorts of
POLITICAL and social problems, and will be con-
tent to enrrust is rule to a competent Board Of
Commissioners, there may be hope of putting
the city on the track OF progress and the reform
OF abuses.