Evening star., 1870-03-02
Municipal improvement and Pro.
GfeSS.

EDITOR STAR Accept my thanks and thos.
OF every good citizen for the refreshing articl.
in your issue of yesterday on 'the territorial
plan of governm ent.'
Amidst the general apathy, indifference an
opposition to all reform measures i'm our city
hope will not be permitted TO die as long as THa
STAR speaks in such manly, straightforward
tones as in the article referred to.
That the Chronicle should go back upon it's fai
record for municipal Improvement and progress
is inexplicable. trust it will yet be found tru
to Its former history and aid by its influence th
almost despairing hopes Of our citizens.
The time for the change in our government
was never so prOpiti0us. Members of Congres
generally, and Of the District Committee il
particular, feel rs much interest i'm the subjec'
as We do and declare themselves ready to graft
fy the wishes of the citizens. They, many O.
them at least, do not hesitate 30 recommend th'
proposed change as OF vital Importance to til,
future Of our city.
If the present IA orable occasion is suffered {,
pass, and we again relapse into our former stag
don all hope of ever seeing our city what /;
ought to be, and, what as we'll as not il might be
the praise OF strangers and the pride Of it
citizens.
Oh, for shaking of the dry bones; for a tith,
OF the spirit of energy and enterprise that mark
our age! The world is moving. Washington L.
sound asleep. Nuisances like our canal. market
shanties, miry streets, do not belong to this tim
or place.
Within week 1 heard distinguished engi-
neer said, "If your canal was in Chicago, within
StIty uuys VIC AOulU nave IL 08vlSaDle Tor steam
boats and sailing vessels to the heart of the
CITY," Sixty days may do for Chicago but sixty
years for Washington.
Depend upon il, ii We fail i'm the present move
ment We lose golden opportunity. We cannot
afford to do so. There Is intelligence, energy.
and pluck enough to carry it through if strong
united, and determined effort is made. Keep
the ball moving. AN OLD CITIZEN.
March !, 1870.
MAKING THE FIFTKKNrH AMENDMENT EF-
FEcTIvE.-Judge Bingham, of Ohio, yesterday,
in the House Judiciary Committee, urged the
passage of his bill providing for the "appropri-
ate legislation" authorized by the second sec
tion Of the Fifteenth Amendment. The bill, IL
will be remembered, imposes fine and imprison-
ment on all State, city or town officials who do
any = that makes Q discrimination between
white and cOlored male citizens in the enforce
ment Of local regulations governing the exercise
Of the elective franchise. The Republican mem
bers of the Committee believe that bill of the
character Indicated should be passed at once,
but they were not agreed that this bill covered
the case, and hence no vote was taken. An
official Response ID needed from Texas, and only
from that State, all others having responded, be-
fore the President will issue his proclamation
announcing the adoption Of the Fnteenth
In Our FAvoR.-From table just prepared
at the Treasury Department, it appears thatour
expectations for the six months ending January
1st were forty-two millions Of dollars more than
they were for the corresponding time Last year
while the importations were twenty-two mil
lions greater than they were tor the same period
last year; showing . Balance OF trade In favOl
Of the United Stapes for the time named o.
eighteen millions Of douars.