Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-11-08


Like the rest Of mankind, we have our period
ical wakes in Washington. Not of the Irish per
suasion, but political wakes, such as are now stir
ring some half.a-dozen northern States, and par
ticuarly New York The first annual election q
district officers, under the new form of tcrritoria
government, will take place on the 22nd inst.
and besides the election Of such officers, thcr
will be submitted to a popular vote, under acts q
the legislative assembly of the district, sundr
questions Of finance One relates to authorizing
subscription to the stock Of the Piedmont an
Potomac Railroad Company another, outhoriz
ing the District of Columbia to create a debt 70
special improvements and repairs in said District
by the issuing Of four million of bonds, and lay
ing hM for the interest and gradual payment O
the same and the ballots are to be cast "FO
special improvements. ~ and Against special i'm
proyements."
No other questions have 50 much aroused thu
old fossils since the days when their i" goods ant
chattes were in jeopardy, as the four million
spectre. But really, with the best Judges, th,
question has two sides On the one hand, il i
urged, that this city has been blasted long year
by the curse of the chiyalric South until It's mil
dew has poisoned the whole social structure, an,
nearly crushed every element Of enterprise. Tina
its commerce, its manufactures its railroads, it
city Improvements, have all become the scoil an,
the by-worl of the nation, until the people of tn,
whole country are dcmandnga removal Of III,
Capital to some more fitting soil in the broad anl
liberal West. That nothing can prevent its re
moyal, but an immediate and radical awakening
/ to all the gnnder Improvements Of the age, anC
that the city fathers, who hold the purse-strngs,
must "stand and deliver to save their home
from the habihtons Of the moles and bats.
On the other hand, the argument is equal,
strong that the residents and property owners o
Washington are wholly unable to make cxten
siye improvements in keeping with other larg'
cities, for these reasons The most valuubl,
buildings are the property Of the general govern
ment:-the population is fully one-hall made VI
Of transient residents, who feel no permanent in
terest in the city OF its improvements and bu
few property owners are in remuneratiye business
yielding large incomes that the streets arr
much wider than in any other American city
many Of them being 100 feet in width, therefore
the cost Of paving them with the materials nov
most popular is so enormous, that in hundreds o
cases the poorer class Of owners will be compel
led to sell their only shelter to satisfy the tax
gatherers.
This shows that the settlement of the fou
million question is no easy task The act O
Congress under which the district is now govern
ed n Nides that board of public works, appoint
ed by the President, shall have charge Of all pub
lie improvements. They have already been il
power four or five months, and they seem to as
sumo that the popular verdict will be for tn
improvements. They have, by what authority
know not, already contracted for grading AM
paving streets enough to bankrupt any city in til
Union, and for weeks past hundreds of laborer
have been at work in every part Of the city, open
ing sewers, cutting down grades, Often from iou
to six feet, and up-turuing the streets generally
until there is difficulty in walking or driving il
any direction without coming in constant con
tact with bitches and holes that send one square
around, only to encounter again the same re
minder that we have now board of publ,
works. 1t has been estimated that the improve
ments already commenced in the district if eve
completed, will cost not merely four million dol
lars but fully ten millions, that somebody mus
pay for Where the laboring class all vote on on
side, success is almost certain and they are sup
posed to all be in favor Of what gives them breat
and butter here. We have nearly ten tLousans
cOlored voters, who will doubtless favor the loar
bill, while they represent very small proportion
Of the taxable capital, But vote is vote. a,
" a man is man for a that"
As might be supposed, here is fine openin.
for political rng,-a Ia rammany. whcthe
such guardian of the public interests will eve
find foothold in this yirtuous community, | vii
not now predict. But can only note some o
the straws in the wind. At the inception of thi
new government, it was provided that new reg
istraton Of all the legal voters in the Distric
should be taken by a new Board Of Registration
They completed their work in due time. AM
charged the taxpayers for the same, 81 800
which was nearly a thousand dollars day 70
time in service, or about sixty-fye cents to ever
person registered. This included oyster supper
and wines served hom the hest restaurants III
finest horses and carriages for the airing OF til
Board every afternoon, and various other thing
that it might puzzle Boss Tweed to tell what re
lation they bore to proper city registration
Then the Legislative Assembly of the Distrc
could not presume to enact laws in the same hall
where the late Board of Aldermen had assembled
but must have new quarters fitted up for them
The old city government were charged with ex
trayagance last year for appropriating So 600 70
the entire repairs on the City Hall Building
This newly-iedged reform government has al
ready appropriated Si7 600 for furnishing on
building and SIG 900 for furnishing another 70
their own temporary use. Now, to an outsider
this looks as if they were starting out with pros
poets the most sunny, and radiant with youthful
hopes. These things render the coming electio
one Of the highest Importance.
The politics Of the District have already los
their partisan character, and the present govern
ment is neither republican or democratic but
rather combination of the business and tradin
interests with the colored voters ignoring nationa
politics. And yet, about one half of the official
are appointed by the President, and confirmed b
the Senate of the United States. In spite of this
goodly number of " fat and sleek " democrat
are holding some of the best Offices More espe
cially, do they swarm as contractors As due
knows water, by intuition, democrat will 90 70
city contract.
just came from Pennsylvania Avenue, on
fashionable thoroughare, an hour ago, and
was thronged with splendid vehicles and ias
teams. inquired Of my companion for tn
names Of the swiitest and learned to my surprs
that all had city or government contracts ,ant
that they are democrats, too, could almost swear
YlNDEX.
The perils of whale-ishing have been full,