Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-12-31
THE eRxAr CITY OF wAsR1NoroH.

The rapid and radical measures Of improve
msnt taken by the Board of Works, of Wash
ington city, At the head Of which has been the
present Governor, Mr.. Shepherd, have caused
no little controversy. According to one party,
they were judicious and honest improvements,
which were imperatively needed in order to make
Washington E creditable capital for the Great
Republic. On the other hand, another party de-
clare that the whole thing has been reckless, OK
travagant, and fruitful Of 'jobsi' that an e1-
cossive sum has been expended, an unAuthoriz-
ed debt created, while large deficiency remains
to be squeezed out OF the United States.
Between these two stories we do not at pres
ent, attempt to Judge. Possibly the exact truth
may be found by an average Of both stories.
More developments, however, may be expected
before the session of Congress closes. since that
body will undoubtedly be spilled to by the
Board of Public Works" for liberal appropri-
alton, pending which some statement of the
condition of affairs must be submitted, and prob
ably thorough investigation made, the last, it
is fair to say, having been "courtsd" by Cover
nor Shepherd. While the case is before Con-
grese 1t will be interesting to note its features
and we shall look to the Committee OF the House
on District Affairs, for some square, straight
forward work. One Of the committee is our
representative from Delaware, Mr.. Lotand, but
others upon it, are MOTIVE are panied to remark,
so eminently known for qualities Of stern integ-
rity as might be desired. The chairman is Mr..
Hale, the same, we believe, who Suffered 30
severely, during the salary discussion, by
the development of the fact that he had
been drawing from the Government
not only pay As Member, but also large
salary as counsel for the United States before
the British Claims Commission. Another is Mr..
EtArkweathsr, of Connecticut, bird MIR. Al
fred O. HArmer, Of Phisdelphia, and fourth
Mr., Jehn O. Hancock, of Texas-al gentlemen
who can smell job, quickly enough, but who
sesm-if public rumor does them justice-to be
in respect to jobs, like the boy who wasn't afrait
of work, but Was 80 entirely fearless, indeed
that he could lie down alongside of it and go t.
sleep. From these members Of the committee
any severe and rigid course toward the Board o
Works will hardly be expected.
Tho haste to make Washington equal to PArii
or Berlin is an error, it seems to as. Our natiol
Ia young, and deeply in debt. Tho ornate ant
beautiful capitals Of Europe are the produet o.
long national lives, and. more than this, have
been built By the lavish expenditure of weAltl
extorted from the suffering masses of the pso
pie. We ought not to model our capital upol
theirs, and we ought not to expect to create in
single century, what they have gradually de
veloped in five. We ought not to tax on
people, il We could, as the people of Franc
or Prussia, or Austria have been taxed for tn
establishment of their capitals. Their broaC
avenues, grand buildings, superb architecture
statuary. monuments, fountains, parks 30, &c
are beautiful indeed but We may well bear will
our own less attractive city, when wO remembe
that all those evidences of luxurious taste art
the result of long period of time, of excessive
and burdensoms taxes, of unjust and blood!
wars, and of centralized form of Government
which ssps the life of the whole country for th'
benefit of one CITY, and centres in it all the vital
ity of the nation. We shoud neither imitat
such policy nor envy it's results.