Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-04-07

The rejection by committee of the House of
Representatives 10 the proposition of Prof
Powers soliciting government AID to enable him
10 make 4 thorough test OF his theory that rain
can reproduced al any time By artillery, rec lls
an lhCl0ent OF Mr.. Summers career in Congress
a lev years since MI sumner presented In the
Senate memorial from a scientif, rsutIaman
OF this city praying that Congress appropriate
$4,000 to enable hin To test the pr4cticsbiIitv
OF telegrapling from one high point 20 another
without the aid OF wires. Ia presenting the
memorial and stating the theory of the me-
mOrialst Nj Sumner said in view OF the WON
ueftui discoveries of the century, he scarcely
Jared 70 dissent from any theory having "a the
ohjeet OF its demonstration the practical adj
Nancenent Of science. Ia reference tn tina
theory IS Presented in the memorial he would
only say that IL might be one Of the orandsst
ever presented fer cozsiderati OF Congress. or
might Dc oEe OF the most absuTd-the moral
OF which was that il was the duty OF Conyress IN
give 'ne most careful consideration to any pro-
Jeet by which it is proposed to advance science
''O S'''' ,Ioo lHe welfare OF the people.
IHE RELATIONS OF The DISTRICT OF Co
LCsBIA TO THE UNITED STATEs.-We notice
mat many OF the most influential papers of the
country, without regard % party lines, endorse
the bill OF Gen. Chapman 10 define the relations
cram New Hampshire Patriot has the following
editorial remarks upon the subject:
Z" Ii IL thought that the difficulties in connec-
uon with the improvements of the CITY of
washington will be settled IN a satisfactory way
py the passage OF Mr.. Chipman's bill, entitled
a act TO define the relations of the District of
columbia TO the United States and for other
purposes.' Ii seems that Injustice has really
been done TO the people OF the District in the
taxation heretofore exacted for improvements
Fifty Per cent, that is one half the property in
the city OF Washington, belongs to the United
states government. This includes the streets
and avenues which are held in fee simple by
the United States. The latter has the right to
close up every street and do what it pleases with
the city thoroughfares. Mr.. Chipman's bill
proposes TO recognize hereafter the Obligation
OF the United States government to paw over its
share OF the taxation for improvements in the
District OF Columbia. Hereafter, if this bill
passes, the public treasury will pay an equal
cum with the LEGAL treasury on all the outiays
Tor the Improvement Of the city and District
IL seems that in equity the United States really
owes very large sum to the District, never
having hitherto paid its proportion of the taxes
anu costs Tor improvements. Ii IL claimed that
uWouId be nothing more than Justice IL the
whole cost or the recent changes were footed by
the general government; that it is not fair TO
private property holders to demand of them the
money TO make the national capital what it
ought 10 be, and that these expenses ought to be
betrayed by the nation itself, which has a dis
tlnct stake in the capital. It's public buildings
are there, the national government is there
and II Is argued that IL should paw All the ex.
penses required to make the national capital a
credit to the people OF this country in the ewes
Of all visitors"