Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1877-10-10
The work Required ON Behalf OF the
District.

In the thoughtful exposition of District
wants set forth by Commissioner Bryan
lately i'm the columns of THE STAR, he dwelt
with no little force upon the point that the
great need here, In order TO accomplish any
thing in behalf of the District, is "qreafer
harmony among otUSelres: eoTaest, persist
cpf effort and concert Of action" He suggested
in this connection that I'm the absence OF any
local or legislative council there might be
utility in a voluntary association of our
prominent citizens 10 properly present and
diligently urge upon Congress the interests
of the District. Would not" he said,
s'those interests be furthered by such an as
ISOLATION, say, OF a hundred or more of the
substantial-the SOid-men OF Washington,
working generally through an executive
committee, but ready to assemble as a body
whenever the exigency Of the occasion might
demand il; provided, always, they have the
interests Of The District so warmly at heart
as TO subordinate to them all minor consid-
erations."
In accordance with the practical, sensible
recommendations of Commissioner Bryan
some of our energetic citizens, we hear, are
moving 10 effect a working organization of
On9 hundred or more representative citizens
of the District; and from the assurances of
earnest co operation received from those re-
quested to take part In the active lab0rs,
there Is good reason to hope that something
will be accomplished. IL is understood that
the committee VIII endeavOr 10 procure from
Congress such legislation as Will secure the
objects set forth In a memorial now before
the pubic for signatures, and which was
published lately in THE STAR. While sew
eral matters OF District need are set forth
fOrcibly in this memorial, we presume the
committee will direct their most strenuous
efforts TO the paramount object OF procuring
from Congress legislation fixing definitely
and permanently the amount Of District ex
penses the government will bear. Thu me-
mortal presents the case On this point in the
following sucCinct terms:
''The faith of the government was by act
OF Congress June 2Oth, 1874, pleige1 TO pro.
portiOLal appropriations towards the ex-
TenSes OF this District; such proportion has
not yet been determined, or appropriations
made, although three committees of Con-
gress have reported on the subject-one that
the proportion should fairly be fixed at fifty
per cent; second committee reported in
favor OF the governments paying the entire
expense OF the District, and reimbursing
itself TO the extent of a moderate tax on the
property OF The citizens thereof: the last COM
mittee reported bill involving the payment
by the general government OF forty per cent
OF the expenses In view of the fact that the
streets and avenues are the property of the
United States, (see decision of the Supreme
Court in the case of Van Ness, of the ex-
emption from taxation of all government
property, of the large expense entailed upon
our taxpayers in providing public school ac
commOdatiOns for the children of non-resj-
denis and non-Laxpayers, and of the ex
haustlOn We are now labOrfng under from
our efforts 10 improve and beautify the Ma
uonal Capital, we venture TO ask that the
governments proportion OF the expense be
nxed al nifty per cent, and necessary legfs-
latton provided therefor
This measure certainly is one upon which
all can agree. Every man, woman and child
In the community is interested in its pas
sage: and ii does not seem within the limits
OF possibility that a single factious voice can
be raised against IL. Unless some such mea-
sure Is passed this winter, the outlook for the
District is gloomy indeed. II is absolutely
impossible for the impoverished people of
the District to shoulder alone the enormous
indebtedness incurred here for the improve
ment of the national capital by agents of the
general government; or 10 sustain single
handed the annual taxation of three million
dollars requisite for District expenses, inter-
est, &c. The emergency demands ga strong
pull, a long pull, and a pull altogether. from
our citizens OF energy and public spirit.
Gen. Miles reports the good news OF the
surrender OF Joseph's band of Nez Percss TO
his tMilesO command, after a three DAYS
fight Where was Gen. Howard?