Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-02-19

The bill providing permanent form of gov
eminent for the District of Columbia (Original
ly introduced in the House by Mr.. Hendee)
was reported back from the District commit
tee yesterday, with amendments, and the 5th
of March was assigned for its consideration.
Mr.. Hendee in moving its assignment for that
day stated that there was not time yesterday
to consider the bill before an adjournment. be
cause it was one which would provoke and
demand extensive discussion and elaboration
on the part of the House, for the reason that it
is not only important to the District of Column
bia and the residents of this District. but that
Is as important to the government of the
United States. 1t was very important that
some action be taken that the people here as
well a. the people of the United States may
understand fully and We'll the relations
existing or that are hereafter to exist be
tween the District and the United States.
Ii is of course unavoidable that measure of
this importance should be discussed at some
length but it is TO be hoped that, in its consid-
Grafton and possible amendment members
will not lose sight of the great essential point
of establishing definitely the relations of the
government to the District in the matter of
various expenses of the capital city. If this
matter is equitably settled, the citizens will be
content with almost any form of District gov
eminent Congress may choose TO give. Their
preference, so far as indicated, is in favor of a
cOmmiSsiOnership form, and that principle is
feature of the bill as reported and, while
there are various other provisions of the bill
that they might deem Objectionable, there is
nOtprOhably single one that they would not
accept rather than have the main question of
District equities defeated. When the bill
comes up for consideration, then, on the 5th of
March it is to be hoped that members will
enter upon its discussion with the single pur-
pose in view of legislating justly and fairly for
the pepOle here. over whom they have exclu-
Sive jurisdiction, and who are now suffering
from very exceptional burdens.
The agitation against low grades of coal oil
in Baltimore, and the efforts TO guard as faras
possible against the dangers of oil explosions
in that city and in Maryland. should not be
without effect on public opinion concerning
this subject here in Washington. 1t is stated
that III the past four years there were fifty-twO
deaths in Baltimore from the use of low grade
oils; large number of persons were seriously
injured from the same cause, and cOnSidera-
bic property destroyed. About twO-thrdS of
the material sold as kerosene oil is fully as
dangerous as gunpOwder, and even more So
for the character of that explosive is SO well
understood that great caution is used in
handling it. Moreover. an explosion of oil,
scattering burning liquid i'm every direction,
is more apt to be followed by fire than a gun
powder explosion. A stringent law will,
doubtless, soon protect the citizens of Mary
land. We will then experience a revival of
trade in at least one branch, since our city
will become a convenient market for the un
checked sale of explosives for Illuminating
purposes.