Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-03-05
One Mistake.

The one great mistake committed by the
police authorities In connection with the insu-
gural proceedings yesterday. was In not keep
ing the whole width OF carriage way on Penn
sylvanla avenue, from the Capitol to the Treas
ury, entirely free from persons and vehicles
during the passage OF the grand procession be-
tween those two points. To allow the crowd
TO occupy the space south of the railway tracks
was TO give up fully half the advantages of
having thcroughfare so admirably adapted
for such purposes Tie pictorial effect of
the procession was largely destroyed by allow
Ing the crowd 70 press 80 closely on the column
and at the same time those occupying seats On
ether portions OF the sidewalk OF the south side
Of the street were deprived OF that view OF the
pageant to which thsy were fairly entitled.
Not only this, bu5 the pressing throng prevent
ed evolutions and desired changes In line from
being made by the marching column. and on
several occasions IL led TO serious collisions be-
tween persons In the crowd and those In line.
All these things could aud would have been
avoided had the whole width of the Avenue
been kept Gear, as IL should have been; and
very small squad OF mounted policemen would
have been sufficient for the purpose. We hope
the lesson Of yesterday will not be lost, and
that on the next occasion OF the kind the sug-
gesJion here made Will be carried out. Not only
will nobody be the loser In any way from the
enforcement of such regulation, but every
body will be the gamer from it.
The Inauguration OF the twentieth President
OF the United s. ateS has been accomplished not
alone peacefully. but accompanied with the
approving shouts OF citizens from every state
In the Union. A new administration of the
government never entered into power under
more suspicious circumstances. Nowhere was
IN NJ rtt
tior alisD, which for many years past has OBJ
truded itself upon such ceremonies. was no.
where visible. IL appeared to be forever buried
and Gen. Garfield was received and welcomed
as the President Of the entire country. The
thousands OF countenances upturned towards
the President as he delivered his inaugural all
betokened confidence In the man and In his
future administration OF the government,
Every utterance of his In reference to the glory
and grandeur OF a thoroughly united country
called forth shouts OF approval from the men
OF all sections. The military display was the
grandeSt ever witnessed In this country In
time Of peace. President Garfield certainly has
the heart OF his country with him at the BEGIN
ming OF hts administration.
1t is difficult 10 conceive what reasons led to
the adoption OF that provision of the internalrev-
enue laws which allows the large purchasers OF
n manufacturers tax stamps an advantage which
is Lot equally extended 10 small buyers who Re
Obliged by the want OF means to Guy In small
quantities; but IL Is easy TO tind plenty OF rea-
SOUS V by 1t should De repealed. Under existing
legislation purchasers OF more than $500 worth
OF these stamps at one time are allowed a dis
count OF per cent, while those who can buy
still larger amounts ar once are allowed 10 per
cent of. THESE discounts are equal to the per
Centage OF profits realized On many kinds of
business, and the advantage which the larger
allowance gives extensive and rich manutac-
turers over small and poor operators In tn,
sam line Of business IS Of itself a very import
ant item. The effect Of IL Is to give powerful
by crowding all snail establishments out of the
field
This discrimination In favor OF large and
against small capitalists has, for example,
largely led TO acing the manufacture of
matches IN this country In the hands of q
single combination. The discounts which It
realizes on the large purchase OF It's stamps f.
alone an Immense start as against those who
can only manufacture in limited quantities and
who, OF course, can only afford to buy their
stamps as they are actually needed. While
there may be differences OF opinion as to
whether The present tax on matches should
be entirely removed or not, there cannot be
any question that all manufacturers needing
them shou d be Supplied With stamps at the
same price At all events, II there are any
Determinations they should not be against the
poor.