New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-02-26

We wonder if it IS generally known that there 10
a portion of the United States whose inhabitants
enjoy not O vestge of either the form or substance
of self government and have no voice in the making
OF the execution of the laws which they ara
compelled to obey II asked to name this unfortu-
nate section, we venture to say that many news
paper readers would be at q loss, and would be
inclined to mention Alaska or some other distant
corner of our great ltOnsl domain. They would be
far out of the way if they did, The place OF when
we speak is the very focus and founan-head OF Free
republican government for the whole Countrywide
District of Conmba yet its people bave no part or
lot in the management of that Government, or even
in the control of their own local affairs They vote
for neither President, Governor, Mayor nor JUS
tice of the Peace. In fact they do not vote al all
They are ruled by triumgirate OF Comms-
sioners who are appointed by the President, ana
WIN "A n rule. are not citizens Of the District.
Sngularly enough. they rather like this order o.
things 1t Is economical and efficient Not long ago
they lad Government OF their own, and were
nermited by Congress which IA their real sovereign,
to choose Legislature and lot OF officials. The
Legislature taxed them nearly TO death, and the
officials rioted in public plumber 1t was the fable
of King Log and King StOrk in a new Ruise Now
thew ARE perfectly satisfied. to all appearances.
TO have their taxes levied and their money spent by
three respectable gentlemen selected by the Presi"
dent There IS only one thing of which they CON-
plain-that they are shut out Of all voice In the
electlop of tho President; but this cannot be
remedicd without an amendment to the Constitu>
ton their grievance is likely 10 be OF long contnu-
ance Practically IL Is of small Importance whether
community only large enough TO cast one electoral
vote is represented in the making OF President or
not but theoretically 1t is an injustice 70 exclude
from all share in the National Government the
| .,~sHhi n i0h
National Capitol.
We are 80 accustomed to think our Municipal
| Government thoroughly bad, in comparison with
those Of the great Eur ipean capitals. that it will be
| an agreeable surprise to most people to learn that
| we have one feature OF city administration which
exciies the admiration of fore gners and causes
| demand for its imitation. Not long ago DIR. Henri
| Nachtel, q Pole, who is q member of the Paris
| Faculty, and is now resident of New-York, wrote
letter TO the French Academy Of Medicine or the
ambulance system attached 10 the police and hospl-
tai service of this city. His letter thought of
sufficient Importance to be referred to CON-
mittee. and at the sitting Of the Academy on
February l an interesting report upon it was
read by NJ. Chereau, IN which the New-York
method of transporting to hospital the victims
of accidents In the streets and workshops was COM
pared with that in use in Paris greatly to our adj
vantage. The use Of the alarm-teIegraph boxes to
give notice OF an accident and TO summon an ambu-
lance, and the CELEBRITY with which the moulance
with its accompanying physician is dispatched to
the relief of the victim, are features OF our system
which are highly commended. In one case Ut.
Nachts found that the interval Of time between the
occurrence of street accident and the departure of
| the ambulance from the hospital was only forty
three seconds. IN Paris there is no telegraphc noti-
fcation to the hospital. and no swift ambulance,
with its warning bell its medicine-chest and case OF
instruments, and its attendant doctor. The wounded
man is usually taken to the nearest pharmacy, where
he lies until litter can be brought from police
station, in which he 10 carried oy four bearers 10
| the hospital. Death often occurs from want OF
prompt relief. NJ Chereau says it is not an uncom-
mon sight IN the streets Of Paris to see the bearers
of litter put their burden down on the sidewalk
while they stop to rest