Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-03-07
Will They Defeat the River Improve
menIl


Will They Defeat the River Improve
mentl
The plan for the reclamation OF the malarial
fats in front Of the city. prepared with such care
by the board Of leading army engineers, has
been hailed by everybody interested in the
prosperity OF Washington measure OF
relief that could not meet with a single
dissenting voice, and which, by its merits
would claim prompt Congressional endorse
ment in season for the commencement Of the
improvement this spring. There signs, how
ever, that 1t Is to be actively antagOnized by the
lobby, and all the greedy crowd OF spectators
and land-grabberS who ready to kill any
measure that does not bring grst to their mill. The
trouble with the plan recommended by the engi-
neer commission is that there is no plumber
In It. There is not penny In 1t for
the lobby, and 1t enectually shuts out
the enterprising crowd OF land spectators. 1t
proposes to have the work done honestly, econom-
1caly and thoroughly, under the direct supervision
OF the Secretary of War; and every foot of the
ground reclaimed will be the property OF the
United States. This explains the fact why the
plan meets the hostility of the kidwell bottom
Iand-grabbers, the Mike Bannon party of Mary
land spectators, the A. Watson style of tramp
engineers, the star route plunderers, and the mis-
ccllaneOus crowd of lobby highwaymen who cry a
halt upon every public measure that does not pay
tribute to them
II would not seem possible that these selfish
parties could have influence enough with Congress
u prevent legislation upon interest of this vast
importance to the people of Washington but our
citizens must not rest idly in any false security
about the matter They must open their eyes to
the fact that the desired measure for the recla-
nation the flats will be fought at every step by
these interested parties and unless this antagon-
Ism Is vigorously met there is great danger that
the beneiicent project OF river improvement,
w 81 m nh "A bestowed.
De defeated, and the foul nuisance OF the peSt-
lence-breeding marshes will be continued tndeh-
nitely.
How To Deal with the Claims Problem.
OF the great mass OF bills intrOducedin Congress
at every session it is probably safe to say that
more tDan half relate to claims against the gov
eminent. So many bills for claims have accumu-
lated and, in fact, do accumulate every session.
that 1t is physically impossible for Congress 10
give that attention to all OF them which the In
terest OF the government demands. Ii Is admitted
on all sides that the government should pay its
just debts, and pay them promptly, but the diff
Guilty Is for Congress to ascertain which OF the
claims have merit and which have not There Is
bill pending, and which it Is expected will
come before the House for consideration early this
week, which proposes to refer all claims
presented to Congress to the Court OIL
Claims Indeed numerous bills for this purpose
have been introduced and referred TO several
different committees and after comforting together
these committees have agreed upon substitute
prepared by Mr.. House, OF Tennessee. This
measure does not propose to vest that court with
power to decide the claim, but simply refers it to
the court for judicial investigation. II would be
the duty Of the court TO examine and cross
examine witnesses with regard to any claim
coming before 1t, and report to Congress, not tie
testimony taken, but special verdict OF the court
showing the facts ascertained and the conclusions
reached Then, upon the basis OF this report,
Congress would proceed to determine the claim.
1t Is urged, in behalf OF this measure, that
does not propose to deny abridge
the right OF the citizen TO petition Congress,
Tor compensation for any loss he may have
tanned or believes he has sustained, or any grev-
ance he may have suffered; but, it is further
urged, this right does not require that Congress
Shall accept the citizens estimate OF his damage
Or loss where the government is involved or his
stateme ut as 10 -ae facts in the case In passing
upon claim bills Congress must largely depend
upon er pctTte testimony, it could not undertake
an Investigation OF each claim. The pending
measure. II II becomes law, will certainly largely
reduce tne volume OF business before each session
OF Congress, and the claim that is made in its
behalf, That IL would facilitate the settlement OF
ci1ins against the government, seems to be
we'll rounded The owners OF honest claims could
have no fear Of a thorough Investigation OF their
cause III has been estimated that the enactment
OF this bill into law would send more than one
hall the claims now before Congress- not to the
court o. Claims, but out of existence; that fully
this proportion are either fraudulent fictitious,
ami the presumption is that the parties Interested
In claims of that character woul1 drop them rather
than take them before court where the real char
acter OF the claims would be developed. The CHIEF
Justice Of the Court of Claims has expressed To a
committee OF Congress the opinion that that court
could dispose OF this business in addition to its
present Guties He also gave it as his opinion that
not one out OF twenty OF those who come before
u. ~
He thought that the proportion of, perhaps, one In
twenty would bear the 1ght of investigation.
Mr.. COnkling's declinstIon OF the appointment
or Associate Justice ON the Supreme bench was
generally anticipated, and therefore creates no
surprise 1t is said that the Presidents letter ten
Oef11S him the appointment mIScarrieG, and not
receiving any reply Mr. Arthur construed silence
TO mean consent, and male the nomination Mr.
Conkling, so goes the story Of those who assume
u b. familiar with him and his affairs
would have requested the immediate with
drawh OF his name, but an objection
hlving been interpCsed to lis confirmation
that put him on his mettle, and he determined to
aw 1T the SenateS action IL seems to afford Mr.
Conkiing much pleasure To decline an i'm
portsnt position as il does the average
politician 10 accept one, AMI many have
suspected that the Supre me Judze,hip was
Offered him more 70 give him an opportunity to
CRAFTY this peculiar trait OF his than for any other
tent IN the Senate, and probably Influenced sew
erdl votes against Mr.. onklng's confirmation
Now speculation IS alive as tO who viii be ap-
pointed TO the position Just refused by Mr. Conk-
nng Not a few think that Senator Edrnunis VIII
b. Apo nt-i, and that he viii accept This would
eectainiy be a most excellent appointment Mr.
Ednunds has mind that Is admirably trained to
judlci1l Labor. The appointment of Secretary
FoiSer 10 the supreme bench is still discussed as
among the probabitias. and Judge Blatch1ord
and MI. Clarence seward, OF New York are also
named IN connection with the place.
IL IS said that there are TWO sides every QueS-
ton, and 80 there en To be to that relating 10 the
abolition Of tue revenue tax ON matches It has
been cl,imed that the repeal OF this tax would not
reduce the retail price Of matches and. therefore,
would not benefit the consumer. In answer to this
Hts maintained that If is not the tax, ITSELF which
influences the price OF matches but the method in
which IL = imposed For instance the law author
lies heayy discount In the price of stanps In the