Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-06-15

1t seems to be settled that Congress has the
power 10 put such burdens as IL may please upon
the people OF the Distric: OF Columbia and to de-
priye them OF such rights as 1t may choose, and
that the latter have only 10 submit, whether they
Ike 1t or not 1t will, however, be exceedingly
difficult to convince them, any other fair-mind-
cd community. for that matter, that there is any
propriety or justice in compelling them to share
with the general government the $4,000 ex-
pense OF building fish-way at the Great Falls Of
the Potomac, as proposed by the Garrison and
Hewitt amendments TO the water supply bill. That
point is long Way outside the limits OF the Dis
trlct, and nearly twenty miles from the city of
Washington, and its people lave no more juris-
dictiCn over IL than they have over the falls OF the
Ohio at Louisville, or or the Mississippi at Mime
apolS- As the Potomac there and for many miles
above AMI below constitutes the dividing line be-
tween the states of Maryland and Virginia and
West Virginia, there might be apparent show
OF excuse for requiring the people OF those COM
monwealths to pay portion OF the expense of the
contemplated Improvement, IL the general govern
ment felt that il could not afford TO pay the whole
bill; but their representatives, in Congress would
doubtless successfully resist such spoliatOn, on
the ground that the advantages arising from
fsh-way there are general and not local in their
character The people OF the District being by the
Constitution under the exclusive Jurisdiction OF
Congress, can, however, only suffer what they
have not the power to prevent Still, one would
naturally think that in dealing with the citizens
OF Washington that body should not ignore all re-
gard for decency and all the principles OF justice.
TO make them pay part of the cost of the pro-
posed work In question is precisely If the peo-
pie OF St Louis were compelled by act OF Congress
to pay half the bills for improving Fox River, up
IN Wisconsin They have the same kind and de-
gree OF special interest in the hoped for results of
that work that the people of the District
have In the prospective benefits OF a hsh-way on
the upper Potomac. In morals there Is no essen
hai difference between the passage OF these
amendments as proposed and the ''Stand and de-
liver" OF a brutal and weil-armed hghwayman.
The report that the Western Union Telegraph
Company had gobbled up the Independent line OF
the Baltimore and Ohio railroad company seems
70 be pretty e1ectually demolished by a state
ment made by President Garrett, at the meeting
OF the B. o. yesterday. In reference to the gen.
eral policy OF the company in abolishing the sys-
ten OF middlemen and doing all its own business,
Ar. Garrett mentioned its express and indepen-
dent telegraph He said the Western Union,
Ginning 10 represent capital OF $50 900 0OO and
attempting TO grasp the whole business OF the
country, was most undesirable monopoly He
added that new cable company VIII be formed,
probably with the title Baltimore and Ohio and
European Cable Company to combine with the
land system OF the B. ami o. telegraph lines.
$50
The state republican convention OF North Caro-
hna yesterday formally endorsed the ticket nomi-
mated recently by the ''liberal" or boiling demo-
Gratis and thus union between those two political
elementS has been effected. The question of pro-
hbbition came up In the convention, and, though
II caused some lively debate 1t did not lead to any
division, as was apprehended The republicans Of
North Carolina seem to think that this coalition
opens to them an excellent prospect of changing
the politics OF the state, but the democrats ridi
CUE the fusion movement. and say 1t will not poll
g many votes as straight republican ticket
wsud. The democratic theory is that many re-
puolicans will not support the fusion ticket