Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-01-02
The District in CO1m~e*S.


THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE COM.iiTTEE EXPLAINS
HIS POSITION CONCERNING IMPROVEMENTS
A New York WOitd special from this city reports
Mr.. II. s. Neal, OF Ohio, chairman OF the commit
tee OF the House on the District OF Columbia, as
saying -" see nothing in the composition OF the
committee to indicate that ii has been formed with
view OF carry ing out any previously selected line
OF policy. SO FIR as am advised. the pTinciDal
| measure to be considered is the enactment OF a
munlcipA i code which will embOiy Laws concern
ing ttXa10n, police, building regulations and
such matters as concern cities OF the size and
importance OF Washington. The laws at present
are in an incongruous condition They pres mt a
| mixed up and tangled system unsuit.d to
the age a and to the important interests in
OF the committee on the District OF Columbia OF
the FOrty-siXth Congress- and the bill VIII n was
| reported passed the House OF Representatives sub
stantiaily without change. 1t failed in the Senate
for want of time to give it consideration. / have
| studied and amended this BILL and hope to have it
| meet the approval OF the District committee of
the present House. The reel climatiOn OF the PotO-
mae fats Will be given due attention. bill pro-
viding for such an Improvement is now before my
committee. This work successfully ACCOMPLISHED.
Washington will be o. the healthest cities in
the world, and for winter residence there will be
The land reclaimed wiil if Congress should choose
to sell IT, fully repay all the cost of the recama-
tion. NY own view is that it should be added to
ment the beauty Of Washington"
"Will there be any proposition considered look
ing To Change III the form OF the District govern
81 think not There seems to be no disposition
on the part OF the people of the city to demand
beca use they are apprehensive that the District
will be controlled by class OF men whose only
interest VIII De to get as much money as possible
ent Commissioners may be changed in part I do
not think myself that any change OF the Commis-
wants simply enlightened business men to direct
its affairs honestly and economically, and Pres-
dent Arthur should be very careful not to make
xy.i,.,f, nrlT na1if
81 think the educational system OF WASHINGTON
very superior one and Schoo-buildings arc being
erected as rapily as the respurces of the District
Will Justify. feel confident that in two or three
years at least the rate OF taxation can be reduced
to one per cent II there is honest assessment OF
the property of the District which may be made
"Have you examined the claims of those who
oppose the depots and railroad tracks remaining
ssIheTe ought to be a union depot provided. II
the Pennsylvania railroad compapy is not willing
to give up its present site and Congress does not
favor the establishment OF ether depot buildings
upon the public grounds in the immediate neigh
hor!.ood. regard 1t as very unfortunate for the
future of Washington that the Pennsylvania Cen
tra should have been permitted to cross the
Mall. 1t has done good deal towards destroying
the symmetry of tkat beautiful park, and there
fore favor the purchase of the depot building at
lair consideration and using 1t for District pur-
poses, and having the railroad company buid
depot at some other point, where it will be as
acceptable To the public and liable to do less in
jury TO the public grounds The codification of
District ,aust also be considered. TIE Indictment
In Guitcau's case is about two hundred years be-
hind modern IDEAS and demonstrates as clearly
as can be how little attention has been given here
toioFe to the wants OF the District The District
ought also to have code OF civil procedure. such
1 su m New ono and aa W Gtsf F m
much OF the time OF Congress in its consideration
that do not suppose anything Will he done in
that direction"