Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-07-10

At last there Is substantial promise OF relief for
Washington from the pestie1tial vapors OF the
PorOmac flats Senator Ransom appealed from the
commerce committee to the Senate, on Saturday,
In behalf OF an appropriation in the river and har-
Dor bill for the improvement of the Potomac river
at Washington and the Raising OF the fats, and
the committee was Oyerruled by an overwhelming
majority The opponents OF the amendment pro-
posed by Mr.. Ransom to the river AMI harbOr bill
(appropriating sjC0,0oW planted themselves upon
the same technical objections that had prevailed
In the commerce comm ttce They had not a
single argument TO offer against the proposition
on its merits or, at least dll not attempt to adj
vance any. The question raised was that the
amendment was not 10 order, and In the discus
sion the technical reasoning OF the opposition
appeared puerile in contrast with the solid aryu-
ments and sound logic OF the advocates of the
measure. MeSsrS. sherman, Beck, voorhees, and
others ably seconded the efforts OF Mr.. Ransom In
support OF the amendment. Mr.. Sherman showed
that by the same rule invoked to exclude the fats
amendment, many OF the most prominent pro-
visions OF the river and harbOr bill could be thrown
cut. He met the opposition upon their own
ground and clearly demonstrated that the prop0-
nron, regardless Of Its merits, was entirely in
order. Senator Ransom has been steadtaSt and
earnest in the prosecution Of the task he assumed
more than year ago, when he took his first step
towards the removal OF the only plague-Spot
which infested the national capital When the
sickly aud unSightly flats shall have given place
20 beautiful PARK, and the now deserted river
'front.' shall have become resort Tor thousands ami
an ornament instead of eyes0rc To Washing
ton, those who have fought this Improvement Will
realize, as clearly as Mr.. Ransom ana those who
sustain him now do the great benefits OF the work.
The boom OF the British artillery, the concus-
sion OF exploding shells ana the tumbling of their
houses about their ears are tae things that the
people OF Alexandria may expect unless they pre-
vail upon Arab Pacha To cease his work upon the
Egyptian f0rtfCatOnS. It is DlJi1 that the British
admiral cOntemplateS resort to- the extremity OF
bombarlment, as the En- Isil consul ut Alexan-
dria, by the advice OF tha adasirh, has given
notiee to the cOnsuS of other nations that il they
are regardiui OF their health AMI would escape the
danger OF shot and shell they IJd better vacate
the City within twenty-fOuT hours
1t would seem TO be well :Or Mr.. Speaker Keller
70 see that the cold tea dispensed in the House
wing OF the Capitol is IN zoe a little weaker here
AFTER. That which is uSa,i now is too heating.
In New York city the district attorney is en-
deayOring TO suppress lawle,s dives and dsOr1crly
houses by proceeding against the owners of houses
who rent them for such purposes or permit them
TO be so used. In the -Ct for the suppression
OF gambling in the District o. Coiuubi there IS a
provision by which Ian ll1r,is who allow their
premises TO be occupied for gaming purposes may
be held responsible. 1t IS only right, too. Lnst
landlords should be required to pay some atten-
uon u the character o. their tenants III persons
who live by lawleSs means cannot obtain houses
In which they may carry on their ne1ariluS bust
ness, their trade Is pretty well broken up.
The authorities of Virginia have again been
defeated n the courts in their attempts to SuStln
the reimbursement plan of settling tie state debt
IN the circuit court, at Richmond, a decision has
been rendered 10 the effect that the 500 600
derived to the state from the sale OF its interest
the Atlantic, Mississippi, AMI OHIO railroad shall
De devoted 10 the payment OF bonds issued under
the funding act OF ISL The court hell that the
acts OF the late legislature making other diSpO-
atiOn OF that money than the payment OF the
bonds issued under the pending act were not legal
because they would impair the obligation of
contract. The attOrneygen2ral or the state, il is
said, Will appeal the case, and that, with other
eases involving the right or Virginia to scale its
debt, Will finally reach the L. s Su lreme Court.
The worst case of youthful leprayity developed
since the numerous instincts or TIE PomeToy lad
In Massachusetts were disclosed, Is now confined
In Jail In ST. Louis. His name is Guy Smith. and
though but thirteen years OF aga he the other day,
deliberately shot his father dead because the
latter had given him a deserved thraSfiing When
told that he had killed his father the boy replied
that he didn't care and alied If one barrel Che
mad fired one barrel of q d0uble-DaTTele1 gum had
not been enough he " uid have given him the
other The question OF what 10 10 with such eases
Is again presented In the triA! Of Ihis youth. He
seems To BE- Naturally devoid u eli those gentle
and tender sen-ioIIties " :; tone down and
keep ia restraint thc natural =, Of humanity lie
has on several occasions a.,-e-t0 threatened TO
commit murder, and once attempted 70 carry ont
his threat He IS evidently a yoIt:tf;I Guiteau,
and Will De m0Te dangerous 4 society than i wild
beast IL permitted his liberty.