Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-07-26


Intelligence OF Mr.. Bl0unt, OF Georgia, should on
various occasions show such narrow-mnded hos
tity to appropriations for the improvement of the
national capital His state Is one OF the most en-
terprtSing In the SOUTH and we have failed TO gee
any Indications that Mr.. BlOunt's constituency do
not feel proper patriotic pride in the government
city, and in having IT adorned and sppplied with
water, and its sanitary condition imp2Oved, to
make it fully worthy to be the capital OF great
nation Yet we find Mr. BlOunt opposing the APP
preparation for the reclamation OF the Potomac
fats on the utterly gr0un1less theory that the i'm
provement Is in the interest of private parties.
The fact is that the project for the reclamation of
the flats is bitterly opposed by all the private in
terest5 eoncerned,-by the Kidwen Bottom crowd,
and all the land-grabbers, spectators and tramp
engineers who are lett out in the cold by this
measure, which proposes to peremptOrily
tSamp out all the shadOwy claims upon
she river marshes, and to have the work OF reca-
nation done by the government upon the plan
adopted by the government commission OF
army engineers and sanitary experts, and which
gives the government full possession OF the land
reclaimed. The project OF the reclamation OF the
fats, so far from being promoted By private par
ties, Is WORK taken in hand some years ago by
the Citizens Committee of One Hundred, which
also Was charged with the duty of procuring leg.5-
Eaton TO equalize the burdens of District expenses
between the general government and the people of
the District By their earnest and intelligent rep
resolutions to Congress of the injustice OF taxing
the people of the District pay all the expenses
sfor the support and improvement of the seat of
government, laid out upon a scale OF such ''mag-
nihcent distances" that body was induced to pass
The measure of relief by which the general gov
e-nment assumes half OF these expenses.
Another task taken in hand by the citizens COM
mittee was that for the improvement OF the water
supply OF the District: and they have given very
energetic and efficient labor that duty. AS in
the case OF the equalization OF taxes measure and
that for the water supply. the committee have had
only the general interests OF the city in view In
aoortng for the project FOR the reclamation of the
flats In the organization OF the committee the
greateSt care was taken 10 the cooperation
OF the best citizens, and those VINO had no private
axes to grind The committee originally
headed by George W. Riggs, and at his Iamented
death, Walter Dayidge, citizen who also has the
entire confidence OF the public, was elected prrsi-
dent 1t Is safe To say that no more dsinterested
and respectable body of representative citizens
was ever associated together for the public wei
fare In any community than this COMMITTEE OF
One Hundred; fact that will be readily recog-
amzed by any one who takes the pains to go over
the list Of names If through their efforts they
can be Instrumental in securing the adoption of
sahe project for the reclamation OF the pestilent
river marshes in addition to the two other great
measures they have had In charge, they Will
deserve the lasting gratitude of the people of the
district OF Columbia, and OF the nation as well.
Virginia chivalry can take the championship
belt fer absurd brayado and ridiculous conduct
Another bioodless duel was fought yesterday be-
tween two representatives. OF the latter-day Viz
sginia honor and dignity. Capt John S. WISE |
coalition candidate for Congressman-at large and
Captain (Of course he had military tite), John |
s. Crockett. prosecuting attorney OF Wythe county
undertook 10 settle difficult growing out of poll
tics under the code duello. They "met" and after
exchanging shots without result discovered (con-
lat one Of I'm II
missed fire. This absurd performance was salts |
factory to the wounded honor of OF the COM
batantS, SOcalled, and the account OF the aft Iir
announces that the flight terminated" II is rea-
sonable to suppose that man going out to giit !
duel in earnest would make Careful examination |
of his weapon before r1skin- his life upon its con-
ditfon This seemed TO be The custom in years |
past when duels We're duelS; but now, the modern |
duelist usually. after reaching the field either
discovers that his pistol caps have been lost or
that his weapon viii not fire. The bloodlass
encounters upon the "ield of honor in the last
Virginia campaign brought ridicule not only upon
the code but upon that state. Nevertheless, the
ecionS OF chivalry persist In keeping up their prac
tce OF meeting, only TO waste little powder and
shake hands They could not be engaged in a
more harmless paStime.
The criticisms upon the republican congressional
committee and the discussion of the subject OF
political assessments have brought out official
uitcIaHcco WAlCl assure the government eAplOye
that he is entirely at liberty to consult his own
pleasure with regard 70 making political cOntribu-
lions IL ne fit TO give portion of his salary
towards the success OF the party in power, that is
apriyiiege which cannot be denied him; and, if. on
the other hand, he decides to give nothing, his
omission TO contribute will not have any influence
detrimental to his official standing This assur-
ance, from the highest official authority. makes
the government efnploye secure In his liberty TO
contribute or refuse. In raising money for cam
paign purposes the plan has sometimes been
adopted OF sending agents through the depart
ments TO collect contributions These agents
were allowed per centage OF their collections,
and, very naturally, they would endeavor to make
the aggregate OF the amount obtained as large as
possible Ii Is not unlikely that they have. as has
frequently been charged, intimated that a gov
eminent employee was consulting his interest by
making contribution and neglectng II by refuS-
Ing one; and, from this. Perhaps proceeded the
charge that the congressional committee was
evyins assessments. With the Official guaran-
Tee OF protection which the government employ es
now have. 10 unauthorized agent OF any commit |
zee can operate upon their fears In collecting !.
money for political purposes.
Nj. Blount, OF Georgia, argued Yesterday that
There was no need OF retaining the Potomac fats
because Washington, as shown by the mortuary
statist.cs, Is ahead OF several other cities of the
country in the matter OF healthfulneSs 1t Is not
claimed that Washington is an unhealthy CITY
"
On the contrary IL Is. taken whole, one of the
heaithiest cities OF the country but that does not
DO away with the fact that the portion bordering
on the flats, and which takes I'm the White House
the Treasury, State, War and Navy departments.
the Bureau OF Engraving, g., is affected deetert-
ouSly by these marshes, which are so Offensive to
the eye and smell With this fever lair removed.
washington would probably be the healthiest
city of the country II ought be As the seat OF
government
The bicycle has scored a triumph in the courts
IN suit Drought AZ Westminster, Nd, to deny 10
Il the right or the road, on the ground that 1t
frightened horses. After i hearing the complain
ant agreed 20 dismiss the case finding that there
was no Law 10 deprive the bicycle OF the right OF
roadway. and the suit was formally dismissed by
The corporation authorities The bicyclist against
whom the complaint was made, and who was ac-
coTdinSly arrested, has now assumed the agrees
SVe and proposes To assert his rights land conse-
auenty those OF all bicyclIstsl in the Affirmative