National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-05-01
Tho District In Congress.

Hhe DtatrtCt Tn congress-
Washington is an overgrown orphan, with
both hands tied. 1t is helpless and an un-
willing ward at the mercy of q careless and
noglectful guardian. 1t has only congress to
look to, and congress is very much disposed
to regard the poor thing as an unmitigated
nuisance.
Washington is q city of 200, 600 inhabitants,
who are absolutely without a voice in tho
management of their own affairs. They cam
not move hand or foot without permission of
congress, which has its deaf ear turned to
them most of tho time. The national legis-
lature grsciously sets apart ono day in each
month for the consideration of district bust
ness. The few members who are in their
seats on these days generally yawn and put
tho business off another month as tho easiest
way to get rid of it. The mention of dis
trict bill is enough to stampede house or
senate.
The people Of tho district have no way of
getting the ear of congress The commits.
sioners who have been set up to govern tho
district do not in any sense represent the
citizens of Washington. They are largely
under tho influence Of limited personal
following. They hold tho people at arms
length, and the people have learned to look
upon them with contempt.
Congress pays no heed to tho commissioners,
because it knows that they do not represent
anything or anybody but themselves. For all
the benefit they are to the district the conf
missoners might as well DO craven images.
Congress is perfectly we'll aware Of the hostile
relations that exist between the commission
ers and tho people, and it knows how to apply
the remedy, but II will not act. The great
masses of taxpayers and citizens havo neither
the time nor the self-assurance to 60 before
congress- and tho few earnest mon who have
been before the district committees year after
year with the stories of their grievances, their
claims, and their wants are in danger of being
listed as cranks or chronic GROWERS.
In brief, the case is this: Congress has cre-
ated three commissioners to administer the
affairs of the district to ascertain what the
people want and what legislation and money
is necessary to meet the proper requirements
of tho situation, and to make reports Of their
guardianship. The commissioners will not
let the people get near enough to them to tell
OF the districts needs. and they grope along
blindly in the egotistic faith that they know
it all without being told. Their reports are
thus without value, but they are, nevertheless
in theory, the only mouth through which the
citizens can talk to congress- The citzcns
might as we'll DO deaf, dumb, and blind.
This is plain statement of disagreeable
facts. The time has arrived for plain talk.
The material interests of the district are suf-
fering, and in the present strained and unnat-
ural condition of affairs nothing but harm
can result from beirg silent or mealy mouthed
! longer.
The first session of the forty-eighth congress
Is drawing 20 close. There are many matters
Of vital Importance to the 100000 inhabitants
of the dis trict that demand attention before
the recess. There is the railroad question, the
free bridge question, the sewer question, and the
| question of street improvement, to say moth.
ing of the Potomac flats improvements and
many other matters TINT will readily suggest
themselves to the thinking mind. The
streets are beginning to look ragged and I'M
kempt, tho health of the city is threatened
by reason of incomplete and imperfect sewer
age, and the people of a considerable section
arc crying aloud for relief from the oppres-
sion of the railroads. Further delay in tho
consideration ofthese questions by congress
is sheer neglect of duty.