Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-02-14
Are the Commissioners doing anvth,ng.-or a

nal and otherwise news o any information bun-
Its can be sent day or night, free OF charge.
Are the commissioners doing anything,-or any.
thing in earnest 10 put stop TO reckless dr1ving7
If not, IT is high time they should. Within a few
days one person has been killed and three manned
for life through being over on street crossings
Washington has, doubtless, the best pavements
for driving purposes OF aAy city in the world,
but In no other city.-not even 81. Petersburg,
where people on foot have not much show, Is there
so much peril 20 life and limb for pedestrians in
Washington Iii partly because streets are so
wide and smooth that they are so dangerous. They
offer great temptations for fast driving and earrl-
ages slip over them so noiselessy and rapidly
that pedestrians get no warning Of their ap-
proach before the horses are upon them.
In other cities the narrow paved streets
pei drivers TO go slow; and the clatter OF the veh
cles over the rough pavements gives seasonable
alarm TO the pedestrian.
The danger from reckless driving has been great
ly increased OF late by the introduction of the va
Gus new lines of public conveyances- What
with the rushing competition between the
hacks, herdicS and hanSornS, vehicles are
now shooting through the streets like 50
many rockets, and wO be to the unfortunate
pedestrian who ventures to their course! But
for stond brutal Indifference TO the safety Of the
public the liverted drivers OF swell private car
a supreme contempt for people who go ON foot, and
II is their delight to make the pedestrian rabble
scatter In hurry, especially at crowded
Crossings And when they succeed In run
ming down somebody, they pursue their course
without thought Of what becomes Of their victim,
and regard it as great violation OF their rights
when called to account for their action.
1t has come to such pass now that many people
do not dare IlSk crossing the Streets especially
ffyaaS
out, and vehicles are rushing IN all directions at
racing speed.
Now, this usurpdtton OF the streets by the car
rage people is in direct violation OF the law which,
In all cases. tested IN The courts gives the rghtof
way TO pedestrians. 1t is high time, therefore, that
the authorities should exert themselves give the
foot public the benefit OF their rights.
There Is no lack OF bills TO deal With the financial
problems before Congress, but from this very fact
springs danger that no action will be taken OH
any OF them The perplexities of the subject are
great, and the placattng OF all the interests con-
cerned is difficult task. Tuesday Mr. Potter
notified the committee which has his two per cent
bill In hand that he has decided to modify 1t so as
TO make the interest rate 24 per cent with a reduc-
ton Of the tax on bank circulation to one-half OF
one per cent This is In substantial accord with the
views OF Comptroller Knox, who thinks. II adopted
that II would enable the national banks to con-
tinue business On their present basis for some
years
number OF other propositions have been made
by the friends OF the national banks each one diff
farng from the others In DETAIL but all treating the
subject from common standpoint II these
various propositions be welded into one pracui-
cal measure there is chance that it will run the
gauntlet OF the two houses.
Other cities. as we'll as Washington are moving
for popular free public libraries In Philadelphia
1t Is proposed TO start one on a basis Of $3.50 900,
part Of which sum is 10 be expended In building,
and the remainder put into fund which shall be
In the control Of a corporation made up of contri
buffers.
In New YORK library was started three years
ago on somewhat the same plan as that advocated
by Mr. Brainard for this city, and its success should
encourage the friends Of such project here The
New York library instead OF waiting for large en-
dowment, began On small scale, hoping that Its
usefulness would be rs best argument for addi-
uonal patronage T.is policy, 1t seems, has worked
very successfully. Already 5000 volumes have been
collected and the library was used by II 600 per-
sons The value OF the collection Is increasing
yearly, and 1t IS rapidly gaining friends and
strength
The Senate has attacked one Of the most import
ant matters OF the time the relation OF the funded
debt TO the national bank system, In a spirit Of
serious and dtspassonate inquiry and bill viii no
doubt pass that body that will reflect fits matured
judgment IL is given out that the House will
probably wait on the Senate In this NATTER though
number OF bills are before its bankisg committee
designed TO deal with the same question Some
tudictous and friendly legislation Is expected from
Congress on the matter, and failure by the House
10 act with wisdom In the premises Will hurt the
responsible majority with the people. The time
mas gone oy when any political advantage can be
gained by attacking the national bank system Its
hoeranty, convenience and safety have made it
popular in all business communities
Here Is a curious tale that fits the day we cele-
Drate- An old bachelor German Immigrant sixtv
seven years Of age who Is ting the soil In Dakota
firing OF his solitary lot. but finding no heIpmeet
near, wrote some time ago TO his aged mother In
Germany. asking her TO choose and send him q wife
She replied that she knew the right woman. but
that She was living in Brazil She wrote to the
woman. however, inclosNg the sons photograph.
describing him and hts life. and proposing TO her to
snare IT, The suggestion found favor In her eyes
and through the mother the son was so informed
Further correspondence followed giving directions
and The means OF travel, and a few weeks ago the,
heroine In this singular triangular courtship came
from Brazil TO New York, and thence went west TO
meet her coming husband
Cupids postman darts hither and Won to-dav
purdened with sweet whisperings But his zach
grows lighter yearly, not that bis power Is less.
but his forms OF worship have changed. The
modern swain Is not gwen 10 ANONYMOUS sonnets
ON his mistress eyebrow, but steals into her heart
Win theater tickets, livery stable bills ice cream
and bouquets He doesn't see the advantage In
laVlsnlng MS salary on dainty cara which she
may attribute 10 the devotion Of the other fellow
The hoods In the Ohio valley are stIl Increasing
and have now exceeded In volume and DAMAGE anv
previous inundarion- The aid voted by Congress
VIII De most welcome and cones In good time: but
IT must be reinforced By private help from all
sides or prove Inadequate. CITY for assistance
comes up from the whole valley, and should not
fau On deaf ears
New York has become 80 enamored OF everything
English lately that the clerk OF the weather decided
10 give That city yesterday a taste OF London fop
Inc snos didn't like IL; and It is to be hoped that
tney VII now take the hint and stick to home ideas
on other subjects
WHAT WIN Wrangiing over the admission of new
members and eulog1zing the virtues of dead onesL
tne HOUSE VIII scarcely leave itself time to attend