Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-05-04

Mr.. Springer's bill to run straight, broad
avenue through the center of the beautiful res
ervation bctween the Capitol and the WASH
ington monument may come up In COMMITTEES
Ut any time. now that the democratic leaders
of the House have made up their minds TO
check some other classes OF work In the domain
OF public buildings and grounds.
There few considerations which IL would
be we'll for the members Of the committee 10
weigh before listening to the voice of the
teapter In this matter. There is something
very seductive, doubtless, in the idea Of
stralghtness and breadth In a road when the
only end sought is q quick means Of reaching
one point from another But even Mr..
Springer will not pretend that there generally
are people Mt the Capitol who must at any cost,
Reach the monument within a given number OF
minutes. or that there are people at tine monu-
nient who have to make flying trips to the
Capito. In discharge of their regular duties.
Hence n necessity for such change IS his bill
proposes does not exist.
Utility being out of the question, what are
the demands CT beauty? The reservation 10
now laid out with paths and driveways which
wind in graceful curves around the grass-coy-
cred knobs. To the casual glance their wan
derinss seem TO have no system. Viewed
from height, however, which commands the
whole area. the method OF their arrangement Is
thai the trained sense of the artist takes pleas
ure in them. They follow the plan OF nature;
aad art Is always at its best when 1t most
closely follows nature. II nature had laid out
The lines OF the human arm in unbroken par
allels like a section of stovepipe, or had built
canals and millraces instead of letting rivers
and meadow brooks ind their own channels,
there would be some artistic Justification for
the only -direct-route through-by daylight, fast
express style OF avenue with which Mr..
Springer's bill proposes to bisect our lovely
park. But nature didn't. And the House COM
mittee on public buildings and grounds had
better follow her suggestions than those of any
body who designs TO improve on her methods
without showing some useful end to be gained
by IL.
After many forward and backward move.
ments, promises and denials, threats and
pledges on one side or the other, the Missouri
Pacific railway strike has at last been declared
OF, and the Knights OF Labor engaged in 1t
ordered back TO work. This Is the first fruits Of
the House committees visit to St Louis, and
very acceptable fruits indeed. If the strike is
ended iu good faith to-day, the wisdom Of Mr..
PowderlyS course In urging the appointment OF
the special committee will be everywhere
recognized and approved.
But it will not do TO be too sanguine Of the
results Of the instructions lust issued TO the
Knights Their organization is so complex that
there Is always possibility of resistance to
the central authority by some of the local
semblies. This it will be remembered, was the
Cause of the miscarriage of the effort honestly
made by Mr. Powderly and his associates in
New York. directly after the Gould conference,
10 suspend the strike until the negotiations for
arbitration could be carried out.
Ii, as il now proposed, the coming general as
sembly shall confer broader powers upon the
general executive board, SO that petty local
Qusrrels shall not be permitted to interfere
with the execution of plans which are deemed
for the best interest of the whole order not
only the Knights but the public will be the
happier Tor 1t. The worst Internal fault which
the organization has now to contend with is
not the lack of strength, but the insufficient
coHcentration Of the strength 1t does possess.
Tho report of the Senate committee on privi-
leges aud elections in favor of a constitutional
amendment changing the date of Inauguration
day and the beginning Of congressional
sessioas from the Attn OF March TO the 3Otn OF
April, brings the proposed reform apparently
nearer TO accomplishment; than 1T has been
ut any time yet. The Senate will probably
adopt the resolution without great deal of de-
bate. In the House, however, there are so
many self-constituted protectors OF the estab-
1ished order of things, that every proposal for a
Change fsis strong resistance 10 encounter at
tioGs, but OF RESERVATIONS, like that which the
present agitation contemplates. Let hope
that tue logic and common sense of the situa-
ton will appeal to the minds of members at
both ends OF the Capitol alike.
The remarks oi the Folsom family in all its
various branches, upon the approaching mar
r!aSe Of tue President, continue 10 find their
way Into print. Tile member in whom The pub
lie takes the liy.iest interest, however, has
maintained dceorous silence. And yet it
mist be confessed that two short words from
her lips. at - certain juncture, will be ut once
more eloquent and more important than the
hundreds of longer ones which her kinsfolk
have uttered thus tar
The Knights III Labor have a good many
Irons in the fire, but Martin is not one OF them
according To Ills own account. He denies all
the reports of his expulsion from the order. 1t
Is the other sides turn now. VIII Mr. Yer
Gech, who is credited with the authorship of
the story, please take the staudr
Reprc>C ntatiye Ranncy, nj Mass;tchuset an
nOunces that he will moi be Il candidate for re-
electiou- With Nessrs. Collins and Ranncy
both out oi the House, the prestige ON which
Massachusetts has prided herself through "a
double representation on the Judiciary commit
tee will have tail.
Representative Weaver, of Nebraska, wants a
graveyard coiiImIttee appointed In the House
IL he Will wait till the November elections are
oNer he perhaps will be better able ~ pick out
proper candidates for membership.
Even the House oi Representatives has caught
Tie Infection, and struck yesterday for a change
vi hours in its working day.