Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-12-06

The nvetop'cs in the Presidents message which
excite the strongest interest hereaSouts are the
tariff the currency, the labor question, the civil
service and District OF Columbia affairs. on the
frst OF these heads the advocates OF revenue re-
form will find much TO encourage them IN the tone
and scope OF the Presidents recommendations
His convictions seem TO be more firmly grounded
than ever IL that were possible and he appeals TO
the manufacturers OF the country themselves to
recognize the existing exigency and meet II In a
patriotic spirit by surrendering a part OF their
profits In order to relieve the mass OF their fellow
citizens taxes which greatly increase the cost OF
self-support and whose only effect Is to pile up
mass OF idle money I'm the Treasury. On the silver
question there is retreat from last years posi-
ton. Indeed, the President believes that the large
gold exports OF the year add fresh force to the
opinions then expressed by him, while the In
creased distribution among the people OF the
silver conpuisOrily coined adds to the re-
sponsibity OF the government to protect It's
coinage from the disaster which seems to menace
It. On the subject OF labor the message offers no
new suggestion, merely emphasizing the Presi-
dents faith in arbitration as means OF settling
disputes between employers and employed, and
his opinion that where labor strikes threaten In
terruptfon OF Interstate commerce, they fall
within the jurisdiction OF the federal powers eS-
tablished by the constitution. OF the success OF
civil service reform the President Is aseonfdent
as ever, believing that, the better the people be-
come acquainted with it, the more thoroughly
they viii agree with the department officers who
haveexper1enced its practical benefits, in coni-
mending II and demanding its perpetuity.
On District affairs the message contains several
distinct recommendations. including the codifica-
ton or revision Of the laws, the improvement OF
the bridges crossing the Potomac and It's branches
from the city OF Washington. the enlargement Of
the police powers OF the commissioners, the re-
striction OF the privileges of railroads having
termlni in the city, and the erection OF Dis
trtct building. All these suggestions are well
worthy the attention OF Congress. A state OF
the laws in district covering sixty or
seventy square miles. which makes 4 citizen
guilty OF offence of one character when he COM
mitS an act at Dupont circle, OF another character
when he steps across the p street bridge into
Georgetown and does the same thing, and of
a third character-Or perhaps no offence at all-if
he climbs Meridian hill, is disgrace to civli
Zation. There is no reason, either, why the COM
misSionerS should not be vested with authority
sumDlarfly 10 compel the abatement OF certain
nuisances detrimental to public comfort and dam
gerouS to health. If Congress would take the
trouble 70 look candidy into the condition OF the
city over which Ii exercises absolute control il
would find enough reforms In urgent demand to
occupy It's attention for a whole session.
Among the e0Inmendable suggestions nj the
Commissioners report are those calling for a bet
ter system OF lighting the streets, dispensing with
the village practice of depending on the moon
when the almanac pledges 1t to the performance
OF its full duty; for the increase OF school facili-
ties to correspond with the growth of the popula-
ton; and for the improvement of the police
system. Under this last head two requirements
especially urgent. The force must be strength
ened in number aud capacity. The restriction
OF membership TO men with record in the
army or navy of the United states is bit
OF buncombe, the last excuse for whose
existance is fading away, and which has
now become positively and dangerously bur-
densome. What the force requires Is not old
blood with a record made, but new blood with
some ambition to make one. The war has been
over many years, and its veterans have not stood
still while the rest OF the world has been ageing
Most OF them are too Old to-day to afford the best
material from which to recruit the force Con-
gross should lose no time In repeating this alb
Surd restriction, and leaving the District free to
get the services Of the best men ii can md no
matter where they come from or whether their
antecedents are martial or civil