Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-04-02
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER,

mai anniversary OF the adoption Oh
the Constitution Of the United
States IN 1889, and also the tooth
anniversary Of the discovery of
America in 1892.
Ii is held that the most appro-
pirate manner for the nation TO eel
citrate these historical events would
be the establishment in this city,
upon the ample reservations which
extend from the Capitol to the Ma
tiOnal Observatory, of permanent
exposition. I'm this the exhibits of
the arts, industries and resources OF
the Republic could be gathered, and
the States and Territories should
have permission TO erect permanent
buildings in which their cOntribu-
lions could be placed. Space
would also be granted to the gov
ernments of Central and South
America to do likewise, thus pre-.
senting in Washington miniature
WOW OF the greatness and re-
sources Of the Western hemisphere.
The plan is TO prepare for such a
celebration in 1889 to be su6se-
Quently enlarged to a more compre-
hensive exhibition in 1892.
At meeting for the discussion
of this subject a committeeman
wanted to know, first, what the
District OF Columbia would do
Another replied that it was not pro
posed that the disfranchised citi-
zenS of the District Should contrib
ute a cent to the proposed EXPOSE
ton. They were like children who
were permitted to play in the gov
ernments back yard. Another
thought that the best exhibition the
District could make would be to
show its own helplessness. 1t was
needed as a bad example. Wash
ihgton was simply resting place
for the government, being devoted
to department work and social ex-
element. There is no industry or
commerce, and it was needed. He
had observed that all the fine stat
ues in the city were of army and
navy officers. There is just one
that of Robert Fulton and his mod
el, in the CapitOl-representing
men who have done something to
advance the industrial interests of
the country. He thought that if an
exhibition such as the one proposed
was held, it would stimulate energy
and trade throughout the country.
If a person could come TO Wash
ingtOn and there see the resources
of the various states and territories
it would help them.
Dr. Loring indOrsed the project
of the permanent Exposition, be-
cause he believed in industry as a
stimulant to enterprise. The Dis
tTict is the place where a man can
come to learn the most II is true
that there are no mills, no strikes,
or prospects Of them, unless Mem
bers of Congress strike, and no in.
dustrial controversies. The indus
tries Of the country are represented
in Congress. Nowhere can the d.
verse industries Of trade and in
dustry be studied so advantage
ously as in Washington.
Senator Frye, of Maine, express.
es himself warmly in favor of a
permanent exposition in Washing
ton. The city, he says, is in itself
a permanent exposition for the edu-
cation and edifcation of the people
of the United States and of the
world. Every intelligent move for
its improvement and establishment
has this in view.
The proposition to change in
auguratiOn day, and with it the
closing day of Congress, from the
4th of March to the 30th of April,
will, it is hoped, soon receive at
tentive consideration at the hands
of our law makers. 1t is becoming
more and moro evident with every
year that the present limit Of The
alternate or "shOrt" session of each
Congress leaves insufficient time
for the transaction of necessary
public business. Congress assem-.
bles early in December, and, al
most before it begins any work,
there comes the Christmas vacation.
Then it. is the middle of January
before work is fairly resumed, thus
leaving only about six weeks before
the termination of the session. The
result Is hasty ill.cOnsidered legis-
lation, appropriation bills rushed
through without inquiry, or defeat
cd without dne examination, and
general and unsatisfactory and I'M
safe disposition OF the peoples af, |
fairs.
1t would be a very greatimprove-
ment in every way if the closing
day of Congress were set back TO |
April 30, thus giving some sixty |
days or more to the session, and
afl'ordIng opportunity for material
Improvement in the volume and |
quality of legislation
That would be a much better
time in which to celebrate the in. /
auguration Of our Presidents also. |
The Ah Of March comes, as a rule,
at the most disagreoable period of |
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