The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1886-04-25

ors Of the present Administration for even
technical diversions of appropriations. In
the present case the expenditure was made
out Of a fund which could not legally be
drawn upon for the purpose for which II was
used. If an appropriation for the expenses
of collecting revenue can be diverted legally
for official mourning, 1t can be used for any
other purpose.
We call attention to a communication In
another column showing the hardships of
the existing law under which a citizen of
this District cannot sue the citizen OF State
in the United States courts outside of this
District, but is compelled to have recourse
to the State court of the vicinage of the de.
fendant. Under the present law, aud under
the provisions of the Constitution, citizen of
one State can sue citizen of another State
in the United States court, but citizen Of
this District cannot. To correct this in.
justice Mr.. Hemphll has introduced bill
into the House of Representatives putting
citizens OF this District on an equal footing
with the citizens of the States. We know
of one instance where distinguished citisen
OF this District, in a controversy involving
several millions Of dollars, was compelled to
leave the District and establish a legal resi-.
dence in one of the States in order to enable
him to test his rights in United States
court. We are not prepared at the time TO
discuss the constitutional question involved
in the bill, but granting that Congress has
the power to authorize suits by citizens of
this District or Of the Territories against
citizens of the United States in United States
courts, in cases not arising under the "Con-
| "stitution, the lawsof the United States, and
treaties" it is eminently proper and but a
simple act of justice to give the citizens of
this District the same remedies in the same
forums as are given to the citizens Of the
several States. As the law is If citizen of
the District seeks to collect u debt from a
citizen of st. Mary's or Charles County, for
instance, he has to go to Leonardtown or
Port Tobacco, instead of to Baltimore, as
would be the case If the Hemphill bill be-
came a law.
Had the Department of Justice done its
duty under existing law all questions as to
the shadowy titles to the Potomac Flats
would have been settled ere this. 1t is too
late now TO cry over this spilled milk. There
is one way, however, to silence the argu-
ments of those who seek every pretext TO
avoid appropriations for necessary improve
ments in this District. Let Congress make
the necessary appropriations for the work of
the coming season, and provide that it shall
be expended only upon that portion of the
fats to which there is no pretense of title in
private individuals, and provide for con
demning the remainder-a very small por-
tion of the whole-by a summary process,
such as is provided for railroad companies
Such proceeding could be completed within
ninety days, certainly within six months,
judging from the history of railroad condem-
question which affects more seriously the
health, teauty, and commercial interests of
this District than the river improvement
To stop 1t now means increased sickness and
mortality. If this argument is worth nothing
to the chronic objectors to District improve.
ments, We appeal to the economic side of the
question. To postpone the improvement now
means greatly increased expenditure, for
much Of the work that has been done will in
that event have TO be done over again. To
| hos ho IL, . l.
vince Congress of the immediate necessity of
this improvement We would say that with
the proper effort We believe the appropria,
tion can be secured. Some of the Oldest,
most experienced, and influential members
undertook to defeat the Library bill. II
passed, notwithstanding, by two-thirds
majority. This shows what can be done by
active and intelligent effort, in spite of the
most determined opposition.