Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-10-21

nshed In Washing ton. and equal to that OF
all the other daily papers here added
together.
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tiers.
Such discussion the subject has received
at the hands of the public must already have
convinced the District Commissioners that the
sentiment Of the community Is largely against
the proposed extension of Massachusetts ave-
nue. at the present time. unless the property
which will be brought into the market and
vastly enhanced in value thereby can be made
to bear the expense of the projected improve
ment The owners OF the land thus benefited
are certainly the only persons who are just now
directly interested in the early prosecution of
the work. The proposed extension is not needed
for the convenience of the people of Washing
ton generally, nor will 1t open up or reach a
productive or thickly settled neighborhood
with whose residents easy and quick connec-
ton with the city proper Is a necessity or even
material consideration. On the other hand,
II Is safe TO say that every acre of ground lying
along the line of the proposed extension and q
good many acres that are situated some what
remote from 1t, but which will at once be made
accessible by lateral branches running in both
directions from the new avenue, will be doubled
In value long before the work upon 1t can be
completed 1t stands to reason. therefore, that
the expense of the projected Improvement
should be borne not by the community, but
wholly by those persons whose fortunes will be
increased by 1t. Not only should the ground
necessary for the whole width OF the thorough
fare be donated, free of any cost or expense, but
the work OF grading, etc., should be paid for by
the owners of the land. The only item of ex.
pense that can justly be excepted from this
rule Is the cost OF constructing the necessarily
costly bridge or viaduct across Rock Creek
valley. This being in the nature of public i'm
provement, II should perhaps be paid out Of the
general fund. But beyond this single item the
public treasury should not be asked or allowed
to contribute a dollar.
II has been stated, and doubtless correctly,
that under existing lava the District authori-
ties have no power to assess anything against
lands for benefits conferred upon them by the
opening OF streets roads-that such benefits
can only be considered as Offset to and not
beyond any claim which may be set up for
ground taken for public use, for alleged
damage to property affected by such improve
ments. Obviously the answer to that observa-
tion Is that the course to pursue in q case like
this Is to walt until law can be passed under
which benefits well as damages can be taken
into consideration and properly adjusted. The
present arrangement of all turkey for one side
and all crow for the other is one that should be
set aside at once aud forever. So far as the
Massachusetts avenue extension itself Is con-
cerned, there Is as we have pointed out no
pressing need tor carrying it forward at the
present time. There are plenty of ways and
places where the money that would be required
TO carry out this work under existing laws can
be used to much greater advantage to the public
1t Is pleasant TO read of such q harmonious
meeting between labor and capital as occurred
yesterday in New York city when the annual
convention OF the Brotherhood of Locomotive
Engineers opened its sessions. Under the ad.
ministration OF Chief Arthur, the brotherhood
has taken q frst rank among the trade unions
Of the world. Its finances are admirably ham
died; its membership is sedulously restricted to
class OF men who are entitled by intelligence
and personal worth to enjoy its benefits; it
maintains dignified attitude in every rela-
ton, and 1t never wastes Its strength on futile
enortA II 10 model organization, which could
be copied with advantage, in about every
feature, by the other trade unions. It has
proved the advantage of peaceful arbitration
over tedious litigation and the violence of mobs
1t represents no hostility to capital. On the
contrary, Its public meetings are attended by
courage its growth. and are ready to contribute
TO Its pecuniary prosperity when desired. Yet
this brotherhood started In the world with no
better chances than a hundred others. 1t made
itself strong and respected by holding its head
up and not STOPPING to petty things. 1t asks
no favors; but it Is to-day in a position to de-
mand Its rights with the positive assurance of
success, because 1t does not stand like porcu.
pine with It's quilts always erect, ready to stick
a tiny barb and an infinitesimal drop of poison
into anybody who happens to brush against
II 1t talks so little that when IL does speak,
the world listens to what it has to say, and
needs IL. Its career is a striking tribute to the
value OF the old maxim: BE sure you're right
then 60 ahead"
General Miles address to his troops sets at
rest forever the que >tion whether Geronimo and
his associates surrendered as prisoners of war.
Moreover, the order of Secretary Eadicott, that
the notorious chiefs should be separated
from their families and imprisoned at Fort
Pickens. Florida, because they "nave been
guilty oithe worst crimes known to the law
and 1.-The public safety requires that they should
De removed far from the scene of their depreda-
tons, and guarded with the strictest vigilance
indicates that the intention Of the government,
Is TO take rather liberal view OF the question
OF punishment If the surrender is known TO be
UNCONDITIONAL, as Is still maintained by some
administration is committed to the severest
practicable policy in dealing with these muir.
oerers, why Is not some penalty inflicted more
impressive than confinement at a military
post? Everything that has happened since the
news or the end of the campaign reached the
east, has tended TO confirm the belief exp pressed
In the STAR at that time, that the surrender
was accompanied with conditions, express or
Implied, which tie the hands of the federal
authorities.
mere Is nothing unreasonable on general
grounds, In the request OF the acting Secretary
Oh the treasury for a more detailed statement
from the Commissioners OF the uses TO which
tney purpose applying the appropriations COW
ered oy the District estimates. As long a. the
government of the District is entirely in the
hands OF Congress, aud its demands for neces-
sAry funds have to nlter through the Treasury
department, IT seems but ri ght that the head of
that department should have a pretty definite
idea of what he is asking for The intimarion
that the commissioners have a legal right To
make their estimates general instead of specific
raises purely technical question, v hicb. II
permitted TO obtrude itself needIessly NAV
establish bad precedent At any rate. a omar
rel over such matter could result, at the best
In only q temporary convenience; for the Secre.
tary OF the Treasury would then go to Congress
and procure such an amendment of the law as
would make his Irf.