Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-12-22

IL Is possible. though hardly probable, that the
confirmation Of Mr.. Matthews as recorder OF deeds
for the District OF columbia may be secured as
desired BY the President In his message sent 10
that body yesterday: bit n is not fair either to
that body or TO the people OF the District that this
result should be accomplished through misrep-
resentation nlisunderst andfng OF the facts In
the case. In transmitting the second tine the
name OF his choice to the Senate the President
takes occasion TO assert that the objection to Mr.
Matthews occupancy Of the place IL largely based
on prejudice conceived against that gentleman,
and that hismanagement OF the Office since he has
been In 10 has had the effect or removing much OF
The opposition TO him which formerly existed
Now. we have far better opportunities for knowing
She sentiment and temper OF this community than
any President ever had or is likely to have and we
Undertake 20 say that no prs JUDGE has existed or
n0w exists against Mt. Matthews. personally, nor
has any serious doubt ever been entertained 90 far
we can discover. rs 10 his capacity to fiIi the
offee With credit so himself and satisfactorily to
the public. Neither rs the President would seem
TO wart tire p1iiic TO infer. is the color OF his
nominee IN objection; for, a5 Is We'll known, more
than on lucrative ami responsible Office in the
District mas been ami Is acceptably filed by
colored nnen. On the other hand, Mr. Matthews
appears TO have impressed favorably those whom
be has met, officially and personally. and far as
we know, his Office has been creditabiy conducted
during his iacumbency. Bat this might well have
been expected Of any gentleman the President was
was likely TO name Tor tine place The opposition
10 Mr. Matthews rests upon much broader and
more solid ground. IL goes back to the principle
OF home rule. and to the Presidents disregard of
his own partys endorsement OF that principle. as
distinctly enuaciatet in Tia. platform upon which
he was nominated and elected.
Had the President been unable TO find white or
b3ck resident o. the District who was at once
worthy OF official recognition and capable of PROB
erly filing the position in question, the importa-
ton or a prosegee frUln a distant point to I'LL a
purely local Office might have been excused AS it
IS the action or the Executive Is almost uniformly
TegaFded-ard most OF I'll by members OF BIS own
party-ss both a reelection upon the people OF the
District and a wholly uncalled for disregard for
the popular VIII.
There was good deal OF h,rn,or doubtless in
fused into the report OF the House com,nittee on
ventilation and acoustics yesterday, in dealing
with the subject OF to1aeeo-chc;siIG among the
members: but there is also q serious side 10 the
subject. Whatever may DC said OF the cleanliness
or uncisaniiness OF the habit In Itself no person
with norma! nerves who has had to So Ia an at
mosphere charged with the eYaporafed essence OF
tobacco juice need be told that IL Is both unaleas
ant and unhealfhfU,- Perhaps II may be too mach
70 SIX OF n,enl6ers who have, by years OF intlul-
gence, come 10 regard the narcst ic weed IS Ne
cessary OF life, that they saan give up its use
because somebody else disiikes it, but it not too
much TO ask anyone who psrSsesseS ordinarily
Courteous instincts to make his use OF tobacco as
ino6enssve as possible. He can at least coniine
his efforts In nieotiaa craftsmanship TO the spit
toms provided for such purpose instead of shoot
ing into the ventiiatiag apparatus and helping to
CHOKE II up. With the best appliances known to
science, u Is impossible to keep the atmosphere O.
an assembly ehambcr pure while II is filled with
people; bat there Is DO Use, GA that account, OF
making matters worse than they need be-