Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-12-14

District day In the House yesterday was wasted
In the most shameful manner. The debate on the
school bill developed the fact that there are some
members of Congress who not only do not know,
but are unwilling to be taught, the wants Of the
District in educational matters. The most absurd
ignorance, either real or feigned, Of what every
body else IS saying and doing was exhibited by
Mr.. Hopkins, who boldly asserted that the best
people Of the District were opposed to the bill and
cited In proof extract from the recent speech OF
q single individual. Inasmuch as Mr.. Hopkins al
fusion to The STAR represented this paper as hav-
ing opposed the bill, 1t was without a shadow of
foundation In fact; indeed, so remote is it from
the truth, that the Interviews with substantial
citizens which have constituted the bulk of THE
STARS references to the subject, have been uni
formly in favor OF the changes proposed. Mr..
Dingley, Mr.. Cobb Mr.. circuit and the gentlemen
who stood with them in the fight deserve the
thanks OF the people of the District for making an
end 10 Mr. Hopkins bunoonery.
The spirit which animated Mr.. Hopkins In this
matter was shared by all the members of the Illi-
nois delegation who took part in the debate The
object OF the whole party was manifest from the
outset-it being to bind and bolt an Illinois man
fast In q District office whose life tenancy they
feared might possibly be endangered by the
passage OF the bill. Such conduct was unworthy
Of their manhood and their patriotism. Without
discussing the merits OF this officer it may be said
onary, If he deserves TO stay. The people of this
District do not want politics or personal prejudice
TO enter into the management OF its public affairs
II they can get good officer, they glad enough
TO keep him; II he Is inefficient, they do right i'm
insisting upon his removal. II an of1cehOlder or
an oficeSeeker cannot afford TO rest his case upon
this assurance OF fair treatment 1t is safe to say
that he has no case to rest.
The wasting OF one whole day Of the paltry few
allotted TO District affairs in the House, by the
filtbustertng OF a handful of Representatives for
the protection OF petty officeholder, because ne
came from the same state as themselves was an
outrage under the forms OF law. 1t was a dis
tinguished President elected from their state who
made memorable the phrase, ga government OF
the people, by the people, for the people" With
what contempt would We have looked upon such
where the entire session was thrown away to
make this "a government OF the people, by the
people, fora single scheming citizen OF Illinois
The new rule of the Pension Office, under which
the clerks instead OF being watched and re-
ported for hardness, are put upon their
honor, seems TO work very we'll 1t ought to.
A man or woman with intelligence enough to hold
an ONCE under the government must know what
Is expected In return for the salary the govern
mens pays; and one who is honorable enough to
deserve ONCE Is too honorable to wish to rob an
employer, even II That employer Is the govern
ment, and the robbing Is only by 1ndirection. A
good deal can often be done by appealing to per-
sons better impulses, which cannot be accom-
plished by force. The feeling that one is under
surveillance does not stimulate sense of self
respect. 1t rather arouses spirit Of emulation in
the person watched TO see whether he or his
watcher has the shrewder wits. 1t suggests re-
sort 10 tricks and subterfuges which would be
seorned under ordinary circumstances II the
Pension ofice experiment works as well three
months hence as it does now, It would not be a.
bad idea for the other branches Of tie govern
ment service In Washington to initiate it, A
clerk in the employ OF the United States should,
by rights, be above the treatment OF q schoolboy
under the eye OF his monitor. II, after being
subjected TO rational test, his uprightness and
his dignity prove unequal the strain IL Is time
10 declare his place vacant and issue q fresh re-
QUESTION on the civil service commissioners.
The statement telegraphed from Berlin on the
authority of one OF the newspapers OF that city.
TO the effect that the car has been frightened into
granting constitution TO the Russian people may
% true, but so also may De the prophecy that the
earth win burn up next Christmas day. When
the constitution Is prepared and delivered TO the
people, it viii be time enough to accept the fact:
and when any trustworthy person can be induced
70 certify that he has the car frightened at
anything or anybody, IL viii be time enough 10 be-
neve that On just as good authority the present
Glars father have issued orders at least three
times for the immediate preparation Of a constt
tuition; and IL seems wonderful that an autocrat
widely celebrated for his imperious viii should
have let bis purposes be thwarted so often by re-
nelIoas ministers without packing them all OF to
Siberia