Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-03-21

The meeting OF the Citizens Committee last
night furnished the fnal argument against the
movement for a change OF government OF the kind
favored by ~ members OF that body OF 100. The
speeches made In support OF the proposed measure
showed conclusively notwithstanding the sincere
disclaimers OF two OF It's advocates that the
change IL intended by the large majority
of the small number who favor it as
q mere preliminary 20 suffrage IN local
Affairs, and t. IL also evident from the
manner In which the friends OF the bill expressed
themselves that its advocacy by them In a similar
vein elsewhere Will expose the community to every
additional ana unntended damage which has been
feared. This measure, II vigorously pushed before
Congrsss. after It's adoption by eleven less than
oae-half OF the Citizens Committee, and after its
feeble Enforcement by only three OF the seven city
districts, and In the face Of public disapproval
or Indifference, and a secession from the commit
ITSELF Will interfere seriously with the success
OF those practical measures proposed BY the COM
mlttee for the beneft Of the District, concerning
which a reasonable degree OF harmony exists such
as the proposals relating to railroads. schools pub
lie buildings and various improvements In the Dis
trct laws IL will absorb time and attention from
the other projects and tend TO defeat them. IL
WILL In short. let loose bull In the cnina-shop OF
district legislation.
plans OF the committee, but 1t will impair, and
has impaired, It's influence and standing The
charge has been freely made against the CON-
mittee, from its organization that its real object
was not 70 push 70 a successful end the
various practical measures proposed By It,
bur, using these plans As means to win
confidence. TO work eventually to an
overthrow OF the District government, against
which personal grievances among leading
Committee members were said to exist The
debate last night, in which the District local gov
eminent was denounced as the worst in the world
and Its advocates designated "serfs," "dirt-
EATERS the plutocracy which deined
shepherd OF as miserable Senators and
Representatives who favor at the capital
what they dare not propose to their con-
stitUencieS" VIII give new life to the charge
The practical result OF forcing a measure which
causes members 20 bitterly antagonizs every other
interest and element OF the population and the
local and national governments will be to lose TO the
committee the confidence and support OF the gen.
eral public, OF many In the local associations and
considerable part of It's own membership.
IL Is denied that any change In the financial re-
lations OF District and General Government Is In
tended by the bill That Is not the charge. IL Is
known that az least one influential member of
Congress Is opposed to the present financial rea-
tionA and has threatened to overthrow them II
he can when the opportunity presents itself. This
proposition furnishes the opportunity.
TEE STAB does not propose to repeat its argu-
ments against unlimited suffrage In municipal
affairs But IT would suggest TO the blood boiling
citizens who denOunce the present condition of
things that by this measure they threaten pending
legislation, the reputation OF the Citizens Com
mitSee, and the interests Of the community with
out gaining single additional right of American
citizenship.
IL harmonious work for the material beneft OF the
District Is TO De abandoned and great risks run,
a constitutional amendment securing TO the peo-
pie genuine representation in their governing
body should be demanded. The American blood
should boil 70 some purpose When 1t Is decided
10 let loose the bull in the Districts china shop he
should De large enough to compensate In beef for
shattered china
Great complaint has been made In New York city
because the electric lights In the streets
on during the recent storm. and those unfortunates
who were obliged 10 be out &C night were scarcely
able TO ind their way about. An expert electri-
Clan, however, Is quoted as saying that
had the current been turned on as usual
there would have been a thousand perfls added
10 those which were suffered as IL was The
broken telephone wires, dangling against the
lighting lines, would have carried the powerful
lighting current In all directions, setting FIRE 10
houses and stores and dealing death TO every man
and beast that came In It's way. Could more
striking argument be adduced In favor OF
stripping the poles and burytng the wires
underground? IL that were done not only
would IL be impossible for great city TO
be left BY storm without facilities for communi-
cation between points within its own boundaries
but Its chief means OF night Illumination need not
BE- cut on a. the very time when, more than at
any other. II wants an the light it can get
The adoption by the German reichstag without
debate, OF resolution looking TO the erection OF
monument 20 Emperor william, and of an address
IN response TO the imperial message does not i'm
ply the CELEBRATION Of partisan feeling among the
lawmAksrs, but indicates merely that men OF all
shades Of political opinion are one In their de.
votion 10 the central idea represented by the Ho-
henzollern dynasty Of. emperors-the unity OF the
fatherland- Even the socialist Is a German first
and Sradical afterward; and there is nothing In
the relations now existing between the vatican
and the court at Berlin TO prevent the most deyout
Roman Catholic deputy from yielding a graceful
homage 70 the crown on such an OCCASION whether
he votes for the allowances It asks In all cases or
not.
The Mari OF Rosebery, In his speech the other
evening on his motion TO amend the constitution
Of the British house OF lords, declared that the
present weakness Of that body was the heredi-
I.rv