Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-01-28

that OF any other daily paper published In
Washington, and much greater than that
Of all the other daily papers here addsd
Teacher.
washington takes advantage OF the text furnished
BIZ the sacrifice OF Col. Ludlow for the public good
10 emphasize its suggestion 70 those who assume 10
rppresent It before Congressional committees,
Whistler Commissioners or citizens, that full force
should DC given 70 the weight Of pubic opinion
without regard 70 individual interests and IDEAS
and that a cessation from pickering. and suostan-
tial unity OF eort are essential to enectve action
for the Districts welfare.
me I'M rselinv between members OF the House
committee on appropriations and Col Ludlow, and
between the military and civilian Commissioners,
has Seen a standing menace TO the interests OF
washington which could not be endured, and
which has been necessarily removed In the only
way Available. The Commissioners may now pre-
rsut the claims OF the District 10 the approprfa-
TONS committee without friction. and need not
spend 80 considerable portion Of their time In
defeating one anothers projects in asserting pre-
rocatiyes and In neutralizing one another's ef-
forts More cordial relations between citizens
and Commissioners and hearty cooperation In ad-
yenc, ug important District measures In Congress
may also be hoped for. AS an indication OF the new
era Of good feeling the Commissioners might
withdraw objections TO the citizens school board
bin or suggest amendments which would cause 1t
10 receive their assent. The citizens committee
nigh. now recognize thar 1t can help the District
most by pushing important local measures In
Congress. shoulder 70 shoulder with the Commls-
sonefs and that ts true function IS not TO UNDER
mine these co-workers but TO cooperate with
them for the Districts welfare. Washington
needs all the harmonious influence which II Can
bring TO bear In impressing its wants upon Con-
gress The citizens committee has now enough
work cut out for It this session. II It's influence
can be exercised TO secure satisfactory legislation
concerning railroads, school board, . new post
once and District government building, District
code, and other proposed measures concerning
the general principles OF which there Is substan-
tlaI unaniaity, much will be gained. II Is hoped
that no proposition TO tinker the present form Of
government viii be favorably considered in this
committee 70 turn the hands Of possible workers
upon the measures enumerated against one an
other, thus rendering the labors OF all abortive
The recent willard Hall convention has not les
sened the sensitive shrinking OF the community
at the prospect Of any unsettling Of present con-
ditions which viii bring suffrage proposals to the
'front.'. And the measure already framed, propps-
Ing eoincreaae the number ofCommissioners TO dve
Of whom four may be appointed from outside the
District suggests another danger II beginning OF
changes Il advocated. A reopening Of the subject
vii also furnish an opportunity for the unfriendy
work Of those who are anxious to overturn the
present. financial relations between the District
and the General Government Most OF the griev-
Ances OF which citizens have complained have
arisen nom the conduct OF individual Commits
oners, and are not attributable to any feature OF
the present form OF government which can be
amended satisfactorily while the Constitution is
In It's present shape. To ask changes in matters
or detail may expose the city unfrendly changes
In of cuhs and viii
with the success Of the other measures of District
interest TO be pressed upon the present Congress
Even those who are most strongly convinced that
sOnie improvements IN our form OF government are
feasible may reasonably conclude that there is
now too much other work on hand for the District,
ane that the present is not good time to move.
There Is only one side to the question whether
the B. and o. road should be required to remove It's
antiquated station from proximity to the Capitol
and clear away the surface tracks which disfigure
and endanger the northeastern section OF the city
and check improvements there. There Is also no
room for contention over the question whether
the 3. and p. road should be required 10
cease that illegal occupation OF avenues
and reservations for freight and storage
purposes. which converts its line into an almost
impossible barrier, obstructing trade and comm
nicatio5 between the main city and the river front
and the greater part OF South Washington. On
these matters t seems only necessary for Congress
20 devfsr tie best remedy, 70 determine whether
the Baltimore and Ohio shall tunnel under the
northeast section or go around It. and whether the
Baltimore and Potomac shall pass through me
southern section, over sunken tracks By one route
or an elevated road by another. But in respect TO
the proposed removal OF the Baltimore and Poto-
mac 6tb-street station there appears to be
soma ground for q difference OF opinion
which obviously exista No one can blame
the B. and p. for wishing TO retain its convenient
location near the avenue; that part OF the travel
ING public which Is conscious Of special Interest,"
IN tie capital VIII also favor the present site ami
the people OF the District Will naturally desire
both for suburban and general travel as centrally
Socaoed stations as the welfare OF the city VIII
permit. But the Inconvenience Of a very few min
utes extra travel by street cars involved in A
withdrawal OF the station from 9Th street and the
Mail 70 pciat near the south line OF the NAH
Is so slight, and the gain 50 great TO
the symmetry OF the eity's magnificent
PARK and 70 the picturesque beauty OF the Capi.
tolls surroundings that no loyal citizen of Wash.
ington win hesitate for an instant to sacrifice pr,
vate 10 public considerations and TO favor the re-
removal II IL impossible even for an enterpris-
ing snd liberal railroad. as all branches OF the
Pennsylvania system are, to so cover and beaut,fy
IT'S track through the Mall that it Will not be az
eTe-sore. Successful resistance TO removal OF tbs
Baltimore and Potomac station means also the re-
tention Of the present Baltimore and Ohio station
Win us dirty surroundings at the foot OF the
CAPITOL The tendency TO sacrifice the city reser.
vauens its breathing places, TO public buildings
Is Dad enough, but to turn them over to the rajl.
roads and TO permit the picturesque view OF the
Mall nom the Capitol to be dIsn2ured by the
Immediate presence OF railroad tracks cars
sneis. and smoke, as the Capitol grounds
were an annex TO the railroad yards is abomina-
bic. The people OF Washington are not migrate.
fal 70 the Pennsylvania road for IT'S services in
breaking the monopoly OF the Baltimore and Ohio.
but Il has received the reward which corporations
appreciate from the hundreds OF thousands OF
passengers and pounds OF freight which that
good and q convenient temporary station
have given II in preference to its rival IL sboud
now he willing 10 pay Tor what IL gets and TO act
within the Law IN this as in other cities It isun-
worthy CT the high reputation OF the road To
sponge upon public property. disfgure the
national capital, and damage individual citizens
IN reliance upon the defenceless condition OF the
people AMI the Quiescence or acquIsscence OF Con-.
gress AL railroad corporations are said TO 20,
whatever they can and 70 hold fast to what trey
get Vita ASSURANCES OF It's highest consiosra-
csn Washington, however, requests the Yalti-
more and Potomac 10 loosen It's GRIP upon the
NAH; anc II voluntary release Is hopeless, Con-