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

no mortal man could understand before In
many respects the laws are a hundred years behind
the times The occurrence In Washington OF great
trials, Ike the star-rOute cases and that OF
Guiteau has called the attention OF the country to
the condition of District law, but no substantial
Improvement has resulted. At present the laws
and ordinances are not even collected In a code
To learn even the municipal regulations one must
consult the acts Of the corporations OF Washington
and Georgetown, deceased; the acts Of the Levy
Court OF the County Of Washington, deceased:
certain acts OF the Legislative Assembly deceased
certain regulations OF the Commissioners OF the
District given the force OF law and certain acts OF
Congress- These ordinances are often contra
dictory, clumsily drawn or incomplete and need
several frultless attempts have been made To
Obtain the necessary legislation by Congress
saesesnhlSe ,, Iesisers OF the general laws have
the national legislature the defects Absurd
titles, and barbarlties OF the statutes A code
because members are unable to refrain from tsS,
ing advantage or the endless Invitations to i'm
provement which are offered and revised code
squabbie TO such an extent over proposed Chance
on important subject, that the limited time win
which Congress faSOrs the District Is consumed
without bringing the question 70 decision. The
House OF Representatives has very recently dou-
bled the number 0f day devoted 70 the affairs OF
the District or Columbia, and now agrees II moth
Ing OF greater Importance tnterferes, and ouOrums
can be secured and nobody at the time Is possessed
Of the nli0ustertng mania TO legsls for the cant
tai on two afternoons vi each month instead OF one
This Increase Is exceedingly welcome TO the people
Of W ashington, and Il Is hoped that time may now
De found 70 rid The District OF some OF tue English
statutes existing at the time OF the nrst emigra-
ton 70 Maryland, which are our law merely be-
cause "found applicable 70 local and other ctrcum-
stances" In that state nd al that time. They are
hardly adapted 10 the nineteenth century ANA the
oe given comprehensiXe code or body OF revised
statutes emoo lying little OF the modern spirit OF
legislation, both In respect TO substantive law and
procedure There are always SOME faithful ana
able friends OF Washington In Congress- especially,
out pot exclusively, upon the District committees
az the Two houses, who labor diligently for the
Dislricts good, though sometimes discouraged BY
Congressional inertia ana by the CONFUSING and
Sohttadctory appeals OF citizens To these friends
ITS onward and upward marcn, wh en- IS caused by
upon IL 7s'"
NEGLECT or wAsHISGroSs HEALTH
grievance both OF the past and OF the present
u found In the fact that the health Of the capital
aas been neglected. The sanitary condition OF the
city has received insufficient attention from Can
gress at all tlmes Il VIII nos be necessary. how
ever, 70 point out 70 the sympathetic reader earlier
evils than those Of 1sss, and everything out mare
reierence may b omitted In respect 90 marshss
long unnlled within tas city umits In respect "a
the ditch fostering In the sun ana poisoning the
AR which formerly existed under the name OF the
washington Canal, In respect 70 imperfect sewer
age and dosen other sources Of disease partially
o. sasirslJ removed only after ysazs q inaetion
A grievance, stil existing, though the nrst stems
toward It's removal have been taken, may BE- cited