Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-01


which was formed in the early part of 1887
continued its labors in 1888. Its recommends
tions for the solution of the railroad problem.
which had been placed before Congress in
1887, were the subject of discussion at q num-
Der of the meetings of 1898; but nothing has
been accomplished in the way Of securing de-
sired railroad legislation, and the committee
plan is still hanging with the other railroad
propositions in Congress The committee dis
rupted itself and largely destroyed its useful
ness by turning aside from the consideration
OF measures for the advancement of the ma
terial interests Of the District
to propose changes in the municipal
form Of government, which were thought by
many to be the forerunners of return to
suffrage in municipal affairs. Thirty-two
members of the committee protested and
withdrew when it was voted to submit the
committees plan of government to Congress
The committee has been recognized, and at a
recent meeting discussed the defects of the
city's tax assessment system. The record of
the committees practical achievements for
1888 is very limited. But such associations for
the discussion of local matters at the national
capital. which has no representative among its
legislators, can be made of great value to the
District mediums for the expression of
public opinion, and with the adoption of q
somewhat different policy from that of 1888
the citizens committee ought i'll 1899 to be
able to confer substantial benefits upon the
District.
Public discussion of the government of the
District. though it indicated strong dsspproval
of meddling with the form of municipal man.
agement brought into prominence the fact that
the people of Washington are taxed without rep
resentation in the body which taxes them. and
that in other respects, familiar to the readers
of The STAR, they are denied American priv
Ieges and even placed on q lower level than
aliens. Senator Blair, desiring to remove some
OF these inequalities, introduced constitu-
tional amendment proposing to give the Dis
trict representation in Congress and in the
electoral college. Consideration of the matter
was. at Senator Blair's suggestion, postponed
until next year.
TRIBULATIoNs OF THE YEAR.
In view of the prevalence of yellow fever in
Florida and the apprehension that the dis
ease might extend northward, special inspec-
tors were appointed to guard Washington
against yellow-fever patients. and other sani-
tary precautions were taken. No epidemic
visited the city during the year.
Outside of collisions between individuals and
railroads trains, to which the Washington pub
lie is hardened and which it cannot induce
Congress to prevent the notable disaster of
1888 was the fall of the tower of the Church of
the Covenant by which, fortunately, no one
was injured.
No important strikes or lockouts appear on
the Districts chronicles of the year. Blu a
meeting was held here in the interest of the
Reading strikers, and the boycott case of the
Washington musicians came to a decision in
the Supreme Court in January.
Both in its foreign and domestic relations the
District has been reasonably peaceful. No
moonllghters annoy it, no Boulanger vexes it,
no nihillst harnesses il. The nation gives it a
certain peace by removing from it the cares
andrespOnslbllities even of its own government.
The boom Of cannon directed against the
Chesapeake bay oyster pirates has sounded in
nelghboring waters, and escaped victims of the
cruel dredgers have occasionally shown their
scars and told their pitiful stories in the capital
city. But war has come no nearer to put to
the test the District militia, which has been
thoroughly reorganized during the year. There
was promise of clash of arms in the battle
over the LeDroit park fence, but the contro-
versy was diverted into the courts, and the
fence stands and peace and a lone special
policeman reign.
Among the disasters should be reckoned
the threatened coal famine and the rise in the
price of coal in the first month of the year,
and the increased price of bread. due in large
measure to the wheat corner of the dstin-
guished Mr.. Hutchinson of Chicago in the
autumn.
No great earthquake was felt nearer than in
Japan. An eclipse of the moon was visible
here in July.
In point of weather 1898 has been a record
breaking year, both for Washington and the re-
public at large. The great blizzard in the
northwest, which in January froze to death so
many persons, made itself felt even at the cap
ital. The March blizzard, which attacked es-
pecially the middle and New England states, by
a furious storm of snow and wind completely
isolated Washington for several days pros
tratlng the overhead wires. leaving the city
without telephone or alarm connection for the
fire department, and causing a blaze at the
police headquarters by the crossing of the
electric light and telephone wires. A cold
and wet spring and an occasional hot
in he Ia1 ~,
cyclone of August, which appeared as de-
structive wind and rain storm in Washington.
The fourth great storm of the year occurred in
November, and did great damage TO shipping
especially along the New England coast. The
SO campaign OF the winds and clouds agains,
the earth was most extra rdinarv one
There was considerable suffering among the
poor of the city in the early part of the year, 70
meet which a relief committee was appointed
The dangers and discomforts of the March
blizzard also fell with special severity upon
the poor.
MORALS OF THE CITY.
Washington has not during the year been
either unusually good or unusually wicked.
The number of churches has increased and the
number of saloons has decreased. st. Marks
Episcopal church, on Capitol HILL has been
finished; st. Joseph's Roman Catholic church
and the Church of the Covenant are building.
and new Baptist church is soon to be erected
Several comparatively inexpensive church
structures have also been built.
There has been much agitation during the
year OF the question of a prohibitory law in
the District, and this movement has had an
influence indirectly in causing the Commits
sioners to so exercise their powers as to re-
duce the number of saloons Early in the
year petitions for and against prohibition were
circulated, signed and submitted to Congress-
The Commissioners reported against prohibit
ton. Hearings were had by the petitioners
before the Senate District committee. Tha,
committee opposed prohibition and leaned
towards local option law. Finally it was de.
cided by the committee to frame a high.
license bill. So far as Congress is concerned
the question is now between high
license, that is. a higher license. and
the present system. Meanwhile the Commits
sioners succeeded in the liquor license cases
OF Manion and Brosnan, and the courts dis.
closed the full scope of the Commissioners
great powers in the exercise OF their discretion
in granting or refusing liquor licenses. More
stringent liquor regulations resulted from these
decisions. The Commissioners also attempted
to compel the closing OF unlicensed bars and tC
prevent Illegal selling on Sunday and asked
Congress TO assist them by additional legisa.
ton. A severe struggle took place over the
applications for liquor licenses for next wear
The Commissioners withdrew somewhat from
the positive stand which they at first assumed
but there were. notwithstanding. u sufficient
number of reflections to make distinct issue
between the Commissioners and liquor dealers
The liquor question is one of the most trouble
some of the legacies which 1888 leaves to 1899
The booksellers have been. By act OF Con-
gress, driven from Washington and George