davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington critic., 1890-02-22
THE RAILROlD PROBLEM.

This is really problem requiring for
its solution the gravest deliheration and
the wisest Judgment Already Senator
ingalls, has submitted bill dealing
with the matter which, when examined,
will not be found satisfactory. Aud
now Senator Morrill, has introduced
measure which is his contribution to
the settlement of the question.
The difficulty of the railroad prob
lem arises from the desire to find for
the roads way of entry into the city
that shall be attended with as little in
jury to private property as possible and
that shall be as convenient for the gen
eral public as may be found consistent
with the least practicable interference
with individual rights and privileges.
Anyone who looks from the B. Il 0.
depot over the tracks of the Metropoli-
tan Branch will see at once how great
an injury the occupation and use of
these tracks are to what is rapidly be-
coming one of the most populous dis
tricts in the city In like manner the
entrance of the b. & p. Railroad, on its
present tracks, works serious injury to
property owners in South Washington;
and this road, in addition to its detri
mental use of some miles of streets, is
under the disadvantage of having in.
cured the indignant resentment of
everyone who has pride in the city, be
cause it has invaded the beautiful Mall
the delightful park which, stretching
from the Capitol to the Monument, con
tains the Botanical Garden, Museum,
Smithsonian Institution and Agricul-
tural Grounds--and has not only in
vadcd it, but has cut it in two, covering
a wide roadway with network of
tracks, and sending its intrusive and
aggressive steam engines into public
property which was intended to be a
perpetual and unbroken possession of
the people.
One great virtue of Senator Morrill, S
bill is that it provides for union de-
pot entirely outside of the Smithsonian
| grounds. 1t provides that the roads
shall abandon and remove their present
stations and erect either twin depots,
side by side, or a great and adequate
union depot, to occupy four squares, at
the intersection of Maryland and Vir-
giuia avenues.
This arrangement is possibly not the
best that could be had, but it is greatly
| preferable to that which now obtains
and it has the indestructible merit of re.
moving the d. ~ p. depot from the
Smithsonian grounds and of relieving
Sixth street from the curse of the in
Vulnerable tracks which involve and
inter.volye themselves theie.
On full consideration of the matter i
may be found that the railroad problem
is really connected with our river from
improvement, and that the completion
of Washington's harbor will include {
scheme which will bring the railroad t
the water and establish depot intended
TO accommodate land and water pas
sengers as well as land and wate
fTeights.
In any case the subject should nov
be thought of, with a view to lina
determination and location, and with
due regard for the city's real interest
Railroad occupation would rather i'm
prove the river front than not.
The Washington critic., 1890-02-22
.sOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE

Editor Critic: Allow me to commend THE
Critic upon the stand it has taken IN re-
gard to the District methods of taxation.
There has been much complaint, and for a
long time. Something should speedily be
done, as you say, in equity to large class
of small taxpayers, who Justly feel that
they have been Disseminated against.
like your vigorous style and determination
to have these matters promptly and prop
erly attended to. Please have the paper
sent to my address.
WASHINGTON ToPHAM,
The Washington critic., 1890-02-22

The CRITIC would like to ask Sena
tor ingalls, If he is still ignorant of tue
fact that there are complaints about the
tax assessments in the District of Co.
lumbia.
The Washington critic., 1890-02-22

THE BosToN JoHrHdi says that the
Louisiana Lottery takes in $25, 600, 900
a year and pays $s,000,00 for prizes.
Even "brace" game of faro gives its
victims better chance than this.
The Washington critic., 1890-02-22

IRIS REPORTED from New York that
in these last few days iocund spring is
not standing tip.toe to any great extent
on the misty, mountain tops of the
Cnishlls.
The Washington critic., 1890-02-22
LOCAL WEA rHER FOREoASE
WASHINGTON, FEBRUARY %, 1890.

TnrNGs MIGHT be cqualiled either by
taking of the duty on quinine or by
putting duty on microbes.
The Washington critic., 1890-02-22
WHAT DOES MR. WEBB MEANl

WHAT DOES Mr.. WEBB MEAN!
The inequality of District taxation is
no new discovery. In 1887 the abuses
of unjust assessments were known and
there was then IL strong agitation for
redress.
The District Assessor of that time
stated the situation with great clear
ness. He took list of $50 pieces of
property of all kinds, and in regard to
them compared their recorded assessed
value with two-thirds valuation of the
same lots for loaning purposes by a
building association. The assessed
value was $3.50 ,301, and the valuation
of the association was 1865, ,40S-not far
from double.
In the spring of that year the Dis
uict Commissioners, either yielding to
the demands of the people for an
amended system or sympathizing with
those demands, appointed Commits
sioner Webb to investigate existing
District assessment laws, to inform
himself as to the modes adopted in
other cities and to report TO the Board
the draft of new plan Mr. Webb
studied the District laws visited other
cities, but he never reported his sug-
gestions as to amending the methods Of
assessment.
Meanwhile the District assessors drew
up a bill providing for permanent
Board of Assessors, whose continuous
and congruous work would, it was be-
The Washington critic., 1890-02-22

MR.. IFARNER'S S PLEA ON TIXES.
Mr. B. II. Warner is representative
citizen of Washington. lie has a we'll
sustained reputation as the possessor Of
more than the ordinary share Of that
admirable quality we describe as pub
lie spirit.
A man of public spirit is one who
leads movements for the promotion Of
communal interests and contributes
generously Of his means and energies
toward insuring the common happiness.
Mr.. Warner has, by his manifold acts
and enterprises, entrenched himself in
popular esteem, and far from assailing
him THE CRITIc is anxious to add new
strength to his position. The man of
public spirit is the local Deity deserving,
above all others, of worship, and TO Mr..
Warner and his kind, THE Critic in
tends always TO do chaste reverence,
But, at the same time, we may be in
dulged in voicing the interrogations
and doubts TO which Deities are uni
versally subject.
As public spirit Is mutually expressed
The Washington critic., 1890-02-22
IATE ARRIVALS.

WILLARDs-J. p. Hubbard f. 4.
Myrick, j. w. Doblen, d. +. Butler q. A.
Redfern, New York; w. G. Beers, Bay
onne, n. j.
THE ARLINGToN-A. w. Fletcher, New
York; WILDER Parker, Cleveland, o.; 5. G.
Keys, New York; Rufus Griggs, Brooklyn.
Riggs HousE-Wiliam Vail, Brooklyn;
W. d. GawsoD. New York; Henry Sutton,
New Haven, Conn; $. NJ. Thomas, Taun-
ton, Mass.
EBBITT HoUsE-N. ID. Merwin, New
York; Henry c. Louglin, Philadelphia; y.
G. Caine, Somerset, Pa,
METRoPoIlTAN-W William Clark, Louis
Vile, KY. +. A. Elmot, Pittsburg, Pa; S.
Penorer, New York; A. s. New, Evanston,
Wyo.
NATIoNAI-E. II. Garyin, Millwood,
Va; =. B. Entwisle, johnson, Pa; \; r.
Iangdon, Hartford, Conn; j. b. Frost, j.
l.. Greason, NJ. Ward Smith, Of Brooklyn,
NY.
WoRMLEY's-A. f. Smith, A. Maglll,
Waller Sparks, G. IL. Prndle, Robert
shekelbach, j. H. Duffy and j. f. Carroll,
New York,
CIANBERLIN's--H.W ". Combs. w. Davis,
General Trimble Davidson, Vernon X.
Stevenson, New York.
HOTEL NoRMANDIE- Mr.. and Miss Van
Nolkenburgh, New York; Mr.. and Mrs.
D. b. Dennis, Coldwater, Mich.
HoTEL RASDALI.-E. Young, Fether-
stone, Md, William Derrick, New York;
L. A. Petit, New York
sr. JAMEs-N. NJ. Bell, New York; j.
c.. Banning, Philadelphia; f. p, Wilson,
Brooklyn; j., X. Brown, Columbus, Ohio.
IIowARD HOUSES. II. Ruggels, New
York; II, A. Colt, Philadelphia
AMERICAN HousE-C. Il. Jinkins, New
York; j. Husband, Mt. Morris, III.
HARMS noUsE-H. X. Williams, New
York; j, =. Frost, Watkins, N. Y.
IloTEL JOHNSON H T.. Rees, Atlanta,
Ga; G. w. Wilder, New York; q, NJ. Lane
and wife, Richmond, Va.
Wrecked the House win Dynamite, :
BREMEN, Feb. 22.-A bricklayer named
Seidl made an unsuccessful attempt TO
shoot HIS landlady. He subsequently,
wrecked the house with dynamite, killing
both the woman and himself.
The Washington critic., 1890-02-22

CHAUNCEy NJ. DEPEws silence when
Tom Platt was down was even more
eloquent than his speeches are now that
Tom is up. In the matter of patriotism
Mr.. Depew is very cautious railroad
planarpr
The Washington critic., 1890-02-22

A LONDON CORRESPONDENT informs
us that Herbert Spencer has spent his
entire life in boarding houses. This
may explain how Mr.. Spencer came to
form the habit of analyzing every
thing.
The Washington critic., 1890-02-22

A JAPANESE TRADITION says that treas
ure in gold bars worth Ss00,0o0 was buried
somewhere within the inclosure of the
Castle of Yuki Harutomo. Last May ex-
cayations were begun and the workmen
reached pieces of boxes covered with plate
iron and other indications of success. Here
the story breaks OFF without even 'to be
continued IN our neXt.o IL is aggravating.
The Washington critic., 1890-02-22

To-DAY-THE ANNIVERSARY of the
birthday of George Washington-New
York is congratulating herself that the
Memorial Arch Fund is increasing
slowly, and it is announced that con
cert is TO be held to help it along.
Public-spirited liberality does not ap-
pear to be indigenous in New York soil.
The Washington critic., 1890-02-22

AGAINST 1uE ASSESSMENTS.
The labor organizations of the Dis
trici, forming a numerous, intelligent
and influential body, have entered
with natural promptitude and zeal,
upon the examination and discussion Of
existing unjust assessments as exposed
by THE CRITIC, The Painters As
sembly--"District Assembly 66"-of
the KNIGHTS of Labor last night began
movement in opposition to the unjust
system, which will be followed by
action in all other local assemblies, the
object being to obtain early Congress
Honal investigation and redress
This class of citizens fully realize
ihe. discrimination which has been
made against them in the matter of as
sessment and taxation, and they are
determined to obtain their rights.
They do not propose to submit tamely
to the injustice of a system which
makes the many poor pay the taxes OF
the few rich
The Washington critic., 1890-02-22

SPEAKER Hustled Of the New York AS
sembly calls Chauncey NJ. Depew "a new
Trinity" which consists of "Discoverer,
Wizard and Magician" A little of this
will go a long way toward making Mr.
Depew ridiculous.
The Washington critic., 1890-02-22

WHILE PETER JACKSON is in town 1t
might be well for the people of Washington
to engage him to go to the Capitol aud
pound the idea into Senator Ingalls, head
that there really is something rotten in the
tax assessments of the District of Columbia,
The Washington critic., 1890-02-22

Now THAT THERE is no special attraction
for American cashiers in Canada the plain,
ordinary bank robber, with the mask aud
pistol, will stand some chance Thus do
we go on protecting our struggling home
Industries
The Washington critic., 1890-02-22

CANADIANS EXPRESS surprise that the
eNtradition treaty should have been
limited in its scope by the Senate of the
United States, especially in excluding
from its operation the offense of obtain
ing money on false pretenses. The i'm
preston prevails there that, proportion
ately. this country will be much the
greater sufferer in consequence.
The Washington critic., 1890-02-22
CLARKsOy IND HUSTON.


Messrs. Carkson and Huston have
each rendered his denial of the reports
that he would tender his resignation.
Whence originated these reports? fits
folly to speak of them as the inven
tions of the enemy, meaning thereby
some wicked Democrat.
There is no talk about the designations
of Secretary Noble or Secretary Miller.
Why? Because these gentlemen do
not themselves talk about resigning.
The only reasonable way to account for
the reports concerning the designations
of Messrs. Clarkson and Huston is that
they have talked, and talked freely, of
resigning,
AS matter of fact they have talked
of resigning both freely and frequently.
1t has been among their friends, II is
true. But some one has been indis-
Greet in each case.
Another view of the matter is this:
Gentlemen in office, who are so dis
gruntled with the Administration that
lhCJ II III
Gentlemen in office who habltually
speak of their chief and he the Chief
Magistrate, in terms of contempt
should resign.
Treasurer IIuston's friends now
admit that he has talked Of resigning,
not Immediately, but about the 1st of
May next. Very good. The conven-
ton to nominate candidate for Con,
gress in the Sixth Indiana district, in
which Mr. Huston resides, is to be
held on the 23d day of April. If he
should resign now and go into the fight
he would be regarded as an anti Ad-
ministration candidate. The Admins
tration would, in that case, take good
care that, whoever was nominated. it
should not be Mr. Huston. About
the 1st of May carries him beyond the
convention, and whether nominated or
not he can resign with impunity.
The Washington critic., 1890-02-22

CONGRESSMAN LEE of Virginia has
added to the complications of the at
tempted Chesapeake and Ohio Canal
settlement by introducing resolution
requiring the Attorney General to as
certain and report the interest of the
United States in that unfortunate enter
prise. 1t seems that Georgetown and
Alexandria originally held some canal
stock which was afterward, for some
reason, made over to the General Gov
eminent, and it is this interest which
General Lee desires to discover The
present outlook is in the direction of
the consummation of a lease of the
property to the Washington and Cum
hcrland Railroad Company
The Washington critic., 1890-02-22

The PEOPLE or Petersburg, Va, We're
frightened by black cloud which passed
over the city yesterday, As Petersburg is
in the 'black belt one wouldn't suppose
they'd been scared at little thing like
that
The Washington critic., 1890-02-22

lieved. ultimately do away with un.
equal assessments and put an end to
unjust taxation. IL was introduced in
the House, referred to the District Com
nittee, aud 10y that referred TO the Dis
trict Commissioners, who did not ap-
prove, so strangling the measure at its
birth.
The apathy Of the Commissioners of
that time is hard TO comprehend. They
had put themselves on record as agree
ing that "the method of assessment is
in every way unsuitable" and they had
promised TO formulate legislation which
would remedy existing evils For some
reason their reform zeal suddenly
cooled, and they did nothing to change
the system.
About that time the iich and inilu-
ential property holders Of the Distric
were successfully excrting themselves
10 get low valuations of their property
on the assessment rolls Many sue
ceeded In getting assessed for one.tifth
the actual value. These wealthy and
favored citizens did not in any measure
sympathize with the popular denanl
for reform in the assessment system.
They wanted no change. The law
suited them well enough as it stood.
What was the connection between the
satisfaction of the rich but undervalued
taxpayers and the sudden paralysis Of
the assessment reforming Commission.
Grs?
Thus, the iniquitous system still re
mains Mr. Webb now admits that to
use his own words, il is faulty and
inadequate, but he hardly believes
that "an adequate assessment law can
be got from Congress. What is the
insurmountable obstacle in the way of
obtaining just assessment law? What
is the real nature of the Ethiopian in
this particular wood pile? What is the
influence which Mr.. Webb seems to
think is as potent with Congressman as
with Commissioners
The Washington critic., 1890-02-22

TIE FIRST legislative experiment OF
the Stale of Montana has not proved IL
conspicuous success. The legislative
term has expired without the pass
ing of single law during the whole
session. And yet that Legislature sue
eeeded in sending to Congress four So
called Senators elect.
The Washington critic., 1890-02-22

Ir WAS REALLY very cruel for Chicago
court to prove Thomas Kavanaugh limo
cent of iury-bribiug just as that gentleman
was trying to establish good social stand
ing in that city.
The Washington critic., 1890-02-22

IAoo, WHEN HE advised his foolish
dure TO put money in his purse, prob
ably didn't know about the beautiful
system of tax assessments which pr
walls in Washington, or he might have
counseled him 10 put money into real
estate here and get into the swim.
The Washington critic., 1890-02-22

II You WILL care THE FIGURES given
fully examine he 10y you tend to show
facts, YOU will find that the adminstra-
the assessments you tion of our local af-
speak OF were not fairs has been very
hastily or unwisely defective.-Mr, Var
made-lr. Warner aer IN The CRITIC.
M THE CRITIC.
The Washington critic., 1890-02-22

THE NIGHT CLERK of Hoboken, n. j.,
hotel was kept awake all night recently by
a woman who insisted on praying for his
soul. She wouldn't leave, but staid and
prayed. A policeman failed to eject her,
and she prayed on. When the proprietor
came down in the morning he found a
woman praying, with his clerk rushing up
and down the office, alternately begging
her to desist, and swearing because she
didn't. The woman had the advantage be-
cause she could pray in three languages,
English, German and Swedish, while the
clerk could swear in only one. The woman
told the proprietor that the Lord had com
manded her to pray for the clerks soul all
night, and she had done so. After much
persuasion she was induced to 20 OFF.
Night clerks of Hoboken hotels now sleep
In the Office safe.
The Washington critic., 1890-02-22
IupRoMPTU sPEECHMAKING

INPROWPTU SPEECH Nj KING.
Ex.Secretary Boutwell,, in his paper
concerning impromptu speech making,
shows there is no such thing. He IL
lustrates by quoting the well-known
fact that Webster the greatest of Amer.
ican orators, and perhaps the greatest
orator since Demosthenes thundered
against Philip, only spoke after ample
and complete preparation. He went
into contest, like his memorable de-
bate with Hayne, as an athlete. Every
point Of his argument, the phrasing of
his sentences, the very words used, had
been previously arranged.
OF course, on a subject with which a
speaker is entirely familiar, he can at
any moment make creditabe effort;
but to be thorough, to satisfy himself,
requires preparation.
The influence of the orator is imm e
diate, instantaneous. There is sense
of personal triumph lacking to the
writer. For instance, when the green
| back fight was being made IN the West
some years ago, General Tom Ewing
was the leader of the greenbackers
within the ranks Of the Democratic
party. A State Convention was hold
ing. The platform had been reported
contrary to the views of Ewing and his
| friends. The General arose and ad-
dressed the convention. 1t may not
have been an eXtemporaneous effort,
and probably was not, but it seemed to
be. 1t carried the convention off its
feet and onto his platform. He was
nominated but defeated, as that was one
of the years the Republicans had re
vival He has since kept out of public
life, but in that convention that day he
had rare opportunity and he met il
splendidly.
The Washington critic., 1890-02-22

We TRUST THIS country will treat the
old soldier literally in the matter Of pen
sion. 1t may become hard up some day
and want to borrow few millions from
him,
The Washington critic., 1890-02-22

TnE UNlTEn STATES ArToHNEr for til
Northern Florida district is but STRIPPING
The Washington critic., 1890-02-22

TnEr SAY riAT Malone looks years older
than he did few months ago.--A0r Iork
Tfie0fdm.
He looks older and he Is wiser.
The Washington critic., 1890-02-22

In We ARE TO HAVE bankruptcy bill at
all, we want none but the best, Make it
as 1oney as possible, please.
The Washington critic., 1890-02-22

Mr.. j. j. Esty, the well-known piano and
organ manufacturer of Brattleboro', Yer
mont, Is at the Riggs House. He makes
this city his headquarters during the spring
and makes weekly visits to the surrounding
cities.
The Washington critic., 1890-02-22

If Senator Blair thinks our esteemed
contemporary, the Congressional Record,
ought to have a wider circulation, why does
he conduct himself in this manner? Why
does he speak for five daysg
The Washington critic., 1890-02-22

The brave commander of the warship
Trenton, which was wrecked at Samoa dur
ing the terrible storm that caused such "A
terrible loss of life about that island last
year, is at the Ebbitt House. The name he
bears, L A. Kimberly, will always be asso
ciated with his brave action on board the
Trenton. He is understanding man, and.
is the ideal of q gentlemanly sea captain.
The Washington critic., 1890-02-22

mirers of Susan b. Anthony that she will
now stand straight up, away from her cor
ner, and let Marietta Bones try to knock
her out In four rounds Time! Bones!
The Washington critic., 1890-02-22

A staring headline in a New York paper
conveys the sad intelligence that "Mrs
Cleveland Subscribes to the Fair Fiend ~
What does she do that for?
The Washington critic., 1890-02-22

Mr.. W. 5. Corkin, the well-known bus-
ness man of East Saginaw, Mich, is at the
National. lie was formerly in the ,lredg
ing business and did good deal of work
for the Government. lie is now in the
luu Der business