Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-12-15

| 10y @D1t CuhracterfZeb them, dcQule5ce(
and readily pledged themselves to il
hearty support. Four Of our leading citizeni
were appointed by the President to represent
us. SO far no appropriation has been made By
Congress, and our Commissioners have been
embarrassed and crippled in their efforts. The
honorable Commissioners Of the District have
asked for an appropriation Of 5000 The in.
huence Of the board of trade should be exerted
In behalf of this appropriation. Even though
the fair is to be held in Chicago we must not
sequence, visit Washington, and the great naval
review to be held in New York harbor and
Hampton Roads will bring to Us the naves Of
| the world.
| STREET RAILROADS.
| During the past year the trackage Of our
street railroads has undergone almost an entire
change. Old rails have been replaced by new
cnes Of the most approved pattern. The WASH
ington and Georgetown railroad have changed
| their entire system to the cable, that on 7th
| street being in successful and satisfactory
operation. The new Rock Creek road is well
| under way and will be operated with overhead
electric wires This road will open up an at
tractive suburban residence section Of the Dis
trlct The Arlington railway is under course
| OF construction and when finished will connect
our city with those attractive and historic
| grounds.
STEAM RAILROADS.
Nothing has been accomplished during
the year in the removal of steam railroad
grade crossings or in the notable improvement
OF the railroad terminals. Washington. very
much needs changes for the better under both
these heads and 1t is hoped that the Congress
now assembled will take the action necessary to
accomplish these improvements.
| TAXATION AND AssEssMENT.
At the last session of Congress an act was
passed creating three special assessors. who.
with the assessor of the District constitute a
permanent board of assessment. Assuming
| that these offices filed with experienced
| and conservative men, it is believed that the
| results will be more satisfactory than under the
| old system. In many sections values have
changed SO rapidly that it has been difficult to
realize perfectly equitable adjustment. As
| sessment however, should not be based on a
Few sales made at extravagant and fancy prices,
| but should be regulated largely by the produc-
ing capacity OF the property. During the past
few years millions Of foreign capital have been
| attracted to our city. One Of the principal in.
| ducements has been our fair and equitable rate
of taxation. It is hoped and believed that
these conditions will not be disturbed by the
| new board Of assessment
| PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
Our need Of public buildings for local use
has only been partly met. After years Of dis
appointed effort we are about to be rewarded
with a new city post Office. one that will dc
having been disposed Of the attention of the
| board of trade should now be turned to a suit.
| able building for our District government The
building now in use for this purpose is incon-
| venient In arrangement and location and is not
| becoming the Importance of the nations CAPT.
tai. The honorable Commissioners, appre-
| Chatting the necessity for enlarged and suitable
quarters in which the business of our growing
! city can be transacted, have recommended an
| appropriation and will cooperate in any effort
fInt -. 7
| that the committee on public buildings give
this subject their early consideration.
| PARKS AND RESERVATIONS
| Since the passage of the Rock Creek Park
bill legal proceedings have been continuously
had looking to condemnation of the ground.
In some instances the valuation Of the commits
| sion has been accepted and the title passed to
| the government 1t is hoped that the finding
| OF the last commission will be satisfactory to
| the property owners and secure the park as
| originally contemplated. 1t is gratifying to
| superintendent of public buildings and
grounds, most OF the city parks have been
beautited and improved.
| STREETS AND AVENUES
bill providing for the extension of streets
and avenues was prepared by the board of
trade and presented il the last Congress. This
bill was drawn with great care and received a
unanimous favorable report of both commit
tees Of Congress. That it failed of passage was
probably due to the mass OF business that
always crowds in on the last session Of an ex-
piring Congress. There can be nothing of
| more vital importance to Washington than the
passage OF tins act. Improvements are con-
unuously going on and values are rapidly in
| crossing. This fact was very recently demon
strated by the condemnation of a narrow strip
of ground at the head Of 10th street. Only a
few years ago the property was offered to a
gentleman for $3.50. The award of the iury of
| condemnation made in November was SIl, 600
Old Washington has practically been built up.
The future growth of the city must be on the
surrounding heights Already hundreds of
| costly residences have been erected Perma-
nent lines should be established carving out
the original broad idea OF Major l. Enfant and
others respecting the future necessities of the
capita, OF a great nation: For this purpose
our bill Will be reintroduced at the coming
session and pushed, 1t is hoped, to an early
passage.
| The peace and good order Of a community
rest largely on the administration of Justice
| through the courts. 1t is the fear Of the law
that protects society from the lawlessness OF
| those who are evil disposed. That our courts
| are Inadequate to meet the demands and
necessities OF our city is made manifest in a
memorial of the Bar Association of the District
to Congress. From this able paper it appears
| that II the pending suits at law were pressed
| to trial and to a fIal hearing in the General
| Term with all diligence. they could not be dis
| posed OF in less than five years. Much embar-
| rassmeDt must therefore attach to Itipants IN
civil causes The memoranda appends a sum-
| mary OF past legislation of Congress respecting
| the number of judges il the District exclusive OF
| magistrates and police justices. From this il
| appears that from 1901 to 1888 there we're four
judges. from 1888 to 1879 tLel wei fl We iudges
| and that since 1879 there have been six 1he
population of the District be- tween 1900 and Is4O
rose from Il, 093 to 43.7l2; in 1880 il had Lee
| come III 622 and it is now over 24c. 600 II an-
pears further that Fl ON 1900 10 1880 each Judge
| represented from g. 100 to 1000 reputation.
from 1910 to 1880 the number of persons in the
| District to each Judge was lalsed from 8. 700 IN
ls4O TO &c 200 IN 1850, and at the presen, time
there Is one judge to each 10000 resi-
dents 1t is doubtful whether there is !.
state IN tie Union provided with SO few Judges
In proportion to the population Even his
| comparison does Lot do us Justice. because n
large portion of our litigation grows out OF
governmental affairs. Business in the EQUITY
Court is often blocked by contests going on
therein fol the division among contestinp
claimants Of money paid or about to be puid
from the public treasury. Our courts are con.
stantly called on TO consider cases of great con.
cerh which can arise il no other jurisdiction,
Inc right OF citizen TO compel by mandamus
| the performance by officers Of the departments
OF the government Of any ministerial duty in
| which the petitioner has an interest can only
be enforced here. The memoranda of the bar
| committee cite ns q striking illustration the
Asa0 n ka Chnv