Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-12-07
The nex Congress is 90 very new, so largely

A0vert1Bfng Medium IL has competitor.
The new Congress is 20 very new, so largely
eomposed Of men who appear in Washington
fu- the drst time, that the capital needs, per
haps, to impress upon the body, especially the
newcomers, with more than the customary en-
phasis the fact that Congress is not only the
national legislature but is, under the constitu-
t,onal provision concerning exclusive legisla-
tion for tho TEN miles square, the board oil
aldermeA' sud common council for Washing. ION.
Il is tia legally appointed guardian OF
the eSpitsrs Affairs, ard cannot neglect
them without q breach Of trust. There
3 much 10 DO done IeSislatively for the devel-
opment of the nations city Current needs.
Increasing In respect 20 schools, FIRE and police
service, &C., with the growth Of the community,
are, Of course, 10 be met. Our Anticipated
statutes must be revised. The necessity Of o
prompt extension Of the general plan OF city
streets over the whole District is generally rec
ognized. comprehensive and adequate sew
erage system is TO be provided. The report Of
the commission appointed TO consider this sub
3ect furnishes the necessary data for action,
and Capt Lusk in his annual report
shows that he intelligcntly appreciates
ths demands of the city's situation. Tho streets
are 10 be cleared Of the overhead wires and
threatening poles. Tho report of the COM
mission to whom the duty Of investigating into
and reporting upon this subject was intrusted
supplies o msss Of information to guide Con-
gress toward intelligent legislation in the mat
Ter. The terminal facilities of the railroads
woefully need Improvement, both in the matter
Of protection Of the public and beauty Of the
city and in the freight service rendered the
business men Of Washington. In the samo con-
nection Long bridge needs to be raised and
practically rebuilt il it is TO be retained as
railroad bridge. A new structure across the
Potomac, say TO Arlington, is q necessity Of the
future Washington, whether the long bridge be
elevated and changed in form Of construction
or abolished altogether. Both surface and IN
derground Washington are to be developed
upon lines which viii mako the city the model
modern capital. For its intellectual oll-being,
for the benefit of the workingmen, stu
dents and teachers of the public schools
and the community In general Washington
needs free public library, open in the even
ing, Of the kind which Tue STAR has advocated
and will continue to advocate. 1t is possible
to mention at this time only few of the mat
tiers in respect to which the capital needs at
tenticn from its legislature. Enough. however,
has perhaps been suggested to indicate that
our local Legislature cannot, if faithful to its
trust, drift into a do-nothing policy in respect
to the capitals aiairs- If the differing politi-
cal complexion Of the two houses, and the ap-
preaching Presidential election will largely
prevent radical action on matters Of national
politics, Congress might seize the opportunity,
being psralyzed as a national legislature, to
give time and attention to needed and useful
local legislation. which in the press Of national
Affairs has been too long neglected.
The Presidents letter Of instructions to de-
partment heads concerning promotions and the
annual report OF the civil service commission
ers have, each, wide interest as marking pro-
gressive steps in the reform. The President
had heretofore suggested, in his message to the
INST session Of the Fifty-frst Congress, that the
heads of executive departments keep a record
In each bureau and that rating be made
showing the relative merits of the clerks of
each class, to be regarded as a test of merit for
promotions In some departments this was
done He now directs that plan be devised
In all the departments for carrying out this
system OF record and promotion. The civil
service commissioner report includes q sum-
mary history of the examinations, &C., and
discussion of the principle Of competition, its
advantages and itsiresults. Reference is made
TO the extension of the classified service and i'm
portantchangesi in the rules-features heretofore
adverted to in The STAR and which have met
with general approval The commission ex-
press themselves as entirely satisfied with the
way in which the civil service law has been en-
forced in the departmental service at WASH
tngton. and say that the question Of politics
has been practically eliminated in making re-
movals and appointments Special reference
10 made to the filing Of the quotas of the
southern states. A fair proportion of colored
men from those states has been appointed An
examination Of the report must be gratifying
TO every friend Of the merit system and good
government