Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-12-05

Today the Senate and House Of Representa-
tives Of the United States met, in Congress as
sernbled and today there another revival
of that legislative hope which springs eternal In
the District breast; the hope that hiberustes
from the close Of one session to the opening of
smother. Some communities complain because
they are governed overmuch. but in Washing
ton there IL imperative demand for more legis-
lation modern legislation; legislation that can
Withstand the assaults Of lawbreakers and COM
pei obedience in spite Of rubber-vertebraed
public officers. whose duty 1t is to prosecute,
but who are sometimes controlled by other in
teresss than those they have sworn to defend.
The prime necessity here at this time Is a law
regulating the sale Of intoxicating liquors.
carefully framed measure. The ineffcacy
Of the present regulations IL breed
ing contempt for law and intoxicating in
youthful minds dangerous carelessness as to
the requirements of good citizenship. The
spirit Of our present law NAV be plain to all,
but there is pressing need for statute in
which the letter is Complementary precise.
Such q bill or the foundation Of such bill is
now on the Senate calendar and may be called
mp any day. A measure requiring licenses for
the sale Of liquor and providing penalties,
which was hastily proposed at last session in
order that the District might not be entirely
without law on the subject, was passed by the
Senate and is pending in the House II
the more comprehensive measure fails, 1t will
be absolutely necessary to pass some makeshift
Of this sort. Next in importance is the steam
railroad question, which should be settled i'm
mediately. Both the pennsylvania and Balti
more and Ohio authorities have declared their
readiness to reform and seem only to be await
ing congressional consent Amendments to
fheirProjects will certainly be necessary, and in
order that there may be ample time for discussion
both plans should receive the earliest possible
attention Perhaps there may be slackness
the part Of one or both companies, but this
should not be allowed to retard such congress
sional action rs will relieve the city of grade
crossings. The slaughter Of the innocents still
goes on. and it will continue until our legisla-
ture interferes. And while railroad matters
arc being discussed Congress should grant the
Norfolk and Western Company permission to
enter the District under proper restrictions and
safeguards. Further delay is ine1cusable and
does the material interests of Washington more
than a little harm.
Another important legislative proposition is
the one that provides for the establishment OF a
free public and departmental library and read
ing room. No sound argument can be advanced
on tho negative side. The government is not
called upon to expend any money, while the
benefits TO be derived from such an institution
are beyond valuation. In this great CITY, the
capital OF the nation. tens of thousands of in
telhgent people are without the opportunities
Of seh-improvement common in every wide
awake village throughout civilization Such a
beneficial, non-appropriative measure as the
one now in committee ought speedily to become
Law.
A large cash investment in the extension of
simply businesslike. That the thoroughfares
must soon be heightened is evident and that the
government must do the work is incontroverti-
bic. PrOcrastination in such an affair is ex-
trenely expensive, for every week Of delay
means increase in the value of property
which will have TO be purchased before extern
sion is possible.
Then il would be well TO pay more than pass
ing attention to one Of the measures which have
for their object the relief Of unreasonably
crowded doekets in our local courts. Great in
justice is frequently wrought and the terror of
the Law dissipaied By delays which under the
present system are unavoidable.
Other bills there are. of minor importance
yet in their way valuable. To these reference
need not now be made Washington will be
well satisfied II the measures named receive the
attention they deserve and are disposed of as
they ought to be.