Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-07-22
WASHINGTON DEFENDED,
The Municipal Authorities Not Responsible
for the Ford's Thester Disaster.

inc Municipai authorities Not Responsible
for the Ford's Theater Disaster.
Mr.. Simon Wolf in 1.-The Jewish Tidines~
noticed an editorial In your paper enti-
noticed an editorial in your paper enti-
tied What Ford's Theater Teaches" and
as there is quite number of errors con-
tanned therein. 1 beg leave to correct them
i will admit that they are errors traceable
not to a desire to misrepresent but to D
want of knowledge of the situation.
You state that This collapse like most
of those that are called accidents. has its
explainable cause. because the city Of
Washington is under the exclusive con-
troll Of Congress, so that the usual safe
guards that local authorities provide for
the safety OF the public Buildings do not
obtain" You further say, The city Of
erned city. and until the Shepherd era IL was
the shabbiest great capital In the world.
~ has no control over matters that In
other cities are the especial care Of local
authorities. Its residents have no vote and
are not taxed for local Improvement When
elnzen Of Washington wants an improve
ment he besieges Congress for the money.
Inc people of Washington, therefore, are
objects of pity to all right-minded Ameri-
Permit me to say that the city OF Wash
Inston is not under the exclusive control Of
congress. and that there are local authori-
CITY. The city of Washington is not badly
governed; on the contrary, in the judgment
governed city in the United States.
4. Is true that the citizens have no vote
Hioia ~, ede re the American principle is
Tics are maintained in these days and the
way votes are prostituted. IL becomes a
QUESTION whether we are not better of than
by rings and machines
we are governed by three Commission
there Is no positive law, the custom has al
ways been 70 appoint one republican, one
from the army. The afYairs of fha nsstrsct
Sovernment are conducted in about as nom
Santase tn mann sfIes as POSSIBLE Win the ad
Temporarily in national aathoritN 'hs h pa ,,
proVements that are made are made nnon
before the committee OF ConSress snI ths
laws laws made for the District are identical
T ths me lays made for any other part Of
We do pay taxes. and Justly SO. for we
enjoy the privilege of living In the most
T TeauuLui and healthiest city in the world.
M, me government owns property EQUAL in
value to that owned by the citizens and
naturally nat pays ons-half Of the annual taxes
half. We are not objects OF pity. b,,t f,1Il
in me- Amsencans. proud Of the opportun-
ity or Vlndaicatng ourselves In our public
that we are worthy to be the custo iisns ~
the nations capital. and to extend TO our
that hearty welcome and general good
cheer which comes from a heart fun OF
gratitude In being permitted to live IN the
city named after the great Washington.
accomplished by another leader. who prov
ed TO be our good Shepherd"
Fords Theater collapsed simply because
the ordinary discretion incident to the
building or reconstruction OF any building
was not exercised: a little too much red
tape on the part OF department officials was
exhibited. instead OF the ordinary good
officials can be blamed as the government
buildings are exclusively under the control
OF the government officials. and only when
an employe has a complaint to make OF a
criminal character can our courts, our
building inspectors, or any other officers of
the local government interfere.
1t is true that many OF the members OF
Congress are narrow and circumscribed in
their ideas as to what the capital of the
nation should be-car1ng more for some de-
funct creek, which is known TO exist on
the map. but not in nature. or for securing
an appropriation for the river and harbof
bill-but in times like these when the man
who can talk the largest amount of ran,
receives the largest vote that is not a mat.
now falling out O. many institl tons that
have been too much watered and 80 the
gas incident to American statesmanshir
will also evaporate, leaving In fits wake
conservative and intelligent ideas, for
which the American people in times OF
great emergencies have always been re-
nowned.
II you have any doubt a. to any Of the
statements contained in this letter as TO
beauty OF its streets and homes the good
government We enjoy, or our hospitality.
come here and try us.
Yours very respectfully, S. WOLF.