Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-02-03

visions Of which are wise and wholesome and
viii bring relief from garbage nuisances, Incl
dent to the present tri-weekly system Of col
lection, to every householder in the city in q
matter pertaining to health and comfort.
Provision has been made in nearly every
large city OF the Union for o daily garbage
service during warm weather in the interest Of
public health. while not more than six cities
have deemed 1t wise to incur the expense OF
destroying their garbage. The Commissioners,
therefore, in reporting adversely on Senator
Hunton's bill for q daily garbage service have
attem pied to defeat q sanitary measure which
the Washington public consider absolutely
necessary and which has been approved and
practiced by the municipal authorities Of nearly
every American city. And the Commissioners
In recommending an appropriation for the
destruction Of garbage have made an exper-
mental excursion into the field Of legislation
to accomplish an object not asked for by the
people and Of doubtful public benefit.
By what process of reasoning the Commits
sioners arrive at the conclusion that the de-
struction of garbage after delivery at the water
/ front will be much more to the interest Of the
public than daily collection and removal dur
/ ing warm weather" can neither be understood
nor appreciated by the Washington public.
! A proper regard for sanitation and the city's
welfare is at war with their conclusions, and
in this matter. at least, it may be said that they
have signally failed to appreciate the urgent
needs Of the city.
| The CITIZENS SIDE.
The Commissioners declare thatsa appro-
priation for the destruction Of garbage would
be more satisfactory to themselves. This may
be because they have not had the citizens side
presented to them, and doubtless it would be
still more satisfactory to the garbage contractor
who would get the appropriation, because he
has given the subject consideration and is
pleased with the resulting profit. but the house.
holders and taxpayers are more interested in
hav datlv rlnoOo rhi oh % ,x,1
importance to the public health and comfort
The daily removal of garbage in the city dur
ing warm weather is absolutely necessary. The
desire for it is general and the people are will
ing TO pay for it, while its destruction trans
portation down the river is a different matter
which deserves consideration, but does not
involve the public health and the city s well
fare.
In conclusion Senator Hunton's amendment
| to the District appropriation bill was recon-
mended, and tine reasons for daily garbage
service which have already been published III
| TIE STAR, were submitted.
Upon motion of Secretary Sperry a unani-
nous vote of thanks was rendered the gentle
men who wrote the reports for the able and
intelligent manner which distinguished them.
THE GRAND BOULEVARD SCHEME.
Mr.. W. ". Cheshire called attention to the
| interest manifested about a year ago by
Representative Springer in a grand boulevard
scheme and presented a diagram in this con-
nection showing East Capitol street trans
| formed into grand boulevard. 1t showed the
street 100 feet wide, with parking in front of
the houses. trees at the outer edge of same and
| a sidewalk between this and the curb.
Mr.. Duncan Thompson inquired what was
going to be done with the railroad.
Prof. Thomas N. Conrad spoke warmly of the
needs of East Washington That poor, down.
trodden section had hard fight as it was to
get anything In the way Of public improve
ments. de was not property owner and his
interest in public improvements was not spec
ulative one. He wanted it put on record that
he was In favor OF any and all improvements for
East Washington. The boulevard was a good
idea and he was for it. There was matter,
however, he was not in favor of, and that
the large amount of money spent for public
school bindings. IL he had his way he would
build all school houses alike, and rather than
have iron stairways and poor teachers would
much prefer wooden stairs and good teachers.
Messrs. Birney. Hubbell and Noyes spoke in
favor Of the boulevard.
MIR. Samuel H. Walker spoke at length on
the needs of a new municipal building. The
city hall site was to his mind the best one that
could be selected 1t was central and in all re-
spects better suited for the transaction Of
public business. Upon motion the subject
laid upon the table and the meeting adjourned.
Government Clerks and Their Hours.
To the Editor of The Evening Star:
The article recently appearing in The STAR,
relative to the proposition to lengthen each
day labor in the departments, is excellent for
its logic and good sense particularly in its sug-
gestion as to the absurdity in putting depart
ment employees on a level with employees in
private offices. No matter how hard time
department clerk has if he prumbles anv he is
informed that he would have a much harder
time if he were in private Office. as he would
have to work longer hours for less pay. And
that it is no more than he ought to expect if
his hours are heightened. because clerks in
private offices have long hours. &c. Now, the
fallacy is right here The department clerk is not
in private office. The departments are not
private Offices. and are not established for the
same purpose The average business man starts
business for the purpose of getting rich at all
hazards. and fast possible. In order to
accomplish this he must get as much
he can and give as little as posi-
BILE in return. That is, he must take advantage
of the necessities Of poor people, and make
them work long hours for pittance. If they
fail by the wayside from Overwork and poor
living he can get others in their places driven
by like necessity. Are the departments, the
executive branches of our government. to be
run on such "a plan? Il there a like necessity
for driving the employees!
III SO. then tits time to compare the en-
ployes thereof to employees in private Offices.
But now, at this stage of our nations progress,
Wnen tnere is SO uiucn TAX OF the higher edu-
cation and the higher life. would 1t not be bet
ter for our nations legislators to try to dimin-
ish the army of overworked slaves to business
instead of trying to add to it? Instead OF add
ing to the hours for department clerks let
them spend their time devising wise and noble
plans for the country's greater prosperity. SO
that private employers may be able to give
shorter hours and better pay to their employees.
II equality is a good thing for heavens
sake try to make it by lettering the
condition of the unfortunate classes. not by
trying to drag the more fortunate ones down
to their level. The great curse OF civilization
today is that the majority obliged to spend
all the time they can snatch from sleep in the
struggle for existence and have no time for the
higher life. II life means simply time to work
for food ami shelter and sleep off the fatigue
then life is not worth the living-and how few
have time for more than that as business is
constructed TODAY. 1t is that which makes life
ugly and sordid. mockery and burden. 1t
is the graces which embellish life, congenial
companionship, beauty, music and literature
which make it a pleasure and an inspiration.
No wonder many mute inglorio US Mil
tons sleep in the church yards. The brain
whose thought might have blessed and bright
ened the world failed in its mission because it
had to work ten hours one day earning food for
the morrow.
Heaven grant that the day may come when
every man and woman who has brain and soul
and Imagination enough for aspirations above
bread and butter may have short hours and