Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-03-12

Among the many reasons for public
gratitude in the District of Columbia none
are more conspicuous at this time than
that which has its origin in the friendly
activity Of members of Congress. When
ever the District of Columbia appropriation
bill Is being discussed in the House, assault
Is made upon the contract which binds
the general government and the people
Of the District to a business partnership.
In these contests the assailants seem con-
scienceless. regarding neither the law nor
the equities involved and producing sOphis-
try in such quantities as to cause believers
In national honesty more or less of disturb
lnce. During the past five or six years
these attacks upon a wise statutory pro-
vision have increased in violence and APP
peared to gather strength, but the debate
and action upon the bill which has just
gone from the House to the Senate show
conclusively that the campaign which
aimed TO commit the nation to a policy
OF dishonor has completely collapsed. The
following of those who would have the
general government repudiate its financial
obligations was positively Insignificant,
both in personality and numbers. The
smallness of the various votes on motions
adverse to present conditions was crafty
ing. not only to the people OF the District
OF Columbia, but also to every American
who believes in the reasonable doctrine
that the nations capital should, to con-
siderable extent, represent the nations
greatness. This diminution of the tn
reasonably opposing forces may ration
ally be regarded as an effect brought about
by an educational cause. In the work of
instructing those who had but little in
formation as to the relationship which
exists between the general government and
the national capital many have partici-
pated. The naming of those who de-
Tended the material interests Of the Dis
trict and the honor of the United States
could only be done by reproducing one
Of the decisive roll calls but those who
are not specifically mentioned here will
not offer objection if special thanks are
just now given to Representatives Hender-
son Of Iowa, Compton of Maryland Gold
zier Of Illinois. Coggswen of Massachusetts.
Henderson Of Illinois. Williams of Illinois,
Walker of Massachusetts. Cultivate of
Ohio, Springer of Illinois and G-osvenor of
Ohio. These distinguished themselves in
the debate which closed with the passage
of the bill. They disseminated very much
of extremely interesting and accurate in
formation, and to their efforts may reason
ably be ascribed the majority by which the !
bill went through. But the measure itself |
Is still very far from satisfactory The |
spirit of existing law is violated practically |
In every paragraph. because it fails to |
furnish on the part of the general govern |
ment an amount equal to that which is |
exacted from the taxpayers of the District |
OF Columbia There is urgent necessity for ]
many improvements recommended by the |
District Commissioners, but in spite of the |
fact that the District has to it's credit more |
money than is needed to pay the Districts |
share of improvements, the House commit |
tee having the bill in charge while it !
vigorously and ably championed the prin- !
ciple OF the existing law. arbitrarily re-
pudiated it in effect by failing TO appropri- |
ate an amount equal to that raised by |
District residents Some members Of the |
Senate Committee on Appropriations have !
announced informally that they will not |
favor any considerable increase of the |
amount carried by the bill. But the Senate
Committee will fail in. its duty to the |
government and to the people OF this city |
II 1t does not insist upon a materially in !
creased appropriation. Let Congress be
just.