Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-01-24
AN UNMATCHED CITY.
Some Unique characteristics Of the
Nations Capital.
Best BshNsj, Best Governed, cieansst and
srtttiest City In the Country.


WASHINGTON. D. c., Jan. 23-[Special.l-
Washington has come to be the best be-
haved city of its size in the world. It is
certainly the best governed, and as a nat
ur1l result is one Of the cleanest, healthiest
and prettiest in this country. Many for
eigners 20 even further and declare it TO be
the handsomest city in the world. 1t has
most peculiar government There are no
elections and consequently no political bick-
ciings, no packed primaries and 10 ward
heelers. 1t is directly under the control Of
three commissioners, who are appointed by
the president and are subject to removal
For cause. One Of these is appointed from
the engineer corps OF the army and the 9th
er two from civil lifc-ope a Democrat, the
other Republican, but all three must be
residents Of Washington.
The net Of congress which deprived every
resident of the District Of Columbia OF the
right to vote WAS one OF the best things
that over Happened to the nations capital.
Prior TO that time the city was under the
control Of the negroes and the worst Gle
,nent of tn. whites, with the logical re-
suit that the city WAS rapidly gcinG to the
derlDition bowwows. The situation be-
came SO serious finally that the better Gle
inent Of the people succeeded in having con-
;,ress pass the act DISTINGUISHING every voter
in the district.
Another peculiar feature of the District
government is that the federal government
pays one-half Of the expenses OF the Dis
trict. From time to time new members OF
congress have appeared on the political
horizon and sought to obtain notorlety by
introducing bill compelling the District
to pay all expenses. Only last session an
embryotic statesman introduced another
one OF these bills; but, like those before, it
will probably never be heard of again.
similar fate doubtless awaits the budding
congressman.
A Cosmopolitan City.
Washington is Il great city in many ways.
There is more for an American to see here
than in any other city of the country, as Is
evidenced by the fact that no tourist ever
gives it the go by. 1t is great rs Il show"
town. Every big theatrical manager will
tell you that. No performances of merit
ever failed yet to play return engagement
Cor want Of liberal patronage on the first
visit. But Washington's chief greatness is
in its people. They come here not only from
all over the United States, but from all
over the world.
Every country on the globe of any con-
sequence whatever has its legation here
Go to any one of the state affairs at the
White House, and y0u will find people there
who can talk to you in any language now
used and many of those long since dead
Then there are tho great men, and there are
many of them, who have won fame in our
o.Sn land. Stand any pleasant afternoon
or the avenue at the corner OF Newspaper
Row, and You will see more famous men
than can be seen in the same time in any
place the world over.
There are statesmen and scholars, au-
shors and journalists, artists, musicians
aud sculptors, diplomats and potentates,
great engineers and men who can write
their checks for millions. Most of them are
walking, for there is very little riding done
in Washington, and handsome turnouts
are decidedly the exception and not the
rule. There is another popularity of the
famous men You meet here. They all dress
plainly. There is 10 attempt at display,
md you might pass dozen. of them and
regard them as altogether Hnintercsting.
But you would not think them SO if you
knew the history of their lives.
Two Unusual Psculiaritics.
There are two things remarkable about
Washington. 1t has no poor, and it has no
gambling The same cannot be truthfully
said of any other city in the world Hard
times are almost unknown. The panic
through which we nre passing has scarcely
been felt here. This is due to the fact that
the people get their support from the gov
ernment which, unlike commercial estab-
lishments, does not shut down or run on
half time until financial crisis shall have
passed. For this reason there are no poor
here in the sense in which it Is accepted in
all big cities.
Washington is without single tenement
and has no slums. The absence of gam.
bling in any form is even more remarkable.
II IL not many years ago, however, when 1t
was the Mecca of the sporting fraternity.
There were all sorts, from the hanger on
who eked out a precarious existence at
shoot" cards to the dead game" sport
who would wager a thousand. For n time
they literally cn the town. They paid well
for police protection, and they got it. So
bold were they that they established their
quarters right on Pennsylvania avenue be-
tween Thirteenth and Fourteenth streets
This section ut one time was one long block
of gambling dcns and saloons and soon
came to be known rs Rum row.
Inc most l0lnouS OF theSe gamhllog uefiS
was owned by John Morrissey, prizeGghter,
gambler and member of congress. He
afterward sold out to DOC" Parker, who
ran it as long as the law would permit
Doc is now II little, wizencd old fellow,
with deep seams in his careworn face, who
looks AS if there was no JOY in life. But lie
cannot change his habits, and for want of
bigger game lends money to impecuuious
government clerks at exorbitant rates of
interest. This once famous gambling den
is now the home of the Press club, and the
round table with green cloth IN the recep-
ton room is the same table ut which John
Morrissey, then member OF tho house,
beat rich western senator ont of $4,000 ut
tae sitting.
No Gambling Now.
twas after ] ohm Morrissey had sold cut to
Doc" Parker that the police, forced TOT by
public opinion. began To be troublesome.
There had been several raids made, of all of
which Parker and his WORTHLESS had been
notified in ample time To hide all evidences
vi their guilt; But the time came when
the authorities had TO act if they wanted to
save their official heads. The writer hap
pened to bo present when the police arrived.
AT the gaming tables ut the time were