Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-24

Whatever is physiologically right is
morally right; and whatever is physio-
logically wrong Is morally wrong" The
accuracy of this axiom may not be denied
by sane persons, and even the District
Commissioners must admit that there is
TO straining after effect when it is insisted
that the effort to place a garbage crema
tory in South Washington is physiolog-
ically and morally indefensble This is
the attitude of those residents of South
Washington who declare that not until
every legal effort to keep out the obnox-
ious furnaces fails will they cease to work
in behalf of the public health and the pub
lie comfort in the southern portion of this
city. OF course. 1t is admitted by every
one that the city's garbage must be dis
posed of, and good sense would dictate
that it should be done in the least offensive
manner. For some time past the Com
missloners have been engaged in scruti-
nizing the many varieties of garbags-dis-
posal ideas that have found their way
into practical operation, and as result
comes the conclusion that one or two of
the systems would be satisfactory to them.
But-maybe because all the available in
formation has not been secured and pub
lished-the people are inclined to the belief
that even when the best Of these incinera-
tion-plants has been installed there will at
times be more or less of undesirable odor
Issuing therefrom, thus making residence
in the immediate vicinity of the plant cx-
tremely disagreeable and probably I'M
healthy. The Star sympathizes with those
WashingtOnians who protest against the
Commissioners proposition to install gar
bage furnaces in three different parts of
the city. and hopes that the Commission
ers will reconsider their plans ind in
making new ones will provide for the con-
struction. as far as reasonably may be be-
yond the city limits. of a reduction or an
incarceration plant sufficient in capacity to
get rid of the large quantity of refuse
which accumulates in Washington every
day. The only apparent reason for erect
Ing three crematories is a desire to make
the work of garbage-collection as easy as
possible for the contractor. Effort in he
half of the contractor is merely work
of supererogation on the part of the Com
missioners. for the contractor has more
than once demonstrated his ability-with
the aid Of the political influence he never
hesitates to use-to at least take care of
his own. The Commissioners are the
agents of the taxpayers of the District of
Columbia; therefore 1t should be their
pleasure to let the contractor hoe his own
row while they do the best they can in be-
half of the entire community. This is
matter that concerns not merely those cit
liens who reside In the neighbornoods
threatened by the Commissioners and the
garbage contractor. The Knights of Labor
motto: THE injury of one Is the concern
of ALL" applies precisely. If it is right to
locate a garbage incinerator in South
Washington 1t would be logically right to
put one on Dupont Circle. Locality mere
fore cuts no figure at all in the argument
The crematories, whether they be good
bad or Indifferent, should be placed at
some point as reasonably remote as pos
sible from the populous portion of the
District of Columbia.