Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-10

granted Inc criticism that the expenses OF
the District We're too great was unfounded.
The property holders here paid their taxes
and bore their share of the expense with
out objection, and the United States should
do the same thing. In concluding his re-
marks, Mr.. Hubbard created much laugh
ter, when, enumerating the things the cti-
zens were grateful to Congress for giving
them, by saying:
1T has given us our water works with
the largest tunnel leading to an empty res
ervoir, and the muddiest water to be had
anywhere"
Gov. Shepherd Warmly Greeted.
In introducing Gov. Alexander R. Shep-
herd, Mr.. Noyes. said there was a long
period when the United States government
neglected it's obligations to the national
capital and failed to appreciate it's duties
toward it. He desired to call On one who
was foremost in the movement that resulted
in the present just treatment and prosperity
of the capital.
toward it, The time was to come how
ever, when men would come to the front
and force change in such relations and
he desired to call on one who was foremost
in the movement that resulted in the pres
cit conditions, and whose genius had made
the existence of the new and great capital
possible.
When Gov. Shepherd arose he was greet
ed with enthusiastic applause and it was
some moments before he could proceed
He said he knew of nowhere that talk was
cause We have more of 1t here than any
where else on earth. He was delighted to
meet the board of trade and the Congress-
men together, because it was by such COM
munion that they could become better ac-
qualnted with each other and the neceSSi-
ties resting upon them.
Crosby Noyes and lot of US old fell
lows, he went on started a board of
trade here thirty-four years ago, and it was
from its efforts that the change in the
form of government was brought about,
and the present washington made nos
sible.
The Duty of the Board of Trade.
THE question with the board of trade
now is he continued, ''how can you help
the District? How can you secure wise and
just and liberal legislation co-extensive with
the necessities and adequate to further and
promote the progress and prosperity of the
capital city? There is no better way than
by coming in contact with the men in Con-
sress who have these important matters
in charge, and occasions such this can't
be too frequently repeated. Without their
help you can accomplish nothing.
Back in II, - and '73, in those heart
trying times when it was necessary for us
to accomplish our ends. we were often conf
PEELED TO go as close to the outside of the
laws as possible. And we did it, all the
seme. We have no cause for regret and
neither has any one else. At present there
is no necessity for such a course
Washing tonianS should be proud of their
city When l was in Europe last year 1
was delighted to find that nearly every
European with whom l came in contact
had something pleasant to say of Washing
ton No other city was spoken of, and while
they derided nearly everything else Amer
lean, they declared Washington was a very
nice city.
The Division of the District.
''The other day Mrs. Shepherd in looking
over some old things found a couple of
scrap books, and 1 looked over them to
find out what kind of a man the people
thought me then. In doing so 1 came
across letter written by DR.. Thomas VIII
son in 1876 In this he showed that the
District of Columbia originally consisted of
6,1OO acres, of which the owners donated
$50 acres to the United States for public
building sites, parks and reservations; of
the remainder the United States was given
one-haif, from which it sold 10 1i6 lots
from this it will be seen that the national
government got three-fourths of the land.
10 say that the nation is placed under no
obligation by that transaction would be as
absurd as the Irishman's description of
frog He said it was wonderful creature
because when it walked, it jumped; when it
sat down, it stood up, and it was all belly,
except Its head. and that was all mouth.
Having secured three-forrths why shouldn't
the United States be willing to take care of
the remaining one-fourth?'
Chairman Babcock's Address.
Mr.. Moves made some references to Con-
gress and its treatment of the District
wheE he introduced Chairman Babcock of
the House District committee. He said the
District business was given two afternoons
a month by Congress, if it had nothing else
to do in which legislation in default of a
quorum, accomplished under the jury
SiStem, by unanimous consent. The expert
ences of members of the District committee
were trying ones, however, and though their
efforts were frequently wasted the citizens
were grateful to them.
Chairman Babcock was cordially greeted,
and said he had listened with a great deal
of interest TO the words of Gov Shepherd.
He had never seen the governor before, but
he knew what he had done for Washington
had made his name household word in
every one of the forty-five states of the
Union.
Washington is not your city, continued
Mr. Babcock with strong emphasis. 1T
belongs to u.s. to the members of Congress,
10 the Senators and the whole of the Amer
lean people. We are all proud of it, and we
all desire to see it increase in grandeur,
beauty and magnficence.
when Congress and the good people here
understand one another, there will be
trouble about the District receiving ieglsia-
tive treatment commensurate with its i'm
portance," he continued THE great diff
Guilty now is that there is too much mis-
understanding among the people. The
timent of Congress is all right. Congress
tiful and the grandest city in the world.
All the expected improvements will come
and all the municipal questions will be
solved when there are closer relations es-
tablished between the members of Congress
and the citizens of Washington. In con-
clusion, Mr. Babcock said Washington row
had the best government of any city in the
Union, with clean streets and good street
car facilities, and hoped that meetings
such as that in progress would be fire.
quently repeated, because Congressman
would appreciate them.
Gen. GrOsvenor's Happy Hits.
When Chairman Babcock had finished
Mir. Noyes said Congress was regarded DIS
the city council of the national capital the
House being the common council and the
Senate the board of aldermen.
He then called upon Representative ard
Common Councilman Grosvenor." The Ohio
Congressman was in his usual good humor
He declared that he had no doubt that the
people of the United States would cheer
fully indorse the most liberal appropria-
tons by Congress looking to the beautifv-
ing and parfecting of Washington. Some
times members of Congress opposed the
governments sharing the expense of the
Districts support, but they do not number
one in twenty-five, and they soon back
down from that position when they have
sufficiently rubbed up against the civilza-
ton that surrounds them.
washington should be the model city of