Evening star., 1896-07-09

not only as members of the Christian En-
deavor Society, not merely as Inhabitants
OF New York, and Virginia, and Illinois,
and Kansas but as citizens Of the United
States, gathered together in your own cap
ital city. You are not merely guests and
visitors; you are owners and proprietors,
whose rights no man may gainsay. In
common With all of the people of the Unit
ed States you own not only these national
public buildings these beautiful parks and
avenues AS laid out under the guidance Of
President George Washington in the orig
inal city which bears his name.
How .lch do you suppose your real es-
tate holdings in this District are worth in
gold or silver dollars whichever you may
prefer? OF course 1t is difficult to state
accurately the value of the land contained
in the streets and avenues but they are
estimated to comprise more than one hun
dred and ffty-seven million square feet,
and to be fairly worth two hundred and
seventy eight millions of dollars. Aside
from the streets and avenues, the United
States owns in the District buildings and
grounds carefully estimated to be worth
two hundred millions of dollars In other
words, the people of the United States own
property here which is worth more than all
the property owned by all OF the taxpayers
In the District of Columbia. Very proper
ly. the real estate holdings of the federal
government are not subject to taxation in
the manner that that property Is taxed
which Is owned by the people Of the Dis
trict In 1878 Congress assumed entire
control of the local government by means
OF municipal agents appointed by the Presi-
dent and confirmed by the Senate. This
was done IN compliance with the clause of
the United States Constitution which pro-
VldeS that the Congress shall have power
TO exercise exclusive legislat ton in all cases
whatsoever over such district -" as may
''' become the seat of government of the
United States" Since that date no money
10 10 ri iof or sod hryt
alton from citizeLs of the District, can be
used Tor any purpose not specifically. au-
thorized by act CT Congress.
IT was In that year formally enacted as q
part OF the organic law Of the District that
the United States should pay one-half of
the annual appropriations made for the
expenses of the local government, and the
District revenues the other half This was
deemed just ana equitable because the
United States owns more than one-half of
the properly and is not taxed upon 1t; and
because the plan of the city was so vast
and extensive. with many streets and ave-
nues one hundred and sixty feet in width,
that no local revenues could possibly i'm
prove and care for them as befitted the
capital of a great republic. Besides, the
people Of the United States are the direct
beneficiaries of the annual appropriations
mace for the support of the District.
What the District Does.
Many thousands of employees of the fed
eral government reside here temporarily
Our public schools are free and open to
their children and to all who may come
here to attend them. with free text books
IN all Of the grades below and including
the grammar schools Our police force
guards not only the homes Of our taxpay-
ers. but also the property of Senators and
members and the Capitol and White
House. Our fire department Is for the pro-
lection OF all government property. The
mn p6f1
and an adequate water supply throws
safeguards about the health and the well
being Of your public servants in the White
House. at the Capitol and in the great de-
Partments OF the government. 1t is need
less to attempt to prove that expenditures
for keeping the streets and alleys clean and
wholesome and for keeping our seventy
thousand shade trees in proper condition
are not wholly for the benefit of the people
who permanently reside here. Whatever
tends to adorn and beautify, and fit to be a
healthful residence, the capital city of the
United States ought to appeal to the sense
OF Justice and to the patriotic pride Of the
representative Of every congressional dis
trict in the United States. 1t is the city
lately referred to on the floor of the SEN
ate by an eloquent Senator from Missouri
as the eternal city Of an eternal repub-
hc." They who are now associated with
Its fortunes and its management will soon
pass away and be forgotten; but the re-
public will survive forever. and its "eter-
nal capital should reflect its perennial
luster.
I have ventured to bring the cause of the
District of Columbia into this presence and
before this representative body of Ameri-
can citizens because we are without direct
representation on the floors Of Congress
the Senators and Representatives who are
. accredited by you and by your fellow citf-
xens from all the states Of the Union. We
believe that you will agree with us that,
although we are voiceless in the halls Of
Congress the end we seek to attain, name
ly, model municipality In every phase Of
growth and development at the CAPITAL. ia
your cause as well as ours. When Wash
ington founded this city, on the shore Of
the great river which winds its way to the
sea by the sacred spot where his maturer
years were passed. and where his ashes
now repose. 1t was his hope and his belief
that the city SO foi nded would surpass all
other national capitals In beauty and in
grandeur.
Surely no representative Of this great
people can win lasting popular renown by
seeking to hinder or to mar that manifest
destiny OF his own national capital
will not delay your important delibera-
tons by more extended remarks. We are
all Endeavorers here this week. We will
endeavor to show by our kindly acts and
by courteous attention, rather than by our
ing is intended to be. When the work If
your convention shall have ended, and Won
shall have journeyed to your homes, may
you have with you In perpetual memory
only fragrant and agreeable recollections
of your great convention of '96 and of the
Hospitality of the people of Washington.
Rev. DR.. Greene's Welcome.
At the conclusion Of Commissioner Ross
address Mr.. Grose cried out:
did you hear that?'
There was laughter, and then he repeated
the question. asking that any one in the
tent who had not heard the speaker would
please say AYE" There were several faint
Ayes on the outskirts, and Mr.. Grose in
structed the auditors, when they could not
hear the speakers in the future, to lift
their handkerchiefs. He then announced
that Rev. Dr. Greene, pastor of the Cal
vary Baptist Church. who was to have de-
nvered the address of welcome in Tent
Williston, would deliver it in Tent En-
deavor, owing to the accident which pre-
vented the holding of the exercises in the
first named.
DR.. Greene. after few pleasant prelimi-
nary remarks. spoke as follows:
I have been honored with the privilege of
ovf he Chryo