Evening star., 1897-05-19
EX-SENATOR INGALLS,
He Talks Entertainingly Upon a Va
riety Of Subjects.
GREAT DEVELOPMENT OF WASHINGTON
Some Remarks Upon Chapman $
Imprisonment.
AGAINST SUGAR SCHEDULE

Ex-senator John ]. ingalls, of Kansas
| committee on the District of Columbia, is
| in the city. Senator Ingalls, has lost none
OF that wonderful power of language that
made him famous as an orator when III
the Senate, or that power of clear analysis
OF public questions that placed him in the
fl ont ranks of legislators.
When seen by Star reporter last even
ing Mr.. Ingalls, in response to questions
spoke freely on a number of subjects of
particular interest to the people of the
District of Columbia and of the country
at large. His work in Congress in the in
terest of the District of Columbia made
him thoroughly acquainted with local con-
ditions here. He still maintains his in
terest in the capital. Above all, he has
lost none of that admirable wit and satire
| that always amused while it instructed
both Senate and galleries, and SO
greatly feared by the men against whom
at times he aimed his remarks when in the
upper house of Congress.
Washington an Object Lesson.
washington is an object lesson in state
socialism,, he remarked. THE DISTRICT of
Columbia is political reservation, from
which the last vestige of local self-govern-
ment has disappeared. Individualism has
been abolished. The nation is supreme,
and the sole functions of the inhabitants
are to obey laws which they have no share
IN making, and pay taxes in whose inposi-
tion they have no voice. Suffrage and the
Will OF the majority have no place in this
benevolent despotism, this advantageous
tyranny: Singuiarly enough its victims
apparently enjoy their subjugation, and
are contented with the denial of the fun
damental rights of American citizens Men
accustomed to the blessings and privileges
OF local self-government in Chicago New
York, Baltimore and other great towns; to
the supremacy Of things, boodlers, peelers
saloon keepers. gamblers and the most de-
graded social elements, have been heard to
say that Washington is the best governed
city in the world; that nowhere are life
liberty and property more secure, nor is
there any place in the United States, nor
out OF 1t, where the conditions of human
napplness are more abundant. nor the COM
ponents of human prosperity more stable
and permanent than here. To the lover of
free institutions and the believer in the
axioms OF popular liberty these admissions
treme. There is contagion in such ex-
amp!es IL the system works so well in
w ashington. why may not Illinois try the
same experiment In Chicago; or Missouri,
endeavor thus to restrain the costly dis
order and corruption of st. Louis, Balti-
more, New York and Boston?
The Great Development.
Under this autocracy Washington has
ceased to be provincial and has become cos
mopolitan Twenty-Five years ago it was
a great, sprawling, commonplace village,
but 1t now easily takes first rank with the
great capitals Of the world, and is destined
to grow with the growth and strengthen
with the strength Of the nation.
orb eli
galleries. museums. suburbs and historic
localities make 1t the elysium of the rich
ana the paradise of the DOOR The nal
aces OF the patrician quarter are sumptuous
types OF domestic architecture, and the
rev library and the post office are NOT
surpassed by the rriumphs of Roman or
Grecian genius. When the south side of
the avenue TO the Potomac is cleared of its
disnguring rubbish and an array of stately
structures for public use set upon grassy
terraces, with open spaces for fountains
ana Tor shade, for the monuments Of heroes
and the statues of statesmen extends from
the White House to the CAPITOL Inc cor
ception OF the founders will be realized
and the metropolis will he complete.
washington is fortunate too, in not
being a commercial OF manufacturing GEN.
ter. 1t will not know the fluctuations the
revulsions and reverses of trade. It's ad-
vance will he steady and constant. AS the
public service enlarges the amount of
wages paid to employees will increase and
this will be spent cricIy at home, making
local business easy and profitable.
Rapid transit will continually extend the
boundaries OF the city, and eventually shc
falls of the Potomac will be used for the
generation of electricity to furnish no,yer
and heat and light ut trleing cost to all
its inhabitants.
A Reference to Chapman.
I'm nothing Is the upward movement of
Washington more strikingly manifest than
in the treatment of its culprits ard male
factors. Punishment has for its objects
the protection of society and th,. reforma-
tion of the offender. In the old barbarous
days II common. plain. plug citizen
sentenced to Imprisonment he was hustled
into the Black Maria, with a policeman
on the step, and turned over to the jailer
with Unfeeling and inhuman lack of cere-
mony. But here when man suspected of
corrupting legislation defies the Senate
and is convicted by due process of law,
the execution of the sentence is deferred
till the delinquent has expressed his readi-
ness to endure the penalty. Obsequious at
tendants receive him upon his arrival In
the city as a distinguished guest. He is
consulted about the hour when he prefers
to have his Incarceration begin. dia-
gram of the prison is submitted to him
that he may select the most eligible apart
ments. Persian rugs alleviate the harsh
are forwarded to replace the simpler ap-
pointments of the cell. Trunks of FASH
ionable apparel are conveniently stored
for his access. Fellow prisoners are de-
tailed to act as Wallets Of the chamber and
cup bearers. A daily menu Is prepared by
great chef for the selection Of viands
and beverages to solace his weary hours
Eminent citizens In carriages escort him
to the gate. The iron cot Is found to have
been removed to make place for brass
bedstead with luxurious upholstery where
on this minion Of fortune may WOO tired
natures sweet restorer. balmy sleep.
Bryant evidently had modern Washing
ton justice in mind when In Thanatopsis
he advised man to 50 live that when his
simmons came to join the innumerable
caravan. he should not go like a galley
slave scourged to his dungeon. but
"'sustained and soothed by an unfalter-
ing trust,
Like one who wraps the drapery of his
couch
About him. and Hes down to pleasant
dreams.'
Hereafter should this example be iuai-
stated men will come to Washington to
commit crime as in ancient days they went
up to Jerusalem to Worship.
The sugar Schedule.
.swhat should be done about the sugar
schedrle." Mr.. Ingalls, was asked.
From the republican point Of view It