Evening star., 1898-11-15
4 Good Start on n Broad Prog Gram

The board of trade started it's annual
campaign for the benefit of the District last
night with bright prospect of an active
season and a full measure OF results. The
first meeting of the autumn was attended
with every sign that the ardor and enter
prise of the members are undiminished.
while the numbers of this efficient body
of citizens are steadily growing to afford
more complete representation of every busi-
ness and personal and sectional interest.
Judged by the past achievements and by the
present prospects, the boards efforts this
winter will carry the capital far forward to-
ward the municipal and national ideal.
The efforts this season. according to the
showing made last night. will lie along
three main lines-the preservation of the
organic act OF 1878 which underlies the Dis
trict's present welfare and future pros
poets. the securing of certain new projects
which are necessary for the full develop
meut of the capital. and the maintenance
of already established enterprises which
require annual attention for their fullest
usefulness to the people. Thus the cam
paign is organized on a combined line of
attack and defense.
The preservation of the organic act in
its letter and spirit will require hard work
and constant attention to details well
as to broad prir ciples The disposition of
some members of Congress to assail this
doctrine of national cooperation in the de-
velopment of the capital demonstrates itself
in many directions. often in the most unex-
peCted connections. The abrogation of the
act in a single instance weakens the whole
line of defense. The board of trade has in
the past vigorously withstood all such
Oh md iS to be 1rra har
it will stand to the last in resisting any
encroachment on the principles which have
thus far resulted only in benefit to the
city and District.
The work Of codifying the laws in force
IN the District is to BE- fostered in every
manner available The work has already
been carried over its first and most difficult
stage through the scholarly and unremit-
ting Iabors of Judge Cox. and is now to be
advanced by its approval by the board of
trade ard the Bar Association, and per-
fecte'i by its enactment into law by Con-
gress- The cOdificatiOn has necessarily in
vuIved much elimination of the useless and
the substitution of modern statutes. When
finally brought into a form which meets
the majority interests i'll spirit of wise
progression it should be adopted as a
whole. To ;his end it is to the interest of
every business and professional man and
every citizen TO bend his energies at the
coming session.
Tn board likewise proposes to foster as
far as possible the projected centennial
celebration, which was yesterday so heart
Ily intorsed by President Mckinley. This
work is well within the board 5 true scope.
and the work of this orga nization will
doubtless be of material service in bring
ing the plan to a successful issue.
Ia the work of securing new allowances
for the District the board will unquestion-
ably be busy Among the projects most
distinctly required for zhe capitals welfare
are The erection OF a municipal building
and memorial bridge. the creation of a
board Of charities, the reclamation Of the
AnaCJstia flats. the removal of grade cross
ings and the eras!ng of James Creek canal
from the local map. In the furtherance of
projects already inaugurated the board will
be called upon to work for the growth of
the free pubic IIbrary-now about to be
Opened-for a more adequate water supp.y.
for additional sewers. for better garbage
disposal methods. for Il larger police and
fire force, for more schools. for cleaner
streets. for scores of minor projects which
all tend to ameliOrate city conditions and
TO bring Washington up TO the front rank
among tie worlds municipalities
The program is long and filed with diff
cIltieS But in view of the character of
the board of trade, in its complete aspect
and its component membership. and of the
kindly relations which now exist between
the citizens and their lawmakers. il is not
10 be doubted that large portion of its
scheduled plan will be accomplished when
the forthcoming session Of Congress ends