The times., 1898-08-15
MONDAY. AUGUST Is. 1898.
Our Newspaper Governors.


Hitherto the Star has been the one
and all-sufficient political and phys cal
guide, mentor, and director of the peo-
pie of Washington, but W. observe late
ly tendency on the part of the est to
enlarge the trust so as to include it
self. For some years. or to be more
definite ever since the active editor of
our evening contemporary came of age,
he has looked carefully after the inter-
ests of all our citizens. No subject has
been too high or weighty for his COM
prehe-siye intellect-an intellect of the
ShakespeareaR order which needs
neither familiarity nor experience to
assist him TO correct conclusions: nor
has any matter been too low to escape
the scrutiny of "the man behind the
glasses" The direction of the entire
City government has been but a slight
draft en- his time and ability That Job
was done while his coffee cooled. Pret-
ty much everything that affects US as
citizens has his finger marks on them.
and all Of the legislation which he has
permitted Congress 10 enact for US Is
soilec-if We may so express ft-with
his thought He has particularly
known just what the city's street rail-
roads should do. by what power they
should be propelled, how run, how much
they should be allowed to earn, and how
much should be paid to stockholders.
That knowledge, however, was only
detail From the proper lacing of a
lady's shoe-not to go any further in
that direction-to a particular!zat.on of
the duties Of every official, the ed tor
of the Star-our brevet mayor-has ad-
vice and concrete wisdom to bestow.
But now most audaciously steps in
the envious editor-sub-e editor, we i'm
agine-Of the Post, and tackles the
matter of the suburban railroads. II
may be. however, that the Star man
finding cares growing upon him, has
created new bureau to cover the sub
urban roads and given it in charge of
the Pest man. but certainly with re-
strictions. Surely with restrictions.
With such powers of intuition as are
monopolized by the Star Mayor. or the
Mayor Star. he would never consider
the necessity of fully parting with any
portion Of his authority. Like the lady
mentioned so frequently of late in
song, who was not colored but born
that way" the Star man was not elect
ed, but born our guide and director.
Mr.. J. p. Clark, president Of the SUBJ
urban electric road which car
ries overheated denizens to Glen
Echo and CABIN John. has in
an official communication to the
Commissioners suggested that his COM
pany could not in any legal way pre-
vent the occasional crowding of his
cars. whereupon the Post man jumps
nimbly in-o the ring and voc 'ferates
the cutting words, Marry, but this is
nonsense, The remedy is an easy one.
and, adzooks, must be applied imme-
diately. Put on mere carsl If the
Great Falls company cannot afford to
do this. let it transfer the traffic to
some company that can, or abandon
the business altogether" This we must
admit is simple way out of a great
difficulty. The Post man, who, as well
vs. me Star man, owns not a single
share of the stock, can find no objec-
tion to putting on car for every pas
senger, for whatever the loss arising
from such a liberal provision for a
Temporary rush of passengers, no penny
Of it will fall on him. And so with the
kind permission of the Star man he
yeils More cars
There is always to be found in the
Post e deal of fine writing, but we have
sometimes feared when analyzing
many of its suggestions that it has
been accompanied by paucity of COM
mon sense. Why should Mr. Clark or
anybody else be advised to invest $780,
PVo in equipment which he could only