Evening star., 1900-02-06
MASTER PAIN TERS
National Association il Session in
This City.
WARM WELCOME EXT ENDED
Nh. Ross, Mr.. Edison and Mr.. Knox
Offer Greeting
THE PRESIDENTS REPORT

the Commissioners of the District of CO.
lumbia, the Board of Trade, the Business
Mems Association, and last, but not least,
by the local association of master painters
and decorators, whose. members have been
for months preparing for the annual gath
ering of the national association
The sixteenth annual convention of the
National Association of Master Painters
and Decorators of the United States was
formally opened at 10 am. today at the
National Rifles armory, g street between
9th and 10th. The attendance was larger
than on the first day of any previous gath
erlng OF the organization. Nearly every
city Of any consequence was represented,
and many of the delegates were accom-
panied by their wives and daughters or
sweethearts. The convention hall present.
ed an attractive appearance, the decora-
tons betokening the handwork of some of
Washingtons leading workers in the art
On either side Of the stage was a bank of
palms and ferns, and the fragrance of
potted flowers in abundance was noticeable
Thomas A. Brown. chairman of the local
committee arrangements and n former
president OF the national associatio called
the convention to order. Nearly every seat
IN IN tne nan was occupied; The Rev. Frank
Nd. Bristol, pastor of the Metropolitan Meth
odlst Episcopal Church, offered a prayer in
which he invoked the blessing of the Crea-
tor on the delegates and their deliberations.
oitCi blStElCl commissioner John w
Ross bade the master painters a hearty
welcome to the city.
Mr.. Ross Welcome
Il deem 1t an especial honor" said he
Ito cooperate with the local committees
in charge Of this convention in the effort
to make the occasion one of memorable in
terest to these worthy delegates The peo-
pie OF Washington have such pride in the
city's reputation for hospitality that each
recurring occasion bears evidence of an
effort to surpass in some regard the sue
cess OF all previous entertainments of in
vited guests. I congratulate the local com
mttee upon the beauty and utility of the
souvenir program prepared for your con-
Venlence. and l cannot doubt that every
ment will be equally typical of the enter
prise and good taste of the local organiza-
ton having 1t in charge.
You could not have selected a more
suspicious season in which to visit your
capital city. The entire governmental ma
chlnery is in motion. Your senators and
representatives in Congress will vie with
our local committees in seeking to make
your visit an event long to be remembered
1t Is worth your while to visit Washington
now, even If there were no other object of
interest than the federal Congress The
gravity of the problems soon to be solved
by that body of legislators has not been
equaled since the close of the civil war In
ability, in dignity and in integrity the
American Congress will not suffer by COM
parisOn with any law-nfaking power in the
world. The valuable results accomplished
by your senators and representatives come
| not SO much from deliberations on the floors
OF the two houses as in, the committee
rooms. YIN.
There is an impression in some quarters
that the average member or senator has
what is sometimes termed an easy Job. If
you could be with him when he opens his
mail and when he seeks to respond to the
innumerahle demands made upon him by
his constituents, if you could attend
with him the sessions of his committees and
note the care, the patience and the indus
try with which he investigates the matters
brought to his official notice, you would
ao NIT that he earns his salary. That salary
Is far too low. The senator and the repre-
sentative must necessarily relinquish for a
time his profession or other avocation. and
he cannot hope to support his family on
So,oOO per year and meet the outlay which
every public man is expected to make from
time to time when called upon to contribute
to every worthy cause in his district or
state.
You will find that the District Of Column
ola, with population approximating 300,-
Oo0, Is without direct representation in
Congress, and that not dollar even of
District revenues can be expended without
the express authority of Congress. We,
therefore. are wholly dependent upon Con-
gress for the means to carry on the Dis
trict government. This direct control is by
virtue of that clause of the federal Consti-
tuition which vests in Congress the power
to exercise exclusive legislation in all cases
whatsoever over such District may be
by cession of particular states become the
seat of government of the United States.
1.-The founders intended that the District
should be established primarily for ma
tlonal governmental purposes, and as neu-
trail territory where the peoples servants
n.ight perform their official tasks without
the let or hindrance Of any state. Natur-
ally Uncle Sam has become large prop
erty owner here. His holdings are esti-
cd 20 t.a Mot f,
more than all real estate values owned by
individuals and private corporations In the
entire District. OF course, United States
property is not subject to taxation. All
taxes are levied on the private holdings.
This condition of affairs led to the law of
1883. which provided that the United States
should meet half the expenses of the Dis
trict government.
Every public man who takes the time to
understand the relations between the Dis
trict and the federal government, and who
municipality are performed in the interest
Of the federal government, and OF its en-
ployes. fully sanctions this arrangement.
Recently, however. this system has been
departed from. 1t has become absolutely
necessary to extend city streets and ave-
nues into. the part of the District known
as the county of Washington. Their open
ing and Improvement are as distinctly for
national as for local convenience. Yet,
Congress has thus far insisted that the ex-
penses therefor shall be met wholly from
District revenues. We believe that TINS ac-
ton has been taken without full consid-
Grafton Of the equities of 3the case or of
the results which must follow The inroads
so made upon District revenues will curtail
our appropriations fors schools and engine
houses and other necessatv items to such
an extent that the greatest inconvenience
to the public interests must inevitably en-
sue.
"If Congress will continue to apply the
half and half principleIto an legitimate and
necessary expenses. ne can still pay. as
heretofore, nearly one and quarter mil
lions dollars annually toward the reduction
OF the debt incurred by the agents Of Con-
gress q quarter of century ago. and still
have revenue sufficient 10 meet the de-
mands of a growing and progressive mu-
nicipality. ) lc g1.-
Il have thought that itimight not be un-
interesting to you. asia part Of the great
people who own absolutely all the streets
and avenues of thisoicity sand more than
one-half of all other property situate here,
to know something in detail of these mat
ters.
We invoke the good offices in behalf Of
the national capital of the people whose
capital it is. We beseech their aid in seek
ing to fulfill the design of Washington
when he chose this site as the political GEN.
ter OF q republic made noSSible by his wis