Evening star., 1901-03-04
Local LegislntiOn.

The legislative record of the last hours
of Congress brings some comfort to the
District and some disappointment. Briefly
summarized, this record includes the pas
sage of the code bill, the defeat of the
Memorial bridge appropriation, the defeat
of the local harbor improvements, the de-
feat of the telephone bill and the defeat of
the Rawlins Park donation. The first and
the last of these items are gratifying to
the progressive Washing ngtonian. The other
three are distinct setbacks.
The code bill became a law In the very
mick of time" A few hours more of de-
lay and this measure of first Importance
to the capital would have been relegated
to the limbo of neglected and stupidity op-
posed propositions for the general welfare.
Its enactment is the triumph of work Of
years, in which citizens of all ranks have
taken part. led ably by Judge Cox, as a
monument to whom this codification of. the
laws will always be locally regarded.
The defeat of the Memorial bridge project
marks another failure by Congress to stand
by its promises and its Intentions. Having
called for designs and received an approved
plan. with all the formality of official sane
tion the House has once more deliber-
ately turned its back upon the enterprise
capital, the serving of practical govern
mental and public purposes and the crea-
ton of a tangible token of sectional reunion.
The amendment of the Senate was liberal
in its terms, and In view Of the pledges
given a year ago in the House 1t should
have been accepted without demur. AS it
is. the fight must be fought oyer again.
The sudden defeat of the river and har-
Dor bill in the Senate this morning means
severe loss to the local interests, for the
work on the Potomac Improvement must
be checked in consequence, and the start
on the sadly needed Anacostia improve
ment must be postponed. 1t was hoped
that the houses. by adopting the Senate's
amendment and passing the bil.. would
thus put their formal stamp of approval on
the broad project of reclaiming the Eastern
branch from its wretched and heath-de
stroying condition. From the national
distinguished from the local point Of view.
however the defeat of the river and har-
Dor bill. with its many wasteful items, is
beneficial and to be applauded.
The friends of the measure for the relief
of the telephone users In the District We're
hardly sanguine of success at this short
session, even though the bill to break the
present oppressive and unreasonable mo-
nopoly had advanced to a stage at which
ii might readily have been made into law.
The vote on the motion To reconsider the
bill In the Senate last night was very close.
Two votes only stood between the measure
and probable passage. Perhaps under diff
ferent circumstances ii would have mus
tered a majority. The fight for reasonable
telephone rates must be renewed. unless
the higher courts shall sustain the legisla-
tion already enacted by Congress for this
purpose.
There is reason for satisfaction that the
conferees on the sundry civil bill struck out
the amendment giving away one of the
public parks to a private organization.
Had 1t become law a process of land-grab-
bing might have been started which would
soon despoi the capital robbnS 1t of its
brea thing spaces and diverting the reserved
public lands from their original beneficent
and beautiful purposes. 1t is to be hoped
that nothing more will be heard of this OBJ
noxious and dangerous proposition, i'll this
or any other form.