Evening star., 1901-11-12

4 =.
however, per cent interest per annum was
exacted upon the amount thus advanced
AS this deficiency is the result of the cost
Of street extension, which should be con-
penses, interest at the most should only
have been charged on 90 per cent of the
amount.
Low Interest Bonds.
AS was stated in the last annual report.
''The only course to pursue, 1t seems. is to
do like all other cities In this and other
| countries, 4. e., to issue low interest-bear-
ing bonds. Unless funds are ad-
vanced by the government, as was done IN
the purchase of Rock Creek Park" The
latter course Is preferable. It avoids the
expense and trouble OF printing. registering
and issuing bonds; at the same time the
debt can be discharged at any time, regu-
| larly and gradually, as may be determined
upon as the revenues viii warrant.
Any large improvements made are for
the present, and the expenses therefor by
either method would then be properly dis
| tributed.
Appropriations.
| In the appropriations made for the Dis
| trict of Columbia at the last session Of Con-
gress the 80 per cent principle provided in
| the organic law, it is gratifying to state.
was adhered to in every instance, barring
| the cost Of street extension. The latter
4
| attention of the Board of Trade to con-
vince Congress that the present course is
wrong.
| 1t is a pleasure to state that the inter-
| course between the honorable Commits
| sioners of the District of Columbia and the
| Board of Trade has been, without exception,
| agreeable and courteous in character. and,
| 1t is felt. satisfactory and of advantage to
| the District. 1t has always been the aim of
the Board of Trade to render them its earn
est suppost and cooperation in public mat
| ters. The District can truly be congratu-
| lated upon having Commissioners now and
in the past who have ably, faithfully and
| rightly served as executive officers of the
District government: When We consider
| the bold rings, fraud and corruption with
| which Philadelphia, New York and other
| cities have been afflicted, as compared with
| the purity and integrity of our District
officials, we thoroughly understand and
appreciate the benefits derived and enjoyed
| from the form of government provided for
| the District Of Columbia.
Compliment to Capt. Beach.
| The Board of Trade regrets the recent re-
turn of Engineer Commissioner Lansing II.
Beach to regular military duties. His thor
| ough understanding of the conditions and
needs of the District, his mastery of en-
| gineering matters and the confidence which
| he inspired in Congress and in this COM
munity have rendered his services of the
| highest value. 1t is a matter of serious
regret to the people of this District that
the rules of military routine should be
| made to apply to an officer detailed to du-
| ties purely civil and should thus deprive
the District of Columbia Of the services
| of an official at time when those services
| had become of the greatest weight. He
| leaves Washington followed by the regrets
and good wishes of the whole community.
Centennial Celebration.
The centennial celebration of the ami
versary of the meeting of the first session
| ~
the establishment of the site of government
therein occurred, according to the plans
| and arrangements, on December II last.
| The appointments We're complete and the
| ceremonies at the White House, the parade,
| the exercises at the Capitol and the recep-
tion in the evening We're instructive, inter-
| esting and enjoyable. Government and
| private business was suspended in the Dis
| trict, enabling the citizens, officials and
Congress to participate. In the many ad-
| dresses made and in the accounts OF the
press and other publications there is fur
nished a vivid contrast of the government
| and the country as 1t existed in 1900 and
Its magnitude in the time in which We live,
| besides portraying the stability of and
| the protection and happiness vouchsafed
! to the people by our republican form of
government.
| Inauguration.
AS in the past SO in the future. the ar
rangements and plans for the inaugural
| ceremonies will be in charge OF an inau-
| gural committee, composed of the citizens
of the District Of Columbia, who consider
| 1t privilege and an honor to perform this
public duty, representing, for the time be-
| ing, the people of the whole country, in
| conducting affairs on such a great national
| occasion. 1t has been suggested that for
| these occasions, occurring certainly tnce
| in every four years, some semi-permanent
| OF continuous arrangement could be estab-
oh hU yrh hatf for raj In
| every direction could be made between each
| period, while preserving and adding to thc
| material used and experience gained. If
| this should be brought about, much time
| would be saved, arrangements improved and
| success always more certainly assured
| President's Assassination.
| Since our last meeting many changes and
| important events have occurred, bu- none
| so horrible and momentous was the
| sassination of the late President Mckinley.
| He had lived a large portion Of his iue II
| Washington, so that he knew our citizens
| and understood the relations Of the general
| to the local government, and what Wash
| ington is and should be the national cap
ital. He was always, and especially since
| becoming President, ready to listen to the
| conditions and affairs relating to the Dis
| trict of Columbia, and manifested a true
| interest in all that pertained to its gov
| ernment and welfare. His great loss was
felt by the nation and the whole word, and
possibly by none more keenly than Dy our
| people here among whom he had lived so
many years and by whom he was revered
| and loved.
| District Day Pan-American.
The program Of exercises for District day
| at the Pan-American Exposition, Buffalo,
on September g. was well arranged end
passed off promptly. The day was beauti-
full. 1t was interesting and instructive
program, creditable to the capital. The ad-
| dress Of Mr.. Henry B. F. Macfarland,
| president of the board Of Commissioners at
| the Temple of Music, which was filled to its
| utmost capacity, gave, as is the opinion Of
many, the best historical account and de-
| scription of Washington and the District
| of Columbia ever prepared which, in con-
| nection with it's literary merit, makes it an
accurate and valuable addition to local and
| national history.
| Conclusion.
In our last annual report a number of
salient and desirable measures were named,
| which had been considered and indorsed by
the Board Of Trade: First, completion of
the sewer system; second, filtration of the