Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-03-01
THE EASTERN BRANCH
REPLY TO REPRESENTATIVE
GAINES REMARKS.
The City Cannot BE Held Responsible
for the Failure of Congress
to Act.

cit is just as we'll once in a while in
perfectly friendly spirit to square accounts
with the minority in Congress, especially
when, in sparring for an opening with u.s.
they give US an opportunity to cross
counter" said a republican representative
this morning.
I'm recent speech in the House, Repro
sentative Gaines of Tennessee, In opposing
the appropriation for the purchase Of land
for ST. Eliza beths Asylum, said that this
institution was situated on a hilltop that
was surrounded by the slums and swamps
Of the Potomac.
This was the most unkindest cut OF all
that the District has received during this
session from the opposition. With the
breezes of these 'slums and swamps' float
ing into the south windows of the hall OF
Congress and into the sensitive nostriis OF
the economical minority, with the eardest
recommended tons of the Washington Board
of Trade, with delegations of washington
most distinguished and representative clti-
zens waiting in the corridors, with the ap-
peals Of a united press ringing In their ears,
with petitions signed by thousands of resi-
dents of the territory affected rolled up IN
pgeonholes. with the official reports from
the War Department engineers also molder-
ing in pgeonholes unread and unheede1,
with the opinions of scores of honest, dtsln-
tereSted physicians, with knowledge OF a
united public sentiment favoring the lmme-
date and permanent improvement OF the
Eastern branch. with an additional Enowl-
edge that these flats present an eyesore TO
every incoming and outgoing visitor to our
fair city-with all this, and much more, the
minority in Congress unfeelingly talks about
the 'sums and swamps' of the capital!
Statements Which MfsIead Strangers.
Far be it that member of either house
of the Congress should reproach the District
of Columbia, of which he, one of gov
erning collective body, determines it's ap-
pearance, welfare and future. If there are
'swamps' encircling Washington, it is not
the fault of its residents. If no steps have
been taken toward the reclamation of the
flats of the Eastern branch of the Potomac
1t is not the fault of the residents on either
side of that historic stream. If a locality
in which government asyums, aims houses
and jails stua ed is alleged to be I'M
healthy. and, therefore, further appropria-
lions should not be given them, it Is the
duty OF Congress to place that locality
such condition Of sanitary perfection that
criticism cannot arise.
such statements, however we'll intended,
are mischievous and misleading for circula-
ton abroad. The people of other cities and
states gain by such public utterances an
exaggerated idea and false conception of
this city and Its environs. Washington
ian still hears of the 'malarial Potomac
flats when he travels in other cities, and
he spends good bit of his time and a lot
of his breath in assurances that the flats
have been filed in for years, are ready for
transformation into beautiful parks, and
that Washington, as the vital statistics will
show has no more cases of malarial fever
than other cities of its population nor as
many as some a great deal smaller Eut
the impression sticks.
People Have Been Most Patient.
Il have always felt that Congress has
been unmindful on the question of the
reclamation of the Eastern branch locality
in failing years ago to begin and push to
RAPID completion this highly important I'M
provement, and in permitting session after
session to expire with only show of &C
ton, so that the matter may go over to the
next Congress. thus passing it a.ong year
after year without substantial Offering
This failure to act is an unjust discrimi-
nation in favor of other localities some at
which are not even down on the map, as
was charged the other day on the floor OF
the House and not refuted because the
statement true
1T has always seemed to me that the
people of the District have shown great pa
tience and forbearance in this matter.
They have been respectful and pleading
but the Congress, in its hurry and haste to
get through its labors, has passed them by
as does a monarch in his carriage of state
the humble petitioner by the roadside. II
the people could throw a bomb, a peaceful
but effective bomb, perhaps attention might
be distracted from other matters and at
tracted to this.
The res idents of the District under its
present form of government are and must
be always in the role of the suppliant. No
coercive measure may be adopted by them
as other communities may adopt toward
recactrant representatives or delegations
No whip of power in the form of votes rests
in their hands to crack warningly if their
needs and demands are not respectfully
needed.
Therefore, Congress ought to combine
high sense of justice with generosity and
eXh bit the kindly condescenson of strength
and power over the poWerless. Had THIS
spirit been shOWS ten years ago the East
ern branch flats today would be a harbor
and shipping point worthy Of. the capital,
instead of a swamp at which the only men
who have authority to work a change point
| the finger of reproach.'