Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-16

the way of the improvements contem-
plated by the board of public works
under the regime of Mr.. Shepherd, even to
the extent of appealing to Congress after
meeting defeat N the courts, The Star bat
tied for the new order of things. 1t COM
mended the public spiritedness of Governor
Cooke, of Alexander Shepherd, who was
later governor himself and of all of those
who composed the board which had pledged
itself to redeem Washington and defended
them throughout from the attacks which
came from many directions.
The feud in those days of the territorial
form of government between the improve
ment' classes and the "ant-improvement''
obstructionists was often very bitter in
deed. Many of the prominent property
owners of the city, who were largely af-
fected by the Improvement tax necessarily
placed upon real estate were relentless in
their attacks on the Improvement admins
tration. Despite the many efforts made to
defeat the purposes of Shepherd and his as
sociates, the work went on, however, and
the foundations of the now beautiful city of
Washington, the pride OF a mighty nation,
were laid.
Shepherd happily lived to hear eulogies
heaped upon him by many of those who had
been his severest critics, and also to be
honored by the great mass of the people
who live in the capital for which he iabored
SO well despite the handicaps placed upon
him. The reception to Mr.. Shepherd upon
the occasion of his last visit to his home
city is fresh in the minds of the people
Not only was he honored at that time but
now that he has ended his worldly work
the people are subscribing generously to a
fund to erect enduring monument to his
memory. Thus has Shepherds work been
recognized and justice done. The policy of
The Star has been indorsed.
The part played by The Star in that
period of construction did not end with it's
support of Shepherd in his great work This
paper was the first to realize that the gov
eminent as it existed under the territorial
form, with the board of public works. the
legislative assembly and the council was
too large as to number of officials and con-
sequently too expensive. 1t so expressed it
self and favored the bill which in 1874 pro-
vided for form of government upon which
the present system was founded. Condi-
tions were not altogether satisfactory I'M
der the temporary Commissioners, however,
and so The Star was subsequently found
in 1878 succeeded in securing legislation
establishing the government now in vogue.
When the government of 1878 was estab-
lished and the compact of 1878" became
effective, The Star made the unhesitating
prediction that the copartnership of the
capital and the nation meant the upbuid-
ing of one of the most magnificent govern
ment seats in the world The present
Washington stands as a notification of the
optimistic declarations.
In connection with the participation of
The Star in the evolution of the present
form of government one point stands out
bodly-an opposition to local suffrage.
Barred by the Constitution from taking
part in the presidential and congressional
elections, and barred under the territorial
rule from the selection of governor Che
argued that the elections held for the fill
ing of minor offices were anything but cred
liable to the District. When Washington
and Georgetown were Joined in 1871 into
one municipality and it was announced
that the rule would be by a governor and
council appointed by the President and
a legislative assembly, to be chosen by the
people, there were some who declared the
citizens should be allowed to choose both
the council and the assembly. In reply
to this contention The Star said: