Evening star., 1902-02-07
THE CAPITAL CITY
Theme Of Addresses at Business
Mems Annual Banquet.
need OF PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS
Mr.. MacfarIand Refers to 25th
Anniversary Of Compact Of '78.
THE OTHER SPEAKERS

L II Il OF ID II II = r Ii a Il d Il .
The large dining hall of the Riggs House
was a scene of beauty last evening, on the
occasion of the annual banquet of the Bus
mess Mems Association, when senator's
representatives and leading business men
Of this city gathered about the banquet
table to discuss attractive menu and
later theFneeds and future development Of
the District of Columbia. The Commis-
sioners OF the District. senators and rep
resentatives contributed glowing tributes
to the national capital. and were one in the
expression of opinion that this city should
be given an undisputed title as the most
beautiful capital in the world
The guests gathered early in the parlors
of the hotel, but it was after o'clock
when they went to the banquet hall, and
two hours later before the speaking began.
After the cigars had been passed about
President Dyrenforth arose and In appro-
pirate words presented Mr.. Barry Bulkley,
secretary of the association, as toastmas-
ter, the duties of which office he filled in q
most pleasant way.
When the last subject on the menu for
the consideration Of the guests had been
reached the orchestra played Columbia"
which was a signal for the assemblage to
stand, and there was q clinking Of glasses
as the sentiment Of the music was recog-
nized.
Commissioner Henry B. F. Macfarland
being called upon. responded eloquently,
and was accorded long and vigorous ap-
plause. Mr.. Macfarland's cordial reception
indicated his popularity and the confidence
that Is placed in him by members of both
houses of Congress and the business men
Of the city.
The CommissiOner's Address.
Mr.. Macfarland began by saying:
Next year we shall celebrate the twenty
fifth anniversary-the silver wedding, SO to
speak-of the compact of 1873 between
Congress and the District of Columbia. 1
trust 1t may be celebrated by the laying OF
the corner stone of the District government
building, so that, for the first time since 1t
was created, that government may have
the beginning, at least, OF a home OF It's
own.
1.-The anniversary will be marked. at all
events, we feel sure" Mr.. Macfarland con-
tinued, ''by important steps in the new
development of the greater Washington for
which we have been so long hoping and
working, and by a more strict adherence
to the half and half principle Of the COM
pact. We have every reason to believe
that Congress will at this session adopt
the repeated recommendations Of the Com
missioners and the citizens of the District
of Columbia, and provide for the extraor-
dinary municipal improvements which we
necessary extraordinary expenditures by
anticipating the Districts revenues through
advances from the treasury, so as to spread
the cost over years, while securing the i'm
provements at the earliest possible day.
We know that ever since the celebration
OF our centennial anniversary in December,
1900 our friends in Congress have given
evidence Of the new interest which they
and the people Of the whole country feel
In the national capital, and that they de-
sire to see 1t equipped with all modern i'm
provements and also developed to the ut
most in an esthetic way. 1t is already
beautfful-some, Of us believe, all things
considered. the most beautiful capital in
the world; but it can be made more beau
tiful, 1t can be developed beyond the point
Of rivalry, and this we desire and expect
to see accomplished before we die.
District Will Do It's Duty.
1.-THE people Of the District can be de-
pended upon to do, now as always, their
whole duty, and more than their whole
duty, in the improvement of the national
capital Ever since the nineteen original
proprietors gave the national government,
through George Washington, 70 per cent of
the land for the city of Washington, part
Of which was Immediately used with the
money given by Maryland and Virginia, to
erect the Capitol and the other national
buildings, the local residents have done
more than any other American citizens for
the American capital. Senator Southland Of
New Jersey in his famous report in 1885
said that their public spirit and patriotism
had led them to do far more for 1t than
they ought to have done in attempting to
supply the lack caused by the national
governments neglect, and they have mer-
tied that praise at all times. A compare
lively small body of taxpayers, required
until 1878 to bear practically the whole
burden of municipal services and general
improvements, while owning less than half
Of the real estate, and since then meeting
their full ShaYA the oh1ipa and
more than doing SO, they have lived up
faithfully to all the requirements Of what
the United States Supreme Court has called
the constitution of the District of Column
permanent form Of government They will
continue to do 50. with patriotic loyalty.
They will pay the taxes provided for in
that act to the amount required for the
needs Of the District, including sinking
fund and interest obligations, as cheerfully
as people ever pay taxes anywhere They
are proud Of their position in partnership
with the national government, as trustees
for the nation of the national capital. They
share fully the desire of the country that
this shall be the model Of all cities, and
they are ready to share fully in paying
all expenditures properly chargeable to
them. Nowhere else Is the national feel
ing so strong as In the national capital,
which has never known any other alle-
glance than that to the national govern
ment, or any other flag than the national
flag. It Is here more than anywhere else
that the just pride of patriotism is exalted
and that every citizen desires this CEN
ter Of the national authority to be worthy
of the national power and greatness
Gl0ries i'm the Flag.
Representative Otey of Virginia was the
next speaker, and greatly amused his au-
ditors by his sallies of wit and his clever
stories. He was glad to be at the banquet,
and his presence there reminded him that
he tried hard to get to this city forty years
ago, and couldn't do 1t. He giorted in hav-
ing the same flag today that floated over
him when he was boy. except that its gilt
tering stars had doubled in number. He
told a number Of humorous stories, applica-
| BILE to Congress and the District, and sat
down amid an uprOar of applause
Mr.. Simon Wolf, upon being introduced.