The Washington times., 1902-04-02

done nothing. and from the inception OF
| the plan to create this park it has be-
| trayed most unusual prejudice against it.
| II has evinced most undignified and
| parsimonious treatment of the subject.
even refusing or begTudging niggardly sp-
preparations sufficient TO protect its mag
nifcent forests from depreciation and de-
struction; not even SO much as providing
police protection or patrol, and our lin
tied force has been conscripted to fur
| nish scanty police protection.
"As to the roads which are being
gradually constructed, il Is matter of
public notoriety. and I might add. with
propriety, of public disgrace. that the
only new roads constructed within the
limits of this beautiful park have been
constructed by the District chain gang.
transported back and forth from the Jail
daily, a distance of eight or nine miles;
and except for this resource and the de-
termined and persistent efforts of our
local authorities these roads never would
have been built.
Had We relied upon Congress for
money to do this much needed work there
would remain today nothing but the old
trails the cows and goats made during
the past fifty or one hundred years, and
we are now assured the only thing to do
is to do nothing with this park because.
forsooth. the Almighty has done so much
for it; has finished it all up and nature
cannot be improved upon.
Some Facetious Remarks.
God has done so much for 1t, it is fin
ished, let il alone and permit the sands of
time to embellish 1t with their own hand
iwork, the sad requiem of desolation and
decay. The spirit expressed and the policy
enunciated in this do-nothing policy is so
revolving to every fair-minded man and
SO far removed from the public and loyal
spirit demanding liberal appropriations
for measures contributing to the public
welfare, the public pleasure and educa-
tion that further comment is unnecessary.
For the maintainence and betterment
of this pleasure ground for the people of
the United States the citizens of the
District are compelled TO pay one-half the
cost annually.
Why should this burden be imposed
upon this city, any more than upon Bal
timorc, or Alexandria, or any other city
in the States, or upon the poor farmer
so unfortunate as to be possessed of lit
tie agricultural land in the adjacent
neighborhood?
Somehow there seems to exist some-
where in the minds of the average Con-
gressman a preconceived idea That the
residents Of this District were created for
the express purpose of submitting meek
ly and mildly. to the imperious DEGREES
of that body without appeal without re-
course, and without any will of their own.
To be sure We have been buncoed out of
our political heritage by a mess of DO
liticai pottage, and have no rights local
or municipaD which Congress respects
or wants to respect, and yet, notwith-
standing all this, we are denied any voice
whatever in this quasi-partnership. and
they cOolly and deliberately tell us we
must put up half the money to maintain
this Capital City in a manner and on a
scale of magnifccnce commensurate with
the dignity and Importance of the great
est and grandest country and the greatest
and grandest people on the face of the
earth.
Taxes in District.
I'm the same connection. although
charged TO the newspapers, it is broadly
asserted that the District of Columbia
has become haven of rest for those who
dislike to pay taxes elsewhere, That they
come here to hide their property from
taxation. and that under increased taxa
tion they would be forced to leave the
District or commit perjury.
Il have been familiar with this city for
forty years, having marched up PennsyI-
yania Avenue in the spring of 1862 with
a gun on my shoulder and 4knapsacls
strapped on my back. II has been my
home for thirty-four years. have
watched with amaZement and admiration
the growth and development of the city
think l know her people. and TO my un-
preiudiced mind they compare favorably
with the people in any State or city in
the Union. i mean in respecta bility in
telligence, moral and financial strength
and wherein they do not compare favor
ably with the rest Of our fellow country
man Is in political prestige, for the flesh
pots OF political fame and fortune are not
theirs; their political heritage is SO un-
certain and insecure that the Fillpinos
may well hope for brighter future than
can the denizens of the District of Co
lulubia -