Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1904-08-05

of Our Government Larger Than the Uom-
parison With Other Countries-Judse Par
ker Thanks Lawyers Democratic Club-A
Presidential Favorite Rivalry in Bureaus
Over the Use Of Wireless Telssraph-Dsm-
ocrats Will Carry Davis State.
(From our regular correspondent)
WAsHINGToN, ID. c., July IS.
During the absence of Congress
measures for the improvement OF the
city are being theoretically pushed
that good showing Of progress may
be made when the lawmakers again
assemble. Work is going actively for
ward in the several great public build
ings that have been described in these
letters, including the $4,OOO,OOO Union
depot, and while the great plans OF
/ the Park Commission cannot be I'M
mediately realized, the water front OF
the city is being improved, and this is
necessary feature Of any rehabilita-
lion of the capital. The water front
both on the Potomac and East branch
is in disgraceiul condition. 1t is
doubtful if there is city of its size in
the United States which presents so
shabby riparian line. The wharves
are mainly built on loose piliug; the
buildings are mostly ramshackle sheds,
and the slips are 80 badly filled with
debris as to be unavailable for use
except by smaller craft. A new bulk
head wall is needed at once, and stone
piers are impera,ively required.
The two new bridges across the Po-
tomac, one for railroad trains and the
other for the highway, are in An
advanced stage and in two months
trains and traffic will be running over
them from shore to shore. They are
! five hundred feet north OF the old rail-
road bridge, about twice rs high above
the water and half mile long. The
railroad bridge is known rs of the
Pratt truss pattern, and it has twelve
granite piers, including the draw span,
which latter is $50 feet long and
weighs GOO tons. 1t will be about
twice the size of the old draw. The
draw will seldom need to be opened.
The sky over the Republican camp
lie lowering, owing to the numerous
and bitter strikes in progress from
Boston to Colorado. The union lead.
ers and walking delegates very natur-
ally salute the President with "Come
to our rescue! You went outside Of
your beat to settle the coal strike;
now take the employers sternly in
hand in Boston, Fall River, New York,
Washington, Chicago and Colorado"
What he will do to extricate his party
from the dilemma it is difficult to see.
Even in Washington the old question
OF the trades unions against the gov
eminent has arisen. A man passed
the Civil Service examination as brick
layer, and joined the workmen putting
up the walls at the new Washington
War College. The other men asked
him for his card, and finding he was
not a member of the union, laid down
their tools. The army officer in charge
made . little speech to the malcon-
tents, telling them that either their
rules must be modified or the Consti-
tuition of the United States must be
amended. How the problem will be
solved is doubtful.
The SOC, 900 citizens OF Washington
used last week 66, 600 900 gallons a day
of water, or 200 gallons day for each
man, woman and child in the District.
This supply per capita is one OF the
largest in the United States, aud of
course indicates tremendous improyi.
dence and waste. Relief is now sought
by increasing the reservoir and aque.
ducts, but il cannot be long before it
will be sought in water meters COM
polling the largest users to pay for all
water that they receive beyond rea-
sonable supply. If the largest con-
sumers we're furnished with meters,
enough water would be saved to supply
fountains in every park and circle,
like the fountains OF Rome.
Bourke Cochran was here the other
day and he vigorously expressed the
opinion that the voters and taxpayers
of the United States do care for fru-
gality and do object to extravagant
expenditures. He called attention to
the fact that not syllable in the Re-
publican platform pledges the party to
economy and that the Democratic
platform demands the strictest econ
omy and frugality compatible with
vigorous civil, military and naval adj
ministration." During these years in
which the population OF the United
States has increased fifty per cent, the
expenses of the Federal government
have increased nearly two hundred per
cent. The population has doubled
since Grants first administration, and
the cost of the government has grown
four fold. Republican papers are ev.
erywhere publishing a statement that
the expenditure of the United States
government is only half az much as
that OF France and third as much az
that of Great Britain; but they leave
out of account the fact that most of
our expenditures are State, county and
municipal, while those of foreign gov
ernments are mostly included in the
general budget of the central parlia-
ment. Including these, the expenses
of the United States are much larger
per head than those of France, Ger.
many or England.
Judge Parker has written a graceful
letter OF acknowledgment and thanks
to the Lawyers Democratic Club of
this city, which has been organized to
do what it can to help the party win.
Many bright young lawyers have
joined the club, and they stand ready
to take the stump in the nearby
States. Since they have no vote in
the District of Columbia, they propose
to manifest their interest in politics by
inducing other people to vote.
Paul Morton, the new Secretary OF
the Navy. owes his Office to the cir.
cumstance that he is q Presidential
favorite. When first rendered Cabi-
net portfolio he declined because he
did not wish to give up his railroad
/ h4 ~