Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-27
INTELLIGENT LEGISLATION.
The District Forsed 20 Depend on Con-
gress kDr Progress.

To the Editor Of The Evening Star:
Your editorial written some time ago
when Representative McCleary was enter
tanned by the Board of Trade commanded
my attention, and I intended to write to
you expressing my appreciation of the
same, but with the multiplicity of en-
gagements havesneglected to do so.
Your editorial of mnre recent date has
also attracted my aattention, and cannot
refrain from expressing approval. l have
no furnaces that5 emit smoke, but adj
mire your defenseLof those who are trying
under adverse circumstances to make a
living In this District, and whose business
interests require and. indeed, demand that
they shall have heat fer the purpose.
No one can be more anxious than l am
to protect the community against smoke
nuisance, but surely the COMMISSIONER or
Congress, and indeed both, must be rair,
just and practical with reference thereto
Hardship, injustice and impractical regu-
lations should not thus be imposed. are
others suffering because of the fact that
our legislators are too far removed from
our people? Are we not now learning every
year and more fully realizing the serious
and important fact that it is imposslpLe
to expect men charged with the duty 81
manipulating the affairs of their own state
and Of the nation to give due considera.l.o .n
to the District Of Columbia with all OF lts
municipal details?
You will not understand me as arguing
against the present form of government.
do not now care to consider that supJee..
I, however, admire republican form VI
government. / appreciate those fundameI
tai principles upon which it is established
I advocate "a government for the people,
by the people and with power and auInor-
ity meanating from the people. what
American does not?
/ have for years commended and I say
with you that if Congress persist IN oe-
priving us of our birthright, 1t should leg,
islate upon this smoke law IN practlcai
businesslike way Or authorize the Commis-
sioners to make a regulation that can De
complied with, and further. 1t should SO
legislate that the needs of the District OF
Columbia, in which all the nation Is inter-
ested, should be gratified. BUSINESS prln-
ciples should be applied here as they are
elsewhere in every state. county, town, city
and indeed by every corporation, to the END
that current revenues could be used LOT
current expenses and that a fund could De
authorized, payable in the future, to meet
the cost Of extraordinary expenses, thus
preventing a burdensome taxation. upon
those now living for the benefit and ad-
vantage of future generations rather than
the policy now enforced by Congress,
elsewhere.
The present policy has caused and will
continue to cause a hardship upon our
10000 taxpayers and landowners tout of
pOpuldtiOn Oh SUV,UUV leOpie) III tleir cHOEL
to make a capital city for the benefit of
S0,000,O00 of people all that it ought to
be and all that we desire it should be. The
present policy of Congress is also depriving
Washington of adequate school, police.
water and fire facilities, sewers, streets,
bridges parks and other public advantages
which it ought to have.
1t is, therefore, a hardship upon our land
owners-it is a local and national disad-
vantage because it checks, and. indeed, pre-
vents the normal development of the capt.
tai city and retards it's Identification.
No government whatever the form, can
be regarded as satisfactory if it falls to
provide for the actual needs Of its people
Our necessities are represented by the
recommendations of our Commissioners.
Let the form of government. however, re-
main as it is, Notwithstanding its many dis
advantages, but let US pray that Congress
will in the future crafty our actual mu-
nicipal needs, not alone in behalf of the
District of Columbia, over which it has ex-
elusive jurisdiction, but in behalf of the
people of the United States, who are deeply
interested in the welfare of their national
capital CITY, LOUIS 2. SHOEMAKER.