Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-20
FIFTY YEARS AGO
IN THB STAR

Complaints that the government depart
ments are Improperly housed are by no
Pubic = = h Msr trc me- or ws
BuildingR sources. half century
ago. In The Star OF May
II 1864 are printed extracts from csrtain
documents fled with the Congress By the
Secretary Of the Interior, In part a. fol-
There was never moro auspicious Pc
fcsa 80 much needed. T1re-proof buildings
are required for the State War and the
Navy departments. All these. together with
one for this Qnterior) department. can be
At an expsnse not exceeding q, 100000. The
present buildings are not hreproof. and the
destruction OF either Of them by fire. to
winch they are constantly exposed ana from
which there Is little to protect, would be q
far greater loss to the government. even In
q pecuniary point OF view. Much fnconven-
fence ana embarrassment ara experienced
bureaus under its charge, In consequence
OF their distance from It. That freedom OF
intercourse which is essentially necessary,
to the proper discharge Of the duties In
cumDent on each cannot exist. Questions
OF moment are constantly arising. which
might be considered and decided promptly
and without consuming much time. II the
mead OF the department. and the chief hay-
ing charge Of the matter could readily and
conveniently consult together This, how
ever IN one OF the most serious objections
70 the present position Of these bureaus.
The indian Office Is In the War Department
and occupies rooms which are not fireproof.
They are also needed. and have been de-
manded. by that department and should be
surrendered. Tho general land Office re-
mains In the treasury buslding, although
the Secretary OF the Treasury requires the
rooms and has made pressing application
for them. These rooms are too small and
TOO limited IN number. The pension
ONCE fs In better situation, but 4 occupies
lnconven1ent and uncomfortable quarters
belonging to the War Department"
In The Star Of May Is, 1850. ID to be
found an interesting extract from the an
nual report Of the Secretary
@afA OF the Interior. relating to
Lands. the affairs Of the District.
which then tell under his
supervision. One portion Of this matter,
concerning the care and Improvement Of the
public grounds in the CITY. bears suggestive
ly upon the latest drift Of Congress toward
park spolfation policy:
1ne appropriations made for the present
nscal year for improving and ornamenting
limited. with View to to the the com n ,s
health and beauty of the city the admirable
plan OF Mr. Downing should be rapidly
pressed to compilation. It Is impracticable
tionai means II liberal sppropriati tons
were made as well an provisions for the
employment Of a skil1ful and intelligent
landscape gardener, all the public grounds
might soon be made to assume a beautiful
appearance. The portions cultivated and
improved are certainly very creditable to
tns action and taste of Congress. but the
remainder In their present condition. are
not only offensive to the eye. but we'll cal
culated to generate disease in the city. The
force employed upon the public grounds
should be differently organized and ar
ranged. There should be controlling spirit
at the head. who would direct and distrib-
ute the subordinates and laborers; and the
salaries of the officers, instead of being
paid at the discretion OF the department,
should be fixed by law. The lots in the city
belonging to the general government are
now sold by the commissioner of public
buildings. and the proceeds expended for
the improvement Of the streets, nothing
going into the treasury. The propriety Is
suggested OF selecting such as may be nee
essary for the public use and turning over
the balance to the city authorities, to be
poses Of education. Ti1s would relieve fhe p the
department from all embarrassment In
connection with them, prevent private In
dividuais from obtaining them on ex parte
statements for mere trifie, and would
benefit most worthy cfass of people"
*
One of the greatest annoyances of the old
days in Washington was the prevalence OF
beggars on the streets.
Undeserving u ! 8 Q now happily
Berpars. abated In large measure
through the activity Of the
police. In The Star of May 16 1885, is to
be found the following protest against the
persistence and number of the seekers after
aims:
"A large number Of persons, apparently
able to labor, have been infesting public
places ana annoying citizens and strangers
by begging for money. Few Of them win
receive bread. and consider 1t an insult
when offered. Money is their aim, and
money they will have by begging and steal
Ing. Some of the beggars are property
owners and others are sent out by rela-
make their living by imposing on the chari-
table. One case we will mention A boy
comes to this city regularly during the
week from Alexandria. He Is cripple
and by exhibiting himself at the hotels he
receives more. than the most skillful me-
chanic can obtain for his labor. That boys
parents-we are informed by one who
knows-are well able to support him de-
Gently without allowing him to beg on the
streets. We have q law in relation to
sturdy beggars.s Migrants, etc, that no
doubt will be enforced by the officers az
soon as their attention Is called to those
persons"