Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-28
CAUSE OF DISSATISFACTION.
Local officials Comment on Congress
sional District Legislation.

1.-THE impractfeabiiity of such q large gov
erning body as Congress legislating In an
aldermanic capacity for municipality such
as Washington with justice to the needs or
the city" said an official at the District
building to a Star reporter, SIS so manifest
not only to us. but to the officials OF other
cities, that the mayor OF O large and pro-
gressive western city, whom was enter
tanning at my home few days ago, won
dered how we managed to get along as. well
as we do, and he asked me how We did IT.
81 explained to him that the situation
was becoming acute, and that there was a
feeling or unrest and dissatisfaction on the
part OF our taxpayers. which has been
manifested in tangible form by the tenta
tive movement on the part of our citizens
for some defined municipal management
which would give those who bore the bur
den OF taxation a hand in the control OF
our municipal destinies. ] further explain
ed to- him that the question OF suffrage was
one matter and that municipal demands
were of q different complexion: that one of
the chief complaints our citizens had was
the arbitrary manner In which Congress,
when sitting as an aldermanic body Tor US,
would cut and dispose of our appropriations
Irrespective Of the positive and urgent re-
Quirements OF the city.
"a minor but instructive and important
instance Is shown in the matter OF the APP
preparation for the furnishing and care OF
the new Police Court building. From a
regularly constituted aldermanic body we
would nave received sum SuIucfent 10 IuF-
nish this building suitably and to provide
properly for its care. instead of which we
find ourselves greatly embarrassed as TO
both Of these contingencies The amount
given is plainly too small while for Its care
taking, the provision is wholly Inadequate
as the new building is much more commo-
dious than the old structure AS 1T is i'm
possible to get another cent appropriated
until the next session of Congress. we will
be obliged to institute various petty econo-
mica and rnAke-shi6ts which would not be
thought of In city one-third our size.
But the adverse crfticism which Is bound
to come viii fall upon the District officials.
and unjustiy. Congress ID SO accustomed
to Topping on vast sums In its management
OF the nation that we who try to do our
best In administering the needs OF the city
In Its everyday affairs feel like taking to
the woods when the question arises. We
are told that we must get along with
what we get. and they pinch us here and
squeeze us there. until We throw up our
hands In resignation and quit from sheer
exhaustion.
I'VE feel, however. that 1t is only by con-
slant effort and agitation that this peculiar
situation can be properly met and treated
In the dfgnifed manner 1t deserves for II
penetrates from the circumference to the
center Of our municipal Affairs. 1t cannot
be expected that men whose homea and In
municipal needs as would those whose
homes and interests are within our nznlts,
and ultimately. II the proper sentiment can
be aroused and the necessary pressure De
brought by our own people. they Will be
given the voice In our municipal Affairs
that the burden Of taxation guarantees In
other communities"