The Washington times., 1906-11-15
MACF FARLAND GIVES
CANADIANS ADVICE
Commissioners Address in
Ottawa on Government
of the District.
WANT FEDERAL COMMUNITY
Advantages and Aims of National
Capital Rehearsed as Profitable
Example.

OTTAWA Canada, Nov. 15.-Henry b.
4. MacfaTland. president OF the Board
OF Commissioners of the District Of Co
lumbia. last evening addressed a large
assemblage5 at the Russell House. under
the auspices of the Canadian Club, his
subject being the government of the
District OF Columbia.
lie was here by invitation as a result
of the proposal TO change this city into
"a Federal district Ike the District Of
Columbia.
After telling OF the founding OF wash
ington by George Washington, Mr.
MacfaTland told how, for seventy eight
years, Congress left the municipal gov
ernmeat practically TO the residents OF
Washington, who elected their mayors
and other municipal officers, and met
an the expense Of the municipal SER
vices. although the National Govern
ment from the first. owned more than
half OF the real estate, by gift from
the original proprietors- During that
period several kinds OF government were
tried including four years of COVER
nor. a legislature, and delegate in
Congress IN 1878. after several years
OF careful consideration. the intelligent
taxpayers in general ana Congress came
to an agreement upon the present de-
scribed as THE permanent form Of gov
ernmcut."
Limited by Human Nature
After describing this form. Mr.. NIacfar-
land said.
III must be remembered. of course,
That human nature is the same in Wash
ington as in Ottawa, and that what has
been done and is being done under this
form Of government has the limitations
of human nature. Very much remains
10 be done to make the National Capital
what the citizens and the country de
sire II is far from perfection, but il
IS steadily advancing toward its Ideals,
and it Is believed by the great majority
OF its intelligent taxpayers that its form
of government makes its progress easier
and faster than would be the case under
"a different form OF government.
Washington is not only political
capital. but il is an Intellectual CAPT
tai with more men in scientific work
than any other city, and with about
5000 students i'm its universities. colleges.
and private sch J0ls, drawn by its pecu-
liar eduCauOuc4 advantages from an
over the country IL is not only Il most
attractive TeSlucECc city nut II mas a
considerable commerce, its banks haV-
ing nearly tTebled their resources IN the
decade from lNsl To 1898. when they
reached ST. 900 Goa large proportion for
"a population of something over 100000,
Cne-third COlOred, the largest colorcd
population in any city ia the world. A
movement OF Washington business men
Tor increasing the commercial and man
ufacturing interests OF Washington Is
now well under way and promises I'M
portant results. There. as elsewhere,
good government promotes good busi-
ness, and the business leaders of Wash
ingt0u are practically a unit for the
present form OF government
Plan Physical Improvements.
There are large plans for the phys
cal Improvement OF Washington. its eN-
tension and establishment, for the bet
Iermeut OF It's municipal services. and
for the Improvement of its laws and
customs The sentiment OF the Ameri-
can people strongly favors these plans.
ID supports Congress in everything IL
does looking 10 the development OF the
Capital. The time may come when Con-
gress viii do what many outside as Well
as within the District of Columbia de-
sire. by providing whatever may be
needed In the way of money for the up
building and Identification of Washing
ton. without regard To the amount con-
tTibuted by its taxpayers, except to see
that il is reasonable.