The Washington times., 1907-03-17
By FREDERICK L. SIDroNS,
One of the Most Prominent Lawyers
in the District of Columbia.

What's the Matter With Washing
/ ton?'' Not much than cannot be correct
ed. but which, If not corrected. will be
fore long rctard the growth Of the Ma
tional Capital in a manner that every
sensible man and woman should not de-
sire to see.
l read your editorial and. taking up
the question that you asked I'm it.
What's the matter with the District
Government" ] have no hesitation in
saying that. in my judgment. on its
legislative side. it is inherently defec-
tive. unsound and utterly opposed to
the spirit Of our political institutions
and. in saying this wish It understood
that l speak not from any theoretical
standpoint. but from an essentially
practical view.
over ten years ago 7 delivered. i'm
Cleveland. an address before the Ma
tionaI Municipal League. on the sub
ject Of the municipal condition Of Wash
ington. and in doing so. said. among
other things:
Two Small for Congress.
Dependent as we are upon Congress.
its failure as a municipal legislative
body threatens the future OF the Dis
trict. And yet It should not surprise
thinking people that a legislature.
charged with the parliamentary affairs
OF n nation OF sixty-five millions OF
people and formulating currency and
tariff policies, today finds difficulty in
coming to the consideration tomorrow
OF whether it will grant an appropria-
ton TO lay a sewer or pass an ordinance
concerning the disposition Of garbage in
a community of less than three hun
bred thousand persons This was never
contemplated by the Constitution MAX
ers and certainly Congress is not adapt
ed 20 the performance Of such legisla-
tive duties Indeed the difficulty Of
legislating even in its legitimate sphere
IF action is occasioning much perplexity
TO NSe students and admirers of our
political institutions. Is It a wonder then
that the petty details Of municipal legis-
Iation encounter the Impotence. indit-
ference and even disgust Of the national
legislators. important though that legis-
Iation may be to the comfort. security
and general welfare of the people Of the
District of Columbia?
Citizens of the District are fire.
ouentIy told by the friends of the pres
ent system tldL w dSillllSlOAl - anu was
designed to be a Federal city, and it is
eminently proper that such a city, be
longing to the people of the whole coun-
try, should be legislated for by the Con-
gress of the United States: that the
affairs of such a city concern the people
OF the whole country, and that, there
fore. they will be fully cared for by the
peoples representatives. That sounds
we'll enough. but what does ii amount
to as q fact? The old adage that What
is everybody's business Is nobOdy's
business comes home to the citizens of
Washington at every session of Con-
gress with peculiar force. With rare eX-
ceptions the average Congressman ex-
hibits about as much Information on
District matters as a Hottentot may lie
supposed to possess, and he doesn't seem
to want any more. The result is that
time and again important local legisla-
ton suffers assaults from some ignorant
member. and is finally defeated because
the House or Senate has no knowledge
or interest in the measure under con-
sideration."
System Will Break Down.
The SOLDERING years that have passed
since the foregoing words were uttered
have but served to confirm me in the
conviction that they present a sound
criticism upon the form of government
waich has been established for the Dis
triCt of columbia and as To-. c;f,- ,,-,,,- &.