The Washington times., 1907-03-10
SENATOR GALLINGER.
Continued From First Page. }

ply with the request of The Times
for few suggestions of my own
relating to some of the matters that
are touched on
do rot want TO be taken as at
tempting exhaustivrly to discuss
any of these matters, fer to do that
would require much more careful
and detailed consideration than l
feel able to give the matter now.
Therefore, what l may say about it
must be taken rather by way of
suggestion of some of the difficult
ties which surround the people who
have to do with the general direc-
tion of public affairs in the District
of Columbia.
Take, for example, the problem
of public health in Washington. /
am ply sician, and did a great deal
of practice years ago, although l
have not done very much lately. But
confess, frankly, that 1 have given
much consideration to this question
of the public health of Washington,
and am unable to lind an explana-
ton of the conditions prevailing
here.
No Reason for Disease.
/ There seems no good reason why the
/ percentage Of typhoid, diphtheria, and
/ tuberculosis should be so remarkably
/ high as all the reports indicate it is.
! Take the matter OF typhoid fever. DR..
| Wyman, OF the Public Health and Ma
rine Hospital service, has been giving
a good deal of effort 30 a thorough in
! vestigation in that regard. I had hoped
/ and expected that his report would be
/ completed by this time, but Il has not
do not know whether he will get TO
/ the bottom OF the matter or not, but IL
Is certain that a great deal of previous
/ effort IN the same direction has failed
10 determine what is responsible for
conditions such as we know prevail re-
Sarding the health of the District.
The health laws Of the District make
| q big volume. I have recently sug-
( sested TO DR.. Woodward that they ought
10 be cOdifed. Ii cannot be for want
| Of legislation, and neither can it be for
lack OF earnest and faithful effort for
! the enforcement of these laws. that con-
dltionS are so unfortunate as we find
1 them here. 1 believe, however. that the
! various Investigations Of the water and
milk supply and of general sanitary
conditions that are now going on will
result in great Improvement OF condi-
! uons in the not distant future.
Factories VS.. Residences.
I cannot give my unqualified acqui-
! escence TO the suggestion that Wash
ington as a business community has
reason TO complain of its situation.
I l must confess to a doubt whether it
is best that Washington should realize
the desire OF one influential element Of
its citizenship. which aims to make it
/ a more important commercial and in
| dUstriaI point.
feel that as matters are today.
every American citizen feels a certain
sense Of partnership in the beauties and
attractiveness, and the prospective mag
nihcence Of the National Capital. and
that this sentiment of something like
partnership is of more value TO the
city than any commercial development
of which there is prospect.
1t is impossible for me to believe
Z
same interest in the artistic improve
ment Of the Capital If the city becomes.
in auy considerable measure a com
merciaI center
To me the future Of Washington
seems well secured. and to be future
20 which the citizens may well look for
ward with satisfaction and pride
Washington Is more and more giving
/ evidence that its destiny is to be the
Intellectual and social as well as The
political capital of this great country.
Nowadays people Of wealth do not pre-
tend to live in New York; they are
there for q short season during the
height Of the social period in the win
ter They attend the grand opera, and
they open their town houses for q brief
time; but they live outside the city
the greater part OF the year.
Flock to Washington.
It cannot fau TO have beer observed
, that the disposition of this class Of
people TO accept Washington as, on the
whole, the most desirable residence city
in the country is becoming stronger year
by year. \ list Of the people of wealth
and Of secure social station who have,
within the last few years recognized
the fact ana made their homes or an
nOunced their intention of making their
homes in Washington, should be the
most convincing evidence on this point.
This, it seems TO me, is the natural
and the easiest destiny of Washington.
To achieve that destiny nothing must
be permitted to stand in the way OF
: The artistic Identification of the city
, The great American Nation ought tc
be able 10 afford one splendid snow city
, and If it is to have such, there car
hardly be disagreement TO the state.
ment that il wiz be the National Capt.,
! tai.
take more interest than some othel
: public men do in the suggestion that
( Washington. perhaps. should be repre-
, sented in Congress. In some respects
believe it would be well If the Distric1
were represented at least on the flOol
OF the House of Representatives. IT
! 1 this feeling I have found myself dsa
/ greeing with maGy Senators, and,