The Washington herald., 1907-10-20

another StupendOus problem OF national
import is up fer consideration in connec-
tion with the Presidential nomination
next year, says Arthur J. Dodge, Wash
ington correspondent of the st. Paul
Pioneer Press, in dispatch TO that jour
nal VIII all the Republican candidates
stand for all the policies which President
Roosevelt has made famous during his
spectacular and useful administration Of
The affairs of government VIII any one
Of them be ready TO stand pledged in
favor OF the policy OF expending approx
mately 500 600 for making the capital
OF the nation the most beautiful spot
under the shining sun?
How will Taft, or Fairbanks. or Can
non, or Knox, or Hughes stand on the
subject Of gardens, in imitation Of the
hanging gardens Of Babylon? Are they
in favor Of transforming the magnificent
west front Of the National Capitol into a
terrace of flowing Tills OF pure water,
and stretching out an expansive vista OF
beautiful horticulture and landscape gar
dening away TO the Virginia shore across
the District of Columbia?
How do any Of these candidates for
the mantle of President Roosevelt stand
on the question Of placing limpid lakes
throughout the parks of the Capital, until
the city resembles Venice in all its
beauty?
Does any one Of them stand ready 70
pledge himself 20 insist upon transferring
any one OF the massive and costly mar
bic government buildings 100 or 800 feet
this way or that, in order to carry out
the schemes that are to make Washing
ton rival the gardens OF Allah2
Uncle Joe" Cannon. speaker of the
House. and Watchdog Tawney, of the
appropriations committee, win look into
this and demand positive and convincing
answers 10 each query before they Will
be content to throw their influence in
favor of any candidate for the exalted
place Of Republican nominee and certain
to-be Executive Of the nation during the
next four years
Coming Session May Decide.
This problem grows out Of the remark
able plans that are being worked upon in
one way and another by President Roose-
velt and other officers Of the government.
for beautifying the capital and in which
work they have had the advice and the
plans Of the most expensive board of
landscape gardeners and architects the
world has ever seen
An issue viii be made in Congress dur
ing the coming session TO determine
whether the gigantic plan FOR beautify-
ing the capital shall be carried out IN
detail. or whether it shall be confined 10
the lofty and imposing Capitol Hill. the
seat Of the solons of legislation. Some
thing is doing in both directions. Inter
esting details, ,are connected with the en-
tire programme as it is working out
details which are of human interest
throughout the entire length and br adth
Of the land.
The fountains of justice are now being
drawn upon 10 determine who is right, 10
determine which programme shall be
adopted; 10 determine whether the gigan-
tic enterprise of beauJihcatiOn shall pro-
gress, or whether public expenditures
shall be confined to the legislative end
of the capital for the present.
An Injunction in the courts is asked 20
stay the hands that are said % be work
ing under the masteTful leadership of
President Roosevelt in changing the face
of nature adjacent to the mighty pile OF
marble known as the Capitol. While the
question IS being thrashed out in the
courts other plans are in course Of oper-
alton for further enlarging and adOrning
the Hill OF the nations legislature, to
which all roads lead-mOre roads than
were known TO the seven hills of Rome
because they lead from every Congress
sional district in every State in the Union
ultimately 10 the legislative halls of The
nation.
Roosevelt Holds Lines.
The story Of the controversy which
threatens TO involve the Presidential nom
ination. in its relations to the plan for
making Washington the most gorgeous
abode OF man. is one Of the most inter
esting that has been told in public af-
fairs for many a day It illustrates how
things are worked out when masterful
hands are at the helm; how one man,
single-handed and alone, OutWitted the
purseholders of the nation, how the
strong man in the White House has
manipulated things TO carry points
which. seemingly. had no warrant in
Jaw, nor Justification from any stand
point except his viii power and tenacity
in sticking 10 a plan for which he stands.
All this controversy is in relation 10
the beautifying of the city of Washing
Ton. and the erection Of a myriad Of
magnificent buildings in and around the
Capitol and for the use OF that branch
of the government, as Well as for the
executive offices.
Within a year the visitor 10 the Cap
ital will witness a magnificent sight in
the immediate locality of the Capitol. The
new Office buildings for the legislators
are nearing completion. and the one for
the members Of the House will be occu-
pied during the coming session. The
Senate building will be completed within
another year. \ plan is outlined for
erecting a 1ine building 10 house the
United States Supreme Court on a square
Just across the wide avenue from the
Congressional Library building and fac
ing the Capitol
When al these buildings are compIete d
the United States VIII have an invest
ment in buildings on Capitol Hill amount
ing 10 more than $75G1J,GJ0 Each of the
new Office buildings for the Senators and
Representatives will cost, when complet-
cd and furnished. probably S3000,000
Large and roomy tiled subways connect
these office buildings with the halls ot
legislation. and every convenience IS
provided for the accommodation Of the
lawmakers.
Ways and Means Important
Naturally, the erection Of these great
buildings on and around Capitol Hill
square causes a discussion Of ways and
means for enlarglng that park space. il
is probable that within a year two OF
three blocks occupied with comparatively
inexpensive buildings viii be purchased
the buildings razed to the ground, and
the park thereby enlarged.
Within a distance OF two blocks
from the Capitol stands the new and