Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-18

the head of 18th street. The triangle on
New Hampshire avenue where the Bel
mont mansion is being erected ought to
have been purchased as a breathing place
and the monument of some great and
good man placed there.
Congress ought to provide for the i'm
provement of Rock Creek bottom. and one
can think of lot Of other things that
alton Of the good things Congress has
done honestly and literally. without par
tisanship, without any commissions or
rake-offs to rings. will furnish any fair
minded citizen plenty of grounds for
Thanksgiving.
Why Politics Would Be Hurtful.
We have no bosses, and no politics en-
ter into the legislation of Congress con-
corning local affairs which would not be
SO if we had suffrage in the District and
electoral votes. The absence OF suffrage
means the absence of partisanship in
dealing with District affairs, for the rep
resentativcs Of both parties on the Dis
trict committees and in the two houses OF
Congress understand that no partisan
advantage will be taken Of any legisla-
ton or appropriations.
The people of the District go to Con-
gress as they go to the city hall. not as
democrats or republicans, but as citizens,
and their business is treated without re-
are no party workers to be supported
with offices: contractors for District inn
provements do not have to pay commits
sions or give rake-offs to the members OF
our common council or to political bosses.
Our police do not levy blackmail in any
form; there is no municipal corruption;
no organized graft; no political clubs to
be sustained by the employees and the con-
tractors Of the District government.
In thirty years since the present form
of government was adopted there have
been only three cases of embezzlement.
such as might occur in any bank or bust
ness establishment, and the amounts m
volved were comparatively small. There
has never been but one case of alleged
bribery. Everybody admits that the gov
eminent is honest throughout.
Advantages of Notwithstanding.
Not being partisan government. it
does not matter which party is in power
in Congress. delightful situation, which
would not exist if we had suffrage in the
District Public opinion. which is highly
organized in the Board of Trade. the
Chamber Of Commerce and in twenty
business associations. and is fairly rep
resented by non-partisan newspapers, can
he accepted by Congress without making
Allowance for political bias. without fear
TO political consequences and without
appeal to political considerations.
Congress gives the Commissioners. and
through them the people. a full opportuni
ty to he heard concerning legislation and
appropriations. The Commissioners sit
with the committees Of the Senate and
the House when legislation for the Dis
trict is under discussion. The Commits
sioners have the opportunity to prepare
bills that are introduced and furnish IN
formation for reports that are made by
congressional committees.
The President. who is our lord provost
ex officio, always takes a deep interest
i'm Dstric; affairs. and confers With lead
ing citizens as we'll as with the Commits
siorers Of the District before he makes
recommendation in a message or ap-
proves Il bill tina: has been passed by
Congress.
No job has ever been rushed through
without the knowledge Of the people. and
none can ever he. There has never been
any "hold-up' legislation for the injury
of any interes: or any individual corpo-
ration.
Sometimes Congress IS a little slow
about doing what many people think Is
necessary in the way OF reform-in deal
ing with the gas companies. the street
car lines and other public util;ties-fo. it
is always easier to prevent than promote
legislation to defeat bill than 10 Sc
cure its passage. But no interests in tn,
District Of Columbia have ever been i'm
periled by legislation. as is SO frequently
the case in other cities which gov
ficialS and common councils.
Three Heads Better Than One.
One of the advantages of having three
Commissioners is that they represent
three points of view, two political par
ties and an independent training and judg-
ment. wnich can be found only in the
army and navy, because the political ad-
vancement and popularity of the individ-
ualS cannot be influenced by their l.
cision. The two civil Comm fasteners are
supposed to represent the two po,:tica.
parties. but In the present case neither OF
them has ever cast d vote, and their
preferences are purely p rsonal. The diff
ferenceS of opinion and conflicting jLGg-
mentS among them are often a healthtui
symptom and evidence that each member
OF the board is guided by his own con-
scientious views. Such differences usual
ly result in more reflection and greater
wisdom in reaching a decision. ard Il is
good for the public to know the argu
ments pro and con. Individual judgment
IS not often infaliibie Thrac heads are
better than Oh" and six eyes see mCra
than two
Responsibility is obtained by strict
division OF the departments among the
Commissioners and by he fact that every
argument and every vote is OF record.
Former Governments Recalled.
Any one who is dissatisfied with The
present administration should read tine
history az that which existed here thirty
Years ago, examine the journals OF our
feather buster legisld :tre' and read
fTom In" h:es al lie newspapers Of H."
scandals that were constantly occurring.
the extravaganza. TIC waste. the inconn-
pctenc@ ard dishonesty among the munich
pal officials. Those who lived here Chen
and remember TIE consequences of uni
versal suffrage Will never want that *
pcriencr rcpeatod
Ii NAV also be sail that the snNcrnment