Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-02
The District and Congress.

Commissioner Macfarland expresses
qualification at the record written by Con
gress as the Districts legislature during
the session Just closed. tie cites rs the
particular achievements the establish
rnent of the principle of supervision OF the
public utility corporations. the trackage eS-
tensions, the child labor bill. the abolition
OF race track gambling throughout the
District and provision for the registration
Of Tuberculosis cases and Tor the resula-
ton o. private hospitals. Compared with
the District calendars this list of accom-
plishments is certainly rather mcaser. cs-
pec!ally in view OF the fact that the APP
preparations were cut to an unconscion-
able degree. OF course the District is
grateful for everything that It gets. on
the principle that ii might get less. F:ut
It does seem that II has to work very
hard as n suppliant before Congress for
It's little need of legislation.
An unfortunate attitude prevails on the
par, Of many members OF Congress to-
ward the District Although Congress Is
charged distinctly by tho Constitution
with exclusive jurisdiction over the ten
miles square and has by the act of 1878
assumed a specific obligation to maint ain
the capital municipality on a federal part
nership basis. it Is with the greatest diff
ticulty that the local interests are CON
served by those legislators who feel a
special concern in District affairs. Yet
there is a constantly growing spirit of ap-
probation for Washington as tho national
city on the part OF citizens of the eoun-
try at large. The tens of thousands of
Americans who visit here annually as
of the District as the seat of government
which IN the great majority of cases en-
genders feeling of pride in Washington.
THIS spirit Is manifestins itself on all
sides In articles in magazines and news
papers descriptive of Washington and
eloauently pleading for it's development
Members Of Congress cannot possibly be
ignorant of this new appreciation Of the
capital. and yet In many cases they hold
to the old idea that the District Is a
mendicant and Is to be treated with scant
consideration
Not merely in providing for the govern
ments own needs has Congress been dere-
lict In duty as regarding the evolution of
the capital. but it has failed often in the
past to realize its obligations to the Dis
trict as a municipality. II allows private
interests acquired elsewhere to affect the
local situation. 1t often persists In view
ing the local community with the preju-
lictS of other sections. 1t forgets that
Washington is n non-sectional, cosInopoli-
tam city Of L character different from
that 81 any other municipal organization
| la this country. The result IS that in It's
physical aspect the District IL strange
combination of contrasts. with magnif-
cence offset at close range by squalor and
/ with as many opportunities for improve
ment neglected graSped.
Not until the appropriations are written
| in strict accordance with the organic act
| OF 1878 will the District be given the
| treatment due II as the seat OF govern
ment and as the one city of the United
States in the welfare of which all Ameri-
| cans are deeply interested