The Washington times., 1908-10-10
]. G. Welliver, in the MunSey
Magazine, Tells of Seamy
Side of Capital.
SMITH
SMARTLY RAPED
Head of the House District Com
mittee Accused of Favoring Cor
porations in Congress.

Washington people VIII be interested
in the announcement just made by the
Munsey Company. that the November
number of the Munsey Magazine Will
contain an article discussing the gov
eminent of Washington from rather an
unaccustomed point o. view
our Beautiful Capitalists Seamy
Side" is the title under which Judson
c. WeIiiver. Of The Washington Times,
presents this new view Of the national
city's administration TIE article begins
with an apology for undertaking so un-
gracious a task as finding fault with
beautiful washington" and concludes
with some vigorous suggestions as 10
what Is the matter with the city's gov
eminent, and what is needed 70 remedy
its deficiencies.
MT WelIiver"opines that Washington
suffers from bsing misunderstood by It's
city council. which is Congress For
example, he finds that Congress is wont
to assume that it Is peculiarly geler-
Gus 10 Washington. because IL pays
half the expenses Of city admins ira
ton. But II. fact. Mr. Weiliver points
out the other great governments do
vastly more for their national capitals
Expected to Give Thanks
He says. IN part. on this poiat:
washington is expected 10 AXE what
4 gets without complaint, because
Uncle sam pays half the bills But lets
see about this. France-not Paris,
with its millions Of people and its i'm
mense commercial interests-has paid
20 make Paris what il Is. the gayest
and most delightful capital Of Europe
Germany-not the great population Of
Berlin, eight times as great as Wash
ington s-fOOts the bills that represent
the cost Of making Berlin true i'm
perial city RusSld-nOt alone the prop
ertv owners OF ST Petersburg has con-
tributed most laVishly TO make the seat
Of the CZars what IL Is. And so with
others o. the national cities. After all,
the United States IS only doing what
tals-vastly less than 81 ne Of them do"
Congress Too Busy.
The burden Of Mr.. "-eIIver's argu-
ment is that Congress is too big and
busy and alien 10 run y ashinEton. He
finds. for instance. that the chairman
Of the House Committee on District OF
Columbia IS a provincial statesman
from country county in Michigan,
Who never had opportunity TO learn
cnything about the intricacies OF mu-
u.cipaI government. when he was sud-
denly elevated 10 the responsibility and
power OF his present craftsmanship
Then Mr. Smiths record as chairman
during the last session. is discussed
With a CandoT which does not leave
much 70 be wished for from this point
OF view. Mr.. Smiths attitude OF
friendliness toward the franChised cor
pOrdtions and of apparent uncOnCern
for the peoples interests, IS discussed
His Conclusion.
The final paragraphs Of the article
set forth this conclusion:
THE people Of Mr. Smiths district
would defeat him at the polls in Novem-
Der If they knew an appreciated his
attitude toward the franchised and
privileged monopolies Of Washington
They would do It because they would
want 10 rid themselves of the discredIt
OF furnishing a Representative willing
10 fetter the shackles Of monopoly on a
community defenselss against On alien
government: they would do 81, es-
Oecially, because they would be moved
by the same pride IN the National Capt.
tai which has Inspired So many millions
OF loyal Americans who have seen the
veneer but not the inside.
Mr.. Smith should be defeated. All
Congressman and c lEressional can
didates OF his class sh uld be defeated. %