The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-07-04
Secretary of Treasury Re-
lateS Fight District Had
in Obtaining Home.
PRAISES NATION
FOR INDEPENDENCE
Declares Fourth of July Most Fit
ting Day to Open New
Building.

Secretary George B. Cortelyou, a
member Of the building commission by
virtue of his official position and con-
nection with the erection of the new
Municipal building, was received with
enthusiasm when he arose 10 address
the citizens at the dedicatOry ceremonies
at the new Municipal Building this
morning.
He said in part:
1t is fitting that this beautiful and
stately ediice should become the home
of this Districts government on the
cay We honor as that OF the nations
birth On this day, lis years ago, Pres
ioeut Washington laid the cornerstone
OF our nations Capitol. on the sew
enty-flfth anniversary OF independence. /
President Fillmore laid the corner
stone Of the addition to the building
and Daniel Webster. Secretary OF
State. delivered the Grafton. on that
occasion tnat great orator said:
" This anniversary animates and
Gladdens and Unites~- ali American
hearts. On other days Of the year we
may be party men, INDUCING in con
tToversies more or less important 10
the public good; we may have likes and
dislikes, and we may maintain our pO,
ItiCal differences, often with warm and
sometimes angry feelings; but today
we are Americans ali. and all nothing
but Americans. As the great luminary
ever our heads. dissipating mists and
togs, now cheers the whole hemisphere,
so do the associations connected with
this day dispense ali cloudy and sulIen
weather in the minds and hearts OF
true Americans. Every mans heart
swells within him; every mans port
and
proud ard lofty; as he rememb ers that
seventy-hve years have rolled away,
and that the great inheritance Of lib
erty is still his. mis-. his, undiminished;
his in ali its original glory: his TO en-
JOY, his 20 protect. and his 70 transmit
10 future generations
Qualification Undiminished.
The years that have elapsed since
that speech was made have not di-
minished our reasons or qualification
at the return of the anniversary. on
the contrary, events that have trans
pred. indicating as they have the on
ward march Of human liberty. have
given US a Yet richer inheritance 10
transmit TO posterity. May the time
never come when we as a people shah
nave cause 10 feel that the heritage OF
liberty which we have received from
the fathers has suffered any impair
ment from either foes without or foes
within.
As we contemplate the noble avenue
OF which this building is now one OF
the chief adOrnments. II is difficult n
realize the momentous changes that
have taken place in the physical as
poets of the nations Capital since the
early days, when the view TO the west
and south OF the Capitol building re-
vealed an almost uninterrupted stretch
Of swamplands; which, in the opinion
OF many, could never be built upon:
when members of Congress complained
that it was Impossible 10 secure COM
Portable living quarters; and when on
account Of the scarcity OF labor even
the occupant Of the White House could
not obtain sufficient hrewood to heat
the building.
Nevertheless, in spite Of natural OBJ
stacles, and the gloomy forebodinEs Of
the pessimist who saw nothing but dis
aster ahead. the city has risen To a
splendor and magnihcence rivaled by
but few of the worlds capitals. II has
IN TACT, represented in miniature the
progress OF the nation at large which
from SINAI! beginnings and in the face
OF stupendous obstacles has carved out
one Of the fairest and mightiest en-
Ilres on earth.
Worthy of Capital.
LAS the Capital is worthy Of the ma
ton, so is this building worthy of the
Capital L is thoroughly in keeping
with the highest artistic standards.
and when the adjacent squares. whose
acquisition by the Government has AL
ready been authorized, have been occu-
pied by appropriate structures for the
departments of State. Justice. and
Commerce and Labor. much will have
been done in the direction of the archi-
tectural adcrnment of Washington. and
an important step taken toward the
desirable end of having the Govern
ment erect and own the buildings IT
occupies. The contamination Of such a
project viii result not only in further
beauufying the city Of washington.
but will be distinctly in the line of
commercial economy.
1.-The anomalous form Of the Dis
tricts government has often been the
subject OF comment by the student
and the historian, and yet II has been
generally recognized that no city IN
the country enjoys a better record for
clean and efficient administration. II
now has a home worthy Of its history
and as It takes up its quarters here
IN this beautiful building. may its con-
duct OF affairs under whatever form its
administration may assume. equal the