Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-13
FIFTY YEARS AGO
IN THE STAR

In luE OlAN
Fifty years ago 1t was the function OF
the Secretary Of the Interior to report to
Congress on the state OF
District affairs in the District OF
F;ne,c.. Columbia. In The Star
of December 6. 1858. is a
summary of the Secretary's report, just
submitted, containing the following
paragraphs:
Abiding to the fact that Congress
has provided for the good government
Of the people Of the District by dele
eating legislative powers to the consti-
tuted authorities Of Washington and
Georgetown and empowering them to
provide for matters OF local interest, by
levying and collecting taxes and disburs-
ing the same according to their judg-
ments. the Secretary proceeds by re-
marking that the past legislation of
Congress has been examined to ascer-
tain whether any fixed or determinate
line of policy has ever been adopted In
reference to objects of appropriation
within the city of Washington; what
dertaken to make and what has been
left for the city. But the search has
been in vain: Congress has, from time
| to time, made appropriations for almost
every conceivable object. Public squares
and spaces have been improved: streets
lighted along them and still kept. burn
ing. shade trees planted and protected.
sewers and drains constructed and kept
open, q police force maintained. the pOr-
ton OF the city hall in which the courts
are held paid for. the Jail. penitentiary.
infirmary, several engine houses and the
armory have been built and the bridges
across the Potomac and Eastern branch
hive been erected and kept up by appro-
priations from the Treasury of the
United States.
with this record 1t is but natural
that the people OF the city should turn
their eyes to Congress
Citizens and not to the city au-
p.+,4; thorities when any ap-
preparation is needed for
additional improvement. Hence petitions
have been presented that in the regular
estimates laid before Congress items
may be included for improving Franklin
Square and the spaces along Pennsylva-
MIA avenue. the opening of certain
streets. the extension Of the city hall.
the erection of more secure Jail and
various other objects. I have not, how
ever, felt at liberty to comply with
these requests. but have restricted the
estimates to the actual requirements of
existing laws and those usual and regu-
lar appropriations which have annually
received the sanction of Congress. Yet 1
am satisfied that If some definite un-
Outstanding could be reached by which
the corporate authorities could know
what expenditures they are expected to
make and what fairly and justly devolve
upon the general government the future
prosperity and improvement Of the city
would be greatly improved"
Half century ago, as now. the tarin
was uppermost in the public mind when
Congress assembled to do bust
Tariff ness. In The Star of December
r.,k Z. 1858. is a paragraph pointing
out the conditions prevailing at
the Capitol regarding the prospect OF
action:
"The excitement concerning the pro-
posed revision Of the tariff manifested
in the House hall yesterday clearly points
to the fact that while q large portion
of the members design essaying again
this winter to engraft the protective sys-
tenn upon the policy Of the government
Of the United States, those Of the body
who have been consistent opponents de-
sign standing as firmly by their principles
now as ever before. In truth, 1T even SO
early appears to us that this subject is
to be the great bone Of contention Of the
save perhaps the question OF the right OF
emigrant aid societies to cause territorial
laws to be passed virtually excluding
slavery from all United States territories
that may hereafter be organized, upon
which there seems to be no difference of
of Congress who last winter struggled
shoulder to shoulder against the combined
opposition host, who are. by the by. at
this moment as firmly united sin favor OF
that dogma Of Senator Douglas as their
followers were not long since In re-
electing Messrs. Haskins, Clark and Hick-
man and subsequently in electing Mr..
William Kem. an out-and-out republican
party man. as the successor of Mr.. j..
Clancy Jones from the former stanch
democratic district Of Berks."
Enterprising Washingtonians were real
izing at this time half century ago that
the District deserved bet
Street Car ter transportation equipment
p-,i.,+ than the omnibuses which
struggled through the mud
and effected a difficult communication be-
tween the navy yard and Georgetown.
They were, in fact. thinking about a
street car line. and The Star of December
Q. 1853, contained the following news item
on the subject. which, 1t is incidentally
interesting to note, contains the germ of
the municipal ownership idea:
"In our rambles about town last night
among the subjects of conversation IN
the various groups We visited was that
which for. a considerable time past has
been under investigation by our moneyed
men, a railroad along Pennsylvania ave-
nue. The general impression appeared
to be that such road would be speedily
constructed; the only question was, who
should be granted the right Two petitions
are going the round Of the city. obtaining
signers for charter for one of two
companies to construct and own the road.
One of these companies. 1t is said. is
composed of citizens. the other of CAPT.
talists from other cities.
Without expressing any opinion as to
the merits Of this or that company
or their right to charter. We give this
information to the citizens as We re-
ceived it; and further state that 1t was
strongly limited that in the event Of such
an Improvement an effort will be made
to vest the ownership in the corporation
instead of a private company.
"The resolution introduced in the COM
mon council by Mr.. Mohun, to ask Con-