Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-18
IS IT WISE TO CHANGE
Mr.. Curtis Discusses Subject
of District Government.
ADVOCATES PRESENT FORM
Institutes Comparisons With Other
Large Cities.
WASHINGTON AN IDEAL CITY
Calls Attention to Evils Resulting
From Partisan Rule-Three
Heads Best
ADVOCATES PRESENT FORM
WASHINGTON AN IDEAL CITY
RY WILLIAM F.. CURTIS.


Those who are clamoring for q change
of the form of government in the District
Of Columbia evidently have had no expe-
rience and but little knowledge of the
governments of other cities. I am positive
that if a comparative test should be ap-
, Piled the citizens of the District would be
better satisfied with present conditions
and those who are most urgent for a
change would be reluctant to have it
made. Those citizens who have had the
widest opportunity to know of municipal
, conditions and administrative methods in
other cities of this and foreign countries
are the strongest in their support Of the
present form of government and in their
opposition to any change whatever.
Present Form Might Be Improved.
No one pretends that We have a perfect
government here now. but it is so much
nearer perfect and so much more gem
orally satisfactory than the aver
age municipal administration of other
cities of similar size that we ought to be
thankful instead of complaining; we ought
to be willing to overlook the defects that
exist rather than expose the community
to those we know not of.
Many improvements ought to be intro
duced in District affairs. and have sug-
gested themselves to thoughtful citizens
from time to time as circumstances have
occurred to call attention to defects. The
building regulations, for example. and
their administration certainly could he
improved upon and doubtless will be. We
might initiate many excellent features of
the administration of the German burgo-
masters. for example. yet. though some of
the German cities have what they con-
slider ideal municipal governments. their
mol 10 -nV1H no fn,arg
free and Independent American citizens of
the District Of Columbia.
The regulations enforced in Berlin.
Frankfort. Hamburg. Dresden and other
German cities would provoke riot In
Washington in less than twelve hours. and
/ should like to see any official try to en-
force the building regulations of those
solid German burghers in any town of the
United States.
Good Things in Foreign Cities.
We might adopt with profit some Of the
municipal undertakings of Great Britain.
The art gallery of Glasgow would be
splendid addition to Washington, and the
great public hall Of Manchester would be
just the thing for Inauguration ceremonies,
commandments and conventions. The
free public laundries and bath houses Of
London; the lodging houses and tenement
houses of Birmingham: the fish market of
Aberdeen. ana several pubic UTILITIES OF
Hamburg. Paris and Berlin would be very
welcome to the people OF Washington. But
we have SO much that those cities lack so
many of their methods are too despotic
to be agreeable to our people. the average
of good features is so much higher In
Washington, and the average defects so
much lower that. taking one consideration
with another, any unprejudiced jury would
decide that Washington is the best gov
erned city in the world.
Conditions Here Not So Bad.
: Our people are In the habit of complain
ing that our street cars are old-fashioned
and are crowded in the morning. and a
noon and at night when everybody wants
to go somewhere in the same direction at
the same time. SO they are. but if the
grumblers would go to New-York, Phila-
delphia Chicago. Pittsburg Buffalo, Cleve-
and. Cincinnati or any other city in the
United States and try it awhile they
would be glad TO accept the antiquated
trailers on the Pennsylvania avenue and
Georgetown lines. just as they are.
We are in the habit of critcsing the
street cleaning department and complain
because the dust gets in our eyes on
windy days. but no city in the world has
cleaner streets than Washington; no city
in the world has better pavements than
Washington or better sidewalks. and we
ought to be thankful for that too.
l might take up one Oe1ect AFTER am
other. and various grounds of complaint.
and compare them with corresponding
conditions in other cities of 800 600 popu-
iation Or more elsewhere. and the verdict
would. always be in favor of Washington.
If you will cross-examine the winter resi-
dents of the capital, the people who come
here in October and rent furnished houses
for the season. as to the conditions that
they find here compared with those they
left at home. the reply will be unanimous
objections. the annovances and the in
conveniences that make other cities I'M
comfortable.
Thinks Washington Ideal City.
l walked down the street the other
morning with gentleman who has spent
his life in two western cities about the
size of Washington. but retired from
business last summer and has come here
to live. The reasons he gave for coming
here were that Washington was such a
clear city: that the pavements and side
walks were we'll kept; that the schools
We're so good; that the absence OF the
rough element in the population made it
possible for the ladies OF his family to go
anywhere at any time without danger;
that we are so free from the ordinary an
noyances and disadvantages Of other
cities. He believes that Washington is an
ideal place 10 live. When | suggested
that he should make Il speech TO some OF
the local associations of citizens who are
trying to change the form Of government
he replied:
Il wish could convince them that they
have the best governed city in the world
and that it would be wise for them to let
well enough alone. | understand the
President proposes to recommend changes
in the District government. but / would
persuade him not to. ! do not know
what features he wants to get rid of and
what ones he wants to introduce
but / would say to all and every change
God forbid
"You have the cleanest city in the
world. my friend continued ''and al
though Your smoke or,linan nee is not en-
forced it ought to be- the atmosphere
is clear and pure and sweet. and men
who have fine pictures can bring them
here without any danger of being spoiled
with SCOT. You have slumS no con-
tractors rings. no political Srafters no
political heelers. to provide with sine
cures. You have no hlacilmailers Your
taxes low compared with other cities
and you ought To pay them clearfully.
because every taxpayer knows he is get
ting the worth OF his money
That is the Judgment Of q man with d
perspective, and it is we'll now and then
to hear the opinion OF such experienced
observers: to see our city others see it
in the light of their experience and OBJ
serva ton in other cities.
Some Things That Might Be Done.
Many wise people think the District
ought to have II represent alton III Con-