Evening star., 1909-05-09
favorably with the citizenship of 6
city in the nation.
An Annual Function.

favorably with the citizenship of any
city in the nation.
An Annual Function.
! So impressed are we with this innova-
/ ton and the fruitful results that are GER
tain to follow that l venture to suggest
| that this happy occasion may establish
an annual function, where the people may
| meet the President and confer about what
has been accomplished and what Is the
| best way to accomplish the most In the
coming of each year. 1t should he the
| yearly milestone in the progress and well
! fare of the District of Columbia.
l believe. IL this suggestion is carried
out. 1t will be looked forward to each
year with the greatest possible pleasure
as the greatest event of the year to the
citizens of Washington and in the best
| interest of the nations capital.
! The Supreme Court of the District or
Columbia has federal and local jurisdc-
tion. In this respect it differs from any
other court in the United States. and
| therefore 1t has become the custom to ap-
point jurists part from the states and part
/ from the District of Columbia.
| Mr. Justice Stafford was appointed from
| Vermont by President Roosevelt May l..
| 1904, just five years ago.
In this time he has become well ac-
quainted with the people of Washington
and with District affairs-more so, prob
| ably. than any of his predecessors or as
sociates In the same length Of time.
We have learned to respect and esteem
him as an able. upright judge. scholar
| ly, cultured gentleman. a splendid citizen
and an ideal neghbor and friend.
His conclusion was an introduction of
Justice Stafford.
Justice stafford's Speech.
Justice Stafford said:
II nIedpQ in a Snnfimonf that
almost prayer-'May this prove a fortu-
nate day for the District Of Columbian =
Without doubt the people of the District
look upon the occasion that has drawn
us here as a most happy augury The
chief magistrate of the nation, not more
respected than beloved, has signified his
willingness to sit at their board. to break
their bread and taste their salt. 1t is
a proof of interest and kindness that
has touched all hearts. We who are seat
ed around these tables are only a hand
full out of many thousands who in thought
and sympathy are with us at this feast.
Presidents have come and gone, doing
their duty by the District as they saw
it. but In the press and throng of larger
duties too often prevented from giving
to local matters the attention they de-
served. Never before has President
at the very beginning of his term thus
held out the hand of friendship to our
people. Our President has seen much
of Washington. But more than that, he
has travelled far and wide; he has
studied the capitals of other countries;
their institutions and their laws. And
thus he adds to the true promptings of
a generous heart the wisdom of a ripe
experience. Those are the qualities that
are needed here and now. 1t is the hour
for statesman. The population of the
growing so in wealth and beauty the
greatness of its future is, already so
assured, that the time has come when
the true relations between the District
and the nation must be clearly conceived
and accurately defined. and when an
ideal must be formed for the District of
Columbia-an ideal to be worked for
through generations. true enough and
grand enough to claim the attention and
the devotion of all the land.
Limits Of the District.
what do we mean when we say the
District of Columbia? There are at least
three meanings in which the expression
may be accurately used. 1t may mean
the mere territory the seventy square
miles of land and water. 1t may mean
the municipal corporation which has been
created by the act of Congress. 1t may
mean the political community, which may
be called, and by the Supreme Court has
been repeatedly called, for certain pur-
poses, state. In this third sense it is
not mere municipal corporation, but is
filled with the sovereignty of the United
States of America. 1t is of the utmost i'm
portance to distinguish between these
meanings, especially between the second
and the third, II We would keep our think
ing clear. Let us take a moment to trace
this distinction in the transactions of
century,
After tracing the history of the District
government. he continued:
There is only one sovereign in the Dis
trict of Columbia. Indeed. in respect to
sovereignty the situation is precisely the
same as if there were no other domain
affected by the central government-as if
all it's functions were performed here
Why, then, it may be asked, should there
be such a municipality as the District of
Columbia at all? Why should not the
general government take direct control
and administer all the affairs of the Dis
trict through its own bureaus? 1t would
not be so easy to answer that question II
two facts were other than they are. First
If there were no citizens of the United
States except those who live In the Dis
trct: second. IL the District elected the
national officers. But there are 800, 900
people here and there are some ninety
millions outside. and all are citizens of
the United States: and the 35O0G0 who
live here have some interests which they
do not hold in common with the ninety
millions who live outside. 1t Is. in part
at least, for the recognition and prOtec-
tion Of these separate and peculiar In
terests that municipal government ex-
lists and is required. All the more is it
needed by reason of the fact that there
is no suffrage. Let us picture what
might be. The streets and public works
might all be put under the War Depart
ment, the public health under the surgeon
general the charities made a bureau in
the Department of Commerce and Labor
or perhaps of the Interior, and the schools
turned over to the commissioner of edu-
cation. And so it might go on until the
local government was completely bureau
cratic-until the rod of national admin
istration, turned serpent, had swallowed
up all the little rods of local administra-
tion and was left alone upon the floor
In the meantime the city. growing by
leaps and bounds has doubled and trebled
its present population, and We have here
a million people. without a word to say,
in theory or in fact directly or indirectly.
about the streets they walk the water
they drink the light they burn or the
education of their children-everything
done for them, and done by officers In
whose selection they had no voice and
who have been selected with no particular
reference to their opinions or their needs.
To some Of us that is not a pleasing spec
tacle.
Washington as City.
"Certainly we must not forget that this
is a national city. There is little risk of
that. But. there are institutions, many
and important, which are not national IN
their aim or character. They are exactly
such institutions as the same numerical
population would require were this not
1.-The nations capital. That is true of the
7 INSTITUTIONS of charity and punishment