The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-07

lunbia is a good government. Inc PoiiSe
 force while perhaps it misht De glVen' or acquire. more military disclphne III
 bearing and appearance, IS neVefeheiess
 an efficient body of men, free from graft and discharges it's important duties this capital of the nation effectiveiy. ine parks and the streets of the clty anu the
 district are generally kept clean ana m
 a,,oaIlept condition The commissioners oP tbe district have it's affairs well III hand and. while not extravagant, are
 constantly looking to those municipal im- ,v.o,,enents that are expensive but that
 r,,st he made in a modern growing clty ,tra washington While all this IS true' nevertheless the fact that Wasnlnston is governed by Congress, and mat tue cili- e,s ora not responsible and have no
 d;rect control through popular election Tn d,strict matters, properly subjects the government to inquiry and oriuclsH py lie citizens, manifested throusn the pup iic nress and otherwise; s'r'n erlticisi'l
 s1so,,,d command the careful attention or
 S,ao Hn.nsass washington is the capital of tbe nation and its maintenahce as eiea' and beautiful city under national control,
 avery lover of his country has much al
 t,aart and 1t should present in every
 ,,,a, n model in respect of economy or
 avn,nditure. of sanitation, or tenenen, reforn,. of thorough public in' truction, oi
 .ssa ,,roner regulation of public utilities,
 os sensihle and extended charities, or tha ,,roner care. of criminals and or youth oeeding reform of healtbful playgrounos and opportunity for popular recratioii, !, and of A. beautiful system of parhs' sy, eIad to think that progress IS being made in all these directions, put von-
 tnra +o noint out certain specific improve
 ,oa,+s toward these ends which Congress
 ;r ,ts wisdom might fdopt. Speaking gonerallv. I think there ought to De more concentration of authority n respect 10
 the accomplishment of some Of these pur- noses with more economy or cXpenoiture' Public Parks
 Attention Is invited to the peculiar situ- alton existing in regard to the parks or Washington The park sys'em >proper' comnrising some 343 different areas IS under the office of public ouildings ana grounds. which, however, mas nothins .o do with the control of ROCK Creeh parh, the zoological park, the grpinds or the ,ar.rtn,ent of agriculture, the Botanic aardan the grounds of the capitol, ana
 othe, nuhIic grounds which ale regularly or,an +o the public and orght to be part of tbn mark system. Exclusive of the
 grounds of the Soldiers H 'me and or ,vasbington barracks, the pa5lic grounds
 used as perks in the District or Coium, ,o
 bia comprise over 5loo acrrs' uiiues io aiffarent controlling officials or bodies. This division of jurisdiction IS most un-
 fortunate.
 r,-~a surns of money are spent yearly
 in beautifying and keeping in good con-
 dition these parks and the grounds con
 nected with government bui dings and in
 stitutions. The work done on all of them
 ;s of tba same general character-work
 eor which the office of pubic buildings and grounds has beer provided by Con
 gress with a special organization and
 equipment. which are lacking for the
 grounds not under that office. There
 can be no doubt that if all work of care
 and improvement upon the grounds be-
 longing to the United States in the Dis trict of Columbia were put, az far as possible. under one responsible head. the result would be not only greater efficiency and economy in the work itself. but greater harmony in the development of the public parks and gardens of the city.