Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-02
FIFTY YEARS AGO
IN THE STAR

In The Star of December 81. 1859. is
printed a petition that had just been
made before the House
Avenue and Senate for the neces-
sary legislation to eff
na11"ay. feet the installation Of a
horse railway on Pennsylvania avenue
The petition was signed by Richard Wal
ZACH, George w. Riggs, Walter Lenox
Jonas D. Hoover. James NJ. Carlisle.
Charles w Boteler. George Harrington,
John F. Coyle. Walter s. Cox. Gilbert
vanderwerken and William B. Todd
They said:
Recognizing the special jurisdiction Of
Congress over the subject. and believing
that its power will be exercised in a man.
ner that will secure and promote the pub
associates propose to construct certain
railroads within the two cities, according
to the plans set forth in the accompany
ing bill. From an examination of this
proposal 1t will be seen that 1t offers the
facilities OF quick and certain communica-
ton between the populous centers and the
extreme points OF Washington and
nue., 1ntersecting route running from
9TH street west, as far as NJ street north.
from Pennsylvania avenue, running by
the patent and post Office. while the main
routes are connected, by a lateral road
along New Jersey avenue, with the Bal
timore and Ohio railroad depot, at one
fixed price of cents between all the said
termini. They assume to construct, equip
and operate these roads In the most ap-
proved manner, subject at all times to
the unlimited action Of Congress in the
matter of change of the provisions of
said bill, or forfeiture of it's privileges
upon failure to perform the obligations
thereof. They propose to relieve the pub
lie treasury of q portion Of the onerous
expense of keeping Pennsylvania avenue
In repair, as well as all streets and ave-
nues over which the said road will pass,
and. finally. while expecting fair re-
Enumeration for their outlay, risk and la
Dor, they are both willing and DESTROYS
that the public at large shall reap not
only the general benefits of these i'm
provements. but especially that reason
able proportion of the profits shall pass
into the hands of the two cities for the
support of their public schools
The unsatisfactory character of the re-
lations between the District and the gem
eral government prior to
District the enactment in 1878 of
r,...... what Is now known as
the organic act establish
ing the federal capital partnership was
fully recognized half a century ago. In
The Star Of December %, 1859, is the
following news paragraph referring to
the annual report of the Secretary of the
Interior:
Secretary Thompson, in that portion
of his report relating to the District of
money raised here during the last ten
years by private taxation which has
been expended for the public good, and
the many millions which have been drawn
from the government treasury since the
city was laid out, and expended upon the
erection of public buildings and other
improvements. and thinks much yet re-
mains to be done. for which large appro-
prations will be required-a large por-
ton Of which should be made by Con-
some we'll defined rule be laid down
clearly defining what class of improve
mentS should be done by the corporate
powers and what by the general govern
ment. Many appropriations have been
asked for and made by Congress during
years past for objects of a purely local
II not of a private character, to the ne
elect or postpOnement Of others of a
private nature. Thus certain avenues
and streets have been improved and light
ed at the cost of the general government,
while others of equal importance have
been improved and lighted at the expense
OF the individuals owning property upon
them. These appropriations. made upon
no just principle. have encouraged ap-
plications to be made for almost every
naturally, has been led to view with dis
trust, If not with positive disfavor, even
those objects which have been commend
ed to its favorable regard as falling with
in the range Of its exclusive patronage"
Heads of the Post Office Department
have for years been bewailing the failure
Of the. postal service to
Postal pay for itself. The Post
r-c:A master General of this
eA'' time In his annual report
sets forth the lack of balance between
the income and expense, rejecting a
comment Of the Postmaster General in
his report in 1859. The Star of December
80 of that year says:
Were the House not so chronically at
ficted with a determination to devote its
time, when organized, to Bunkum, the
world would take 1t for granted that such
a showing Of the necessity for reforms in
TIE postal laws DIS the TOStLudStcT OcA-
eral makes would induce speedy and
effective action upon his recommends
tions But we fear that the idea is a
hopeless one. The House in legislatine
upon postal matters has for years past
apparently kept three or four objects
only in view. First, to take care OF
themselves; second. to tickle Bunkum
and third to carve out fat jobs, at the
expense of the national treasury. for this
or that set of persevering and insinuat-
ing gentlemen of the lobby. Thus they
take care of their own individual future
by voting themselves the right. each. tc
saddle the department with the cost OF
the transportation in the mails of as
many electioneering documents as each
may choose to send. Bunkum is duly
cared for In the expensive provision OF
laws authorizing the free transportation
In the mails of newspapers intended fol
individuals In the counties in which they
are published, while the lobby is accom-
modated by postal legislation granting
special bonuses to favored ocean steam
lines and by legislation making it OBJ
ligatory on the department to pay higher
rates for mail transportation on particu-
lar railroad lines than individuals are
charged by the companies for serves
costing no more. Again, Bunkum is ac-
conn,oda cd nv the late reduction in the