Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-06
Concentration of Authority
Is Advocated by President

That part of the message Of the Presi-
dent dealing with the District of Column
bia is as follows:
The government of the District OF Co
lumbia is good government.
The police force. while perhaps 1t might
be given. or acquire. more military d1s-
cipline in bearing and appearance, Is
nevertheless an efficient body OF men'
free from graft and discharges its i'm
portant duties in this capital of the ma
tion effectively.
The parks and the streets of the city
and the District are generally kept clean
and in excellent condition.
The Commissioners of the District have
it's affairs will i'm hand. and. while not
extravagant. are constantly looking to
those municipal improvements that are
expensive but that must be made in
modern growing city like Washington.
While all this is true, nevertheless the
fact that Washington is governed by
Congress, and that the citizens are not
responsible and have no direct control
through popular election in District mat
ters, properly subjects the government to
inquiry and criticism by its citizens, man
ifested through the public press and oth-
erwise; such criticism should command
the careful attention of Congress.
Washington is the capital of the ma
tion and its maintenance as a great and
beautiful city under national control,
every lover OF his country has much at
heart: and il should present in every way
q model in respect of economy of expendi-
ture, Of sanitation, of tenement reform,
OF thorough public instruction, of the
proper regulation of public utilities, OF
sensible and extended charities, of the
proper care cf criminals and of youth
needing reform. of healthful Fairgrounds
and opportunity for popular recreation
and OF beautiful system OF parks.
am glad To think that progress is be-
ing made i'll all these directions. but l
venture to point out certain specific I'M
provements toward these ends which
congress in it's wisdom might adopt
Speaking generally, think there ought
To be more concentration OF autnor.y
I'm respect to the accomplishment Of
some of these purposes with more
economy of expenditure.
Condition of Public Parks.
Attention is invited to the peculiar sit
uation existing i'll regard to the parks of
Washington.
The park system proper. comprising
some 343 different areas, is under the Of
fice of public buildings and grounds,
which. however, has nothing to do with
the control of Rock Creek Park. the Zoo
logical Park the grounds of the Depart
ment OF Agriculture, the Botanic Garden,
the grourd DIS OF the Capitol. and other pub
lie grounds which are regularly open to
the public and ought to be part of the
park system. Exclusive of the grounds
of the Soldiers Home and of Washington
barracks. the public grounds used as
parks in the District of Columbia COM
prise over 800 acres, under ten different
controlling officials or bodies.
This division of Jurisdiction Is most
unfortunate.
Large sums of money are spent yearly III
beautifying and keeping in good condition
these parks and the grounds connected
with government buildings and institu-
&ions. The work done OIL all of them is OF
the same general character-work for
which the office of public buildings and
grounds has been provided by Congress
with q Special organization and equip