Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-11-04

HE District of Columbia, per1na-
nent seat Of the government OF
the United States of America.
is the smallest political divi-
sion of the country. The city
Of Washington is merely the name Of a
geographical section of the District OF
Columbia. although residents Of the en-
tire District are In the habit of regard
ing themselves as residents OF Washing
ton. The city proper embraces about one
seventh Of the total area Of the District
1t is absolutely unique among the cities
of the United States. It is the most
American because its population Is made
up of people from all the states. and
yet 1t Is not American at all. for the
reason that its residents cannot vote. 1t
Is the most cosmopolitan. because repre-
sentatives of all other nations dwell In
it, yet it has no foreign quarter. Wash
ingtons greatest industry Is government
and its greatest product is politics. but
t e issues are all national. 1t Is the only
American city where there Is no local
party politics; in fact, 1t Is the only city
OF the civilized world which cannot
choose any OF Its local officers by VOC
Ine President al points the executive anu
judicial oIncers, ana Congress. sitting as
city council, exercises exclusive iegIS-
laticn.' Despite the anomalous spectacle
presented by the capital city OF demo-
cratic country being governed in theory
by an autocracy, the people are content,
public opinion ruies ana the city Itself
is mastertui argument for the continu-
atom of the present plan.
AS it Is now constituted the executive
government of q District is intrusteu
to three Commissioners. one of whom
must be an officer OF AT least the ranA
of major i'll the Engineer Corps of tne
army, or a captain VINO has served at
ieas. fifteen years in the army. The
CO mmisSioners administer the details OF
government, prepare the budget, trans
NIT it TO the Secretary of the Treasury,
who, with such changes g deems ad
vISabie, forwards Il to Congress. and the
Commissioners advocate IL ana other Dis
trlct legislation before the District of
Columbia committees.
Because of the fact that the Commits
SCnerS and Congl ess are not directly
responsible to the people of the District,
n system of xplessng public opinion
has been developed in washington which
is absolutely unique. Under it's operat on
the government Is in practice. Tough n t
in theory, sensi,.vely responsive ~ pub
IL opinion. Icing unafraid Of elections
and independent Of party Bosses
Washington is the most beautiful city
In the United States, and Is claimed by
many authorities to have no peer in the
but there are quarters of the French
capital with never claim to beauty.
There are more shade trees in Washing
ton than in any other city in the world.
1t has $1,000 trees. while Paris. the next
in the list. has only 5000 1t must be
remembered in this connection that Paris
has nearly 1900 UOJ population, while
Washington has but 100000
The city has 30 little parks less than
one acre in extent, and twenty-six
others that are more than an acre in size.
There are also ten large parks in the
central portion of the city, the largest
Icing the Mall RI aching from the Botanic
Garden, at the foot of Capitol Hill, to
the Washington Monument. a distance of
three fourths of mile. The browning
glories of Washingtons park system are
Rock Greek Park ard the Geological
Park which are practically one. These
have a combined area OF 1,776 acres.
Rock Creek Park is not excelltd in
beauty by any driving park In the world
Washington has a greater number OF
institutions of learning than any other
city. Universities. training schools. fin
ishing schools, professional schools and
preparatory schools are supplemented by
the excellent public school system. which
was started in 1905 The weather. citi-
zens subscribed funds from their private
purses, but opened the schools to all
corners Thomas Jefferson was then
Pre- sident of the United States. He was
elected to the board of education and be-
came its first president. The Smithsonian
Institution, the Carnegie Institution. the