Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-02-01
BARRY DESCRIBES
Of GRAFT IN DISTRICT
Writer in Providence Journal
DepreCates McKeIWay's
Statements to Wilson.

David 5. Barry. in tho Providence Journal.
One of the first things that President
Wilson's private secretary will he ex-
pectcd to do is to ascertain for him the
truth of many of the statements as to
men and affairs that he will be brought
into. contact with after the fourth of
March
He will be expected TO determine. for
instance, the truth of the statement made
to Gov. Wilson the other day by one A.
J. Mckelway. secretary for the southern
states of the national child labor commit
tee and chairman of the juvenile advis-
DRY committee of the Childrens Council
of Washington. when he told the Presi-
dent-clect that THE system of govern
ment OF the District of Columbia. is CON
tfoiied by mon with connections in Spccu-
iatiVe real estate. q triangle of profit and
power, manned by a triumvirate.
Of the triumvirate, one is a president
OF national bank, With connections in
speculative real estate. the second is
president OF trust company with con-
nectloliS in speculative real estate, the
third is also president of a trust company
with connections in speculative real es-
tate.
Three lien Mentioned.
Gov. Wilson also was told by this
same authority that the situation is con-
trolled by low taxes i'm those sections of
the city where the triumvirate and their
friends are Interested with high taxation
IN other sections. and While he did not
say SO. the three men he had i'm mind
as composing the triumvirate controlling
the three District Commissioners, one Of
Whom IS a democrat, another a republic
can and the third officer of the army
presumably without political affiliations.
are Charles q. Clover. Charles ]. Bell
and Edward J. Stellwagen. The first
named is president of Riggs National
Bank, the second of the american Sccur-
lty and Trust Company and the third of
the Union Trust Company
he Iresdent-elect is reported to have
said: DIR. Mckelway excited me because
ne Put my nose OH a fresh trail. and the
Kind of trail i always follow with
zest.' Since the congressional investi-
cation of the old Washington real estate
ring that followed the operations of the
board of public works under Boss
Shepherd there have been no charges
Of graft brought to the doors of the
Commissioners Of the District of Column
kia. and there are no three citizens of
Washington Of higher character and
reputation than the informant of the
President-elect had i'm mind when he laid
out the new trail to be gone over 50.
keeniy by the presidential nose.
Backbone of Prosperity.
There is no doubt that these bankers
arc incidentally interested in real estate
because that is the backbone of the pros
perity Of the District of Columbia 1t is
a rich field. Every body's dom it here
and everybody knows that In all the
capitals of the world kissing goes by
favor. and that the favored individuals
and the favored sections of the city get
the improvements that others may lack
Rut it is the consensus of opinion among
travellers the world over that in no city
on the face of the globe are the benefits
of taxation more equally distributed than
in the city Of Washington. where the
pavemcnts. the sewers and like municipal
utilities. If not in all cases the lights, are
much the same in one part of the city
as in another.
The trail that has now been blaZed out
by DR.. Mckelway for the President to
follow will lead him an interesting chase
in which he will learn great deal about
how the extension and identification of
the capital has been brought about, but
no man well posted would have made the
mistake of attempting to put into the
mind of the President the suspicion that
there has been any improper connection
between the Commissioners of the Dis
trict of Columbia and any particular
triangle of profit and power manned by
triumxrate made up of the particular
men whose names he may or may not
have given to the President-elect.