Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-17
The District and the Investigation

Prompt consideration should be given
70 the proposition that the civic organiZa-
lions Of the District cooperate to the
end of securing proper representation for
the local community before the House
District committee. nov engaged in q
sweeping investigation into District af-
fairs. II this investigation We're being
conducted in spirit Of genuine desire
10 learn the facts. If il were an inquiry
rather than an inquisition the District
con+d afford to rest its case with the
members Of the committee and not con-
ceru itself with the task Of presenting
counsel 10 insure a strict!: equitable
ginning the questions asked of District
officials and citizens have been obviously
inspired by fixed purpose 10 drag
something scandalous'' to light. whether
there is anything of that nature in en-
istence or not The witnesses have been
cross-examined by the committee without
having been subjected TO an examination
in chief. They have been heckled and
their replies twisted and turned and con-
structions put upon their statements at
times quite at variance with their mean
Ing. 1t has been as though the ques-
tIOHt4S ldO utc!0eu IHdI the
witnesses We're concea ling something or
nisrepresentinS something and they
were determined to catch them in con-
tladiction. In these circumstances the
need of counsel representing the general
District interest. has been apparent from
the outset Of the investiga ton. The
commissioners are not in position to
send legal representative 10 the COM
mittee room and it rests with the ct.-
Gems. acting through their organiza lions.
TO do What Is necessary TO insure j just
treatment of the Districts interests
II is the more important that this be
done in view of the fact that the state
ments made from day to day before the
committee and the interpretations put
upon them by the questioners are being
spread throughout the country as evil
dence OF official and civic chicanery here
in the District, of which in truth there
is justifying foundation. In the de-
bates in Congress when District affairs
arc under discussion and In the committee
outgivings there is a disposition TO hold
tic District up to national criticism as
q community of mendicants and poachers.
\ tremendous cutlery is raised upon the
discovery of a mistake in bookkeeping
due apparently to federal laxity and not
TO local design. whereby II is alleged the
district is In debt to the general govern
ment 10 the extent of over million
dollars. Errors attributable TO the
Treasury Department have been cited as
proof positive of the disposition OF the
District to fatten of the bounty of the
United States. Inaccuracies OF assess
ment have been proclaimed as assured
evidence of corrupt dealings between as
SCISSORS and property owners. The COM
plants OF aggrieved citizens against adj
ministrative actions have been accepted
as proof OF the exercising Of corrupt in
fuence at the District building on the
part of the Observation-Disclosures that
may mean. In all this there has been
no sign of a disposition on the part of
the committee to defend the District
from attack. On the contrary the COM
mittee seems to have sat as a body OF
prosecutors. and II Is time that, II this
attitude is not changed, the side Of the
defendant be properly represented.