The Washington times., 1914-03-07
THE SENATE'S DISTRICT
BILL.

| eStS OF the DlStrlcC and the tJaplIal
strongly suggests that there is no
real basis for the antagonism which
has developed among a few people
in the House. The Times has never
been convinced that the general fis-
cal status of the District was very
gravely menaced by the manifesto
tions of hostility in the House in
the last two or three years. That
hostility, if it stood for any senti-
ment back at home among the con-
stituencies, would find some refec-
ton in the Senate; yet the Senate
pays no attention to the extremism
of few House members who chance
at the moment to be in position to
make themselves troublesome.
From the Senate now comes the
District appropriation bill, restored
and representing an excellent con-
! ception of what is needed for pro-
gressive conduct of the city. There
is little doubt that it will pass the
Senate without substantial change.
Conference may see some changes,
but as a whole it is safe to expect
reasonably satisfactory Legislative
results.
The Senate Appropriations Com
mittee has reported back the District
measure, with most of the important
improvements that the Commission
ers had asked. Thus there is provid-
ed 100000 for the new Municipal
hospital and $4,000 for a new Emer-
gency hospital. Both these institu-
tions are much needed: both will rep
resent betterment of service and ui-
timatc lessening of expenses; both
have been repeatedly asked by the
District authorities.
For new fish wharves, $4,000 is
set aside, and for the construction of
proper, new, and modern fish
market, S125,800. The new Munich
pal hospital will take the place of
the Washington Asylum hospital,
which by all accounts, official and
otherwise, has been fer years con-
demned as an unfit institution. To
have the District rid of it is real
step toward the light.
In the bill as reported by the
Senate committee, much of the most
important changes are those which
restore the old and ong-es.ablished
general policy of the Federal Gov
ernment toward the question of Dis
trict expenses. The Senate has
never yet wavered in its determine
tion to stick by the essentials of
that fiscal policy which in the last
generation has made possible the
wonderful improvement of the Capt.
tai that has taken place in that
time. The Senate has recognized
that, whether this is or is rot an
ideal program, it is at least the
only system under which Washing
ton has ever made real, satisfactory
progress toward realization of 4
worthy national idea for the Capt.
tai City.
1t may be that in time there will
be some notifications of the present
financial relationship. 1t would oe
foolish to assume that any such re-
lationship was to go on forever un-
modified by developing circunlstan-
ces and conditions. 1t is rot to
proper and reasonable notifications
and adjustments that the people of
Washington, or the country at large,
object. They object merely to re-
organizations that would sweep
away lonc-tried and on the whole,
Judged by results, very satisfac-
tory system, without placing any
thing at all in its stead. 1t is per-
fectly obvious that Washington must
be dealt with III q different way
than other cities are handled. I'm
less we would agree that the Na-
ticnal Capital is TO be abandoned, to
retrograde irto the disgraceful con-
ditions that in the middle Of the last
century made it the by-word of for
eign travellers, then VIC must stead
lily press forward with some pro-
gram of hetterment that will have 4
national note and purpose and in
spiration in it. The treatment of the
Capital by the National Govern
ment for the last generation falls
within this description. Whether the
Capital is to be managed in exactly
the same way fCr the next genera
tion. it must be handled in way
that will give the same general re-
suits. The nation at large will never
consent to the abandonment of the
splendid ambitions it has come to ell
tertain for its beautiful world-capi-
tai. Let that be kept in mind by
people who would ct times grow a
bit discouraged about the seeming
unfricndiiness toward Washington.
1t is not general, and it is not repre-
sentative either of Congress rs a
whole or of th,, country ac n u-LnIo