The Washington times., 1914-12-13
DISTRICT LEGISLATION

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nection with the discussion of its ifs
cal relations with the National Gov
eminent, lies in the imminent dan
ger that bad tone and temper may
be injected into the consideration. II
is perfectly safe, at the outset, to
assume that there are no enemies of
Washington among the members of
Congress. For forty years, at any
rate, Congress has been animated BY
the general =. purpose of making
Washington the equal of any capital
in the world; and a survey of accom-
plishment in that time will convince
any fairminded person that remark
ably good progress has been made.
More than this, there never was a
time when the general ambition to
make beautiful and appropriate
world-city here was stronger in Con-
gress or in the country.
1t must be conceded that Wash
ington is among municipalities a
curious anomaly. 1t was selected to
be the Capital for anomalous rea-
sons. In the early decades of its ex-
istence the country was poor, and the
miserable village in the Potomac
woods was poorer. There remained
for long time a lingering hope, in
some of the established cities, that
the Capital might yet be removed
from the place where it had been es-
tablished; and this initiated against
development of Washington. So it
came about that until after the civil
war the erection of a real, worthy.
modern Capital city was not given
the attention it deserved.
Surely 1t must be agreed that since
the problem has been given sin
cere attention, splendid accomplish
ment has marked the efforts.
But the unprecedented relations
between city and government make
unprecedented problems here. The
men who realize the difficulty of
these problems need not be set down
as enemies of the city. There have
been changes, in other periods, in the
manner OF administering the city;
and in every era the effort to change
has been opposed with charges that
enemies of the city wanted. to en-
barrass it. There is no reason, now
for branding as the towns enemies
men who think that not everything is
ideal; who believe that some things
could be bettered.
Congress is composed of a good
many men, with good many slants
Of mind. The Times is not able to
agree with some of these men, as to
their attitude toward Washington:
but it does not believe that any of
them is actuated by a feeling of hos
tility to what they believe honestly
are the best interests Of the Can
ital City and of the Government as
the most important tenant in the
Capital City. 1t believes that the
one danger of arousing sentiments of
antagonism that might work bad re-
suits, lies in unrestrained expression
of hostile opinions. There are two
sides to every question, and the as
sumption that the man on the other
side must be actuated by improper
motives is a mighty bad one with
which to open a discussion.
Washington's best interests will
be served nowadays by an attitude
of moderation and reasonableness.
Making enemies is a poor business.
1t is peculiarly futile when there is
not a chance to overcome them, once
enlisted. Washington cannot help
itself. 1t must take what Congress
gives it; and Congress is not going
TO accept amiably any verdict that
it is an aggregation of ignorance and
malice. 1t is nothing of the sort. 1t
Is the greatest legislative body on
earth, and it rules the greatest coun-
try. On the whole, it has ruled the
country pretty well, if judgment may
be based on the history of a century
and a quarter. Il has ruled Wash
ington very well, especially in the
last generation; not ideally, but well.
1t is not going to desert, or to un-
dertake to ruin Washington now.
There are plenty of men in Con-
gress who view the present set of
pending issues in the same light that
most Washingtonians do. These men
are firm and effective friends of the
town; but it is by no means neces-
sarily true that men in Congress who