Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-22
SAYS D. c. SHOULD PLACE
ITS TRUST IN CONGRESS
Justice Covington Declares Coop
Grafton and Compromise Are
Needed Between Two.
Tells Georgetown Citizens Associa-
ton Best Results Can Be Achieved
by Friendly Approach.

]. Harry Covinston, chief justice of
the District Supreme Court. thoroughly
believes in the wisdom of Congress to
guide the destinies of the nation.
Speaking before the Georgetown Citizens
Association last night. he pointed with
pride to what he described as the develop
ment, under wise legislation, of the ma
ton to a people 100,000.000 in number,
spread over a vast area of this earth.
In the bigness of Congress, he advised
the citizens of the District, they may
rest the cause of the National Capital
and trust to adequate consideration of
their necessities in government along
with the expansion and elaboration o.
Washington.
Co-operation and compromise are
needed. he suggested, in matters OF is
sue between Congress in legislatinS for
Washington and its citizens seeklnS
legislation. He suggested that mutual
suspicion is not the means to the end,
but that confidence in the legislative
body is necessary. and that the citizens
can best produce results by friendly ap-
proach to the national legislators.
Despotism Absent, He Says.
Justice Covington suggested that no
country ever prospered under des-
potism: that the greatness and absence
of despotism in Congress was best
manifested by the scheme Of govern
ment it has devised which has so
successfully brought the nation to
100 000, 600 people in 125 years.
He considered this result an example
la<l ;,, hi oto
And on this showing of the democracy
of the Congress he considered that the
people of Washington may rest their
faith and build their hopes.
Justice Covington doubted the expedi-
ency of the people of Washington hav-
ing a municipal voice in its affairs. The
citizens associations. however, he con
sidered an inherited expression of the
desire of the people to participate in
government. Through this medium of
cooperation and compromise he be-
lieved the interests Of the National
Capital may we'll be furthered.
He cited history to show that the old
err a nation grows the more important
becomes it's capital. So, he said, would
| be the case with Washington. He
| spoke of the pride of the people of
| every section of the nation, even in the
| remotest rural corners, in the capital OF
| the nation. finding in this fact an as
l !" X
| ton that they would not send to Con-
| gress men Indifferent to its fate.
Incident Of Ante-Bellum Days.
| A side light on history was thrown
| by an incident of ante-bellum day.
told to Justice Covington by one of the
| participants, and repeated by him a!
a memory of Georgetown. 1t con
| cerned Philip Francis Thomas of Mary
land. at one time governor an
also presidential cabinet member, an
Franklin Fierce of New Hampshir,
afterward President. Gov. Thomas
who was on terms of friendship wit
Justice Covington in the latter's youth
told the tale to him.
AT the time Thomas was a repre-.
sentative in the House and Pierce was IL
the Senate. 1t was in the days wheI
Georgetown was the center of socia
activities. and when ii was eminently
proper for a gentleman, attending
function, to become three-quarters in.
ebriated before he left the supper table
In this condition the two lawmaker,
were walking home along the banks o.
movement. when Senator Pierce fell into
the canal. Representative Thomas made
Intellectual efforts to extricate his com.
panion.
/ II i cannot relieve your situa ton,
said Representative Thomas II car
share your humiliation" whereupon he
jumped into the canal. A canal boa,
captain, in the gray light OF dawn,
rescued them from the ooze and mud
They had sobered considerably
With the reading of the minutes The
business Of the organization was sus.
pended last night in order to give Jus.
tice Covington opportunity to speak
John Hadley Doyle, president, presided
After the meeting refreshments were
served.