Evening star., 1919-03-30

public curiosity by the statement that
twenty of Brigham Young's wives
have arrived i'm the states en- route 10
Washington. kilograms have appear
ed daily announcing their progress
through the west on their way here.
and speculation has been busy as 10
the purpose of their visit to the capt
tai. The supposition has been that II
might be a shrewd dodge on the part
of Brigham Young to send score of
his most fascinating spouses to diplo-
matiZe our government officials and
members Of Congress, dispel the pref
udice now existing against polygamy
and establish Mormonism in the good
graces of the ruling powers. Another
theory is that in consequence OF the dull
times in Utah and the graSshoppers
having eaten up their provisions Brig
ham finds it difficult to support his
many wives and sends lot OF them
here to get places in the Treasury De-
partment. Anyhow, such an arrival
would be a godsend to Washington. We
haven't had a first class sensation for
nearly week. and the advent of twenty
pretty Mormon women would set things
in motion. Newspaper row is staggering
for want OF such a neWsy boom. We
are sorry, therefore. to have to dscour-
age this hopeful prospect The twenty
Mormon wives are my this Inquiry at
the proper quarter brings out the un-
pleasant fact that no such visitors are
expected here. Mr.. Hooper is the dele
gate from Utah. What more certain
than that he would be advised of Brig
hams wifely mission to Washington II
there was anything in it, But he knows
nothing whatever about the twenty
wives. Now what have the telegrapher
to say to this? Here is an excited com
munity OF 10000 inha bitants all agape
for Brigham Young's twenty wives, and
not a wife forthcoming"'
*
The adjournment of Congress in
1869 without action upon pending
District legislation
Local Needs left then az now
long arrears of urgent
neglected. local needs which It
was hoped would be corrected at the
next session. In The Star of March p.
1869, is a summary of the measures
and matters awaiting action
THE bill establishing a police
court is one that ought to be made
law without a moments delay. So is
the bill repeating the old Maryland
usury law. The people in this Dis
trict suffer SO much from this an
tiauated and absurd law that they
will welcome any measure of relief.
whether 1t comes in the shape OF an
entire repeal of the old law, which
would be preferable. or a substitute
fixing the legal rate of interest where
not specified at per cent, put al
lowing special contracts to be made
at a rate. not exceeding 10 OF IL per
cent. -.
"The bill providing for paving Penn
sylvania avenue passed the senate at
the last session, but reached the
House too late in the session for ac-
ton. That the principal street or the
capital of the nation should be for 80
MANY years disfigured by this abomi-
nable cobblestone is a disgrace to
everybody concerned. 1t is disgface to
Congress, to the city and to the na-
tion.
"A kindred nuisance to the Avenue
cobblestone needs abatement-the
shabby old market building. Various
bills giving the market house iran
chise to private companies have been
brought forward. but the Kilkenny
fight going on between the contend,
ing interests will probably be fatai
to the whole batch. but there Woulo
seem to be no valid objection TO givins
the right to the corporation OF Wash
ineton to erect a, suitable market
structure.
"A general incorporation act for the
companies in this District is meas.
ure so proper and SO much needed
that it ought to be passed without
hesitancy. We trust to see q bill pass
ed this session giving the Dfetr1ct
citizens the right to subscribe for rail-
road enterprises" $3.50 ,,.-st