Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-07-06
FIFTY YEARS AGO In THE STAR

The first change in the cabinet of
PRESIDENT Grant occurred only a few
weeks after his
Changed Names of inauguration in
N.1 1869. Secretary
Borie OF the
score of i'll health and being sue
ceeded by George NJ. Robson of New
York. The Star of June IS. 1869. calls
attention thus to a matter demanding
that the new Secretary correct an act
Of his predecessor:
"As soon as he gets fairly warm in
his seat-and at the present registry
of the thermometer it won't take
him long to do that-we hone that
the new Secretary of the Navy will
set himself about revoking the order
issued by his immediate predecessor
in office changing the names of GER
tain of our naval vessels. Without
taking into account the illegality of
that act of Mr.. Borie's or the mex
tricable confusion it is sure to work
in the naval records and in the minds
of the people, the folly and bad taste
OF giving up names which were not
only distinctive and appropriately
national. but which had won for
themselves imperishable luster by the
part they bore in the late war. in
exchange for stale lot that had
nothing to recommend them save
that they recalled the days of heather
mythology or the prowess of the Brit
ish navy, would alone condemn it in
the minds of all patriotic people. We
are not able to remember an order
issued by any cabinet officer which
called out such uniformly unfavorab BILE
comment as that of Mr.. Borie, and
Mr.. Robson can in no more appro-
pirate and acceptable way mark his
entry into office than by expunging
it from the records of his depart
ment.
The old municipal system of the Dis
trict was drawing to a close fifty years
ago. A new common
Exnirinp council and board of
:, aldermen had just been
oooneiis' elected and began work.
without appreciation on the part of
the public that few more such bodies
would sit in session upon local affairs.
In The Star of June %, 1869. is the
following summary of the proceedings
of the councils at their first meeting
after election:
Our new city councils had their
first business meeting last evening
and after the committees had been an
nounced a great deal of new business
was introduced in both boards. In the
board of aldermen an excellent amend
ment to the rules was adopted limit
ing speeches to twenty minutes. 1t
is hoped this will facilitate the trans
action of business in that board. An
other good amendment to the rules
was the addition TO the standing COM
mitteeS of one on railroads. Among
the important bills introduced in the
aldermen and referred to appropriate
committees were the annual tax bill.
a bill for the construction of bridge
over Rock creek at the western termi-
nus of = street north. Georgetown. to
bear half the expense; a bill for grad
ing and crawling streets by days la
Dor; a bill appointing a disbursing
clerk, superseding the ward commits
sioners as disbursing agents in the
pc yment of laborers, etc"
Umpire batting at ball games was
coming into practice fifty years ago,
as would be denoted from
Umpire an item In The Star of
June %. 1869, telling of a
game played here between
the Olympics of Washington and the
famous Red Stockings" of Cincinnati,
then on tour in the eastern cities, de-
feating all-comers. The Star said.
The game yesterday was well
played throughout on both Sides until
the fifth inning, when the Cincinnatis
went in and took the lead and won
the game by score of six to Ave. A
portion of the spectators at different
times during the game evinced a great
deal Of dissatisfaction at the deci-
sions of the umpire. on two or three
occasions Kissing and booting, much
to the disgust of the fair-minded peo-
pie present.
The Red Stockings" comprised the
following men who later became IA
nous in base ball: George Wright,
shortstop; Gould, first base; Water
man, third base; Doug" Allison,
catcher; Harry Wright. center field;