Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-06-24
Fifty Years Ago
I'm The Star

The bill to provide q permanent form
of government for the District Of Co
iumbia having be-
New District come q law by ex-
Commissioners. ee.., AWE approval HsSs
promptly sent to the Senate on June II.
1878, the names of the two civilian
Commissioners TO serve on the first adj
ministrative board. The Star Of that
date says:
1.-THE agony is overi The President
this afternoon sent in the names of
Josiah Dent and Capt. S. L. Phelps.
present Commissioner, to be the civilian
Commissioners under the act Of Con-
gress. This aecofds with our informa-
ton on Saturday and shows that the
reports In circulation since then contra
dictory OF our statement were ground
less.
Mr.. Dent Is q resident Of George
town and Is known as man OF charac-
ter and ability. He Is Of the Maryland
many years ago. He married the
adopted daughter Of E. NJ Linthicum Of
Georgetown and resides now In the fine
old Linthicum mansion on Georgetown
Heights. He was an active member OF
the Citizens Committee of One Hun
dred in the successful effort TO secure
legislative justice from Congress for the
District and his appointment for Com
missioner was warmly urged by num-
Der Of the leading members Of that
committee"
Some opposition to these appoint
ments developed, but 1t was unavailing.
The Star of June 10. 1878, says:
The efforts to defeat the confrma-
ton of MesSrs. Dent and Phelps IS
Commissioners were pretty vigorous.
but have failed. as the Senate District
committee reported favoraoly upon the
nominations and they we're promptly
confirmed. 1t was natural among 50
many opposing interests and candidates
that there should be sharp antagonism
to the nominees, but the general public
will be very well content to have the
new government placed IN the hands Of
men rs safe and reliable as Commits
sioners Dent and Phelps. With their
confirmation and the designation by
the President Of an honest and capable
Engineer Commissioner the experiment
Of District Government In which the
General Government takes shares in the
responsibility and the expenses will be
tried under favorable conditions"
-
The item In the civil service bill app
propriating 100000 for improving the
Improvement of says The Star Of
Capitol Grounds. ssns ~; n rstS;
sharp debate In the Senate yesterday.
Mr.. Beck said that $4,000 had been
appropriated for repairs ON the Cap
itol and 100000 for repairs Of the In
terror Department and large sums for
the new State, War and Navy Depart
ment, the buildings for the Bureau OF
Engraving and Printing, etc. and now,
In the bankrupt condition Of the Treas
urv. 1t Is not q time to spend 100000
in making approaches to the west end
Of the Capitol.
strange that when Senators would make
liberal appropriations for completing
public buildings everywhere else. they
begrudged every little picayune amend
ment here and compelled the completion
OF these grounds to be procrastinated
year after year,
MIR. Voorhees, opposed the appropri-
ton. He was astonishod &C the lavish
appropriations that were passing
through Congress, aud. moreover, the
money applied to the Capitol grounds
had been wasted. The approaches to
the Capitol 30 years ago were pleasant
and beautiful. Now they were ragged
and unsightly,
MFR. Window thought II took n good
deal of courage 10 declare that these
grounds were not improved. He re-
membered the old scraggy cottonwood
trees that existed there when he first
came to washington. He remembered
how carriages used to stick In the mud
when they drove around the building.
He remembered once distinctly riding
In stage within block OF the Patent
once and having 10 set out while the
driver pried tho wheels out OF the mud
with rails. lie remembered the old