Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-10-06
A Profitable
Session Ends

A Profitable makes the following
Session Ends editorial comment
upon its accomplish
ments especially as relating to the Dis
triCt. The Star says:
The session of Congress that closed
yesterday will be memorable for the leg
islation accomplished and the modes by
which 1t has been accomplished. OF the
general measures. the most conspicuous
were the Mckinley tariff, the customs
administration, the silver, the anti
lottery antitrust, worlds fair, original
package, Idaho Wyoming admission,
meat inspection. original features of the
naval appropriations, land-railway for
felture and dependent and disability
pension bills. Besides. with other impor-
tant measures the Supreme Court re-
lief. the shipping, bankruptcy and cleo
ton bills were left in such a stage that
they can be passed at the next session
unless the contemplated obstruction to
the passage of the ashamed measure
results favorablv owing TO the shortnesS
of the time at command BY legisla-
ton which has been enacted, 1t is pro-
posed that the manufactures of the
country shall be exchanged on true
reciprocity principles with the Southern
American nations, the old soldiers of the
Republic are measureably made free
from want, the demand for a larger silver
coinage partly complied with, our Navy
enlarged by three battleships and one
cruiser and provision made for a nickel
armor that shall Withstand the most
powerful projectiles of the enemy.
ITO the city of Washington and the
District of Columbia this has been the
most eventful session of Congress in
many years. The number of local bills
passed or III an advanced stage ready for
passage at the next session is large in
spite of the fact that the Atkinson rail-
road bill has INSTRUCTED local legislation
in the House for several months. The
passage of the Rock Greek and Zoologi-
cal Park bills marks with a white stone
the first session of the 51st Congress.
These measures are of far more than
local Importance. The beautifying of the
Republics Capital is a national matter,
for people from every State and Terri
tory come to Washington and the office
holders and others engaged in business
here from all sections of the Union have
a direct interest in the questions of
health, comfort and adornment involved
in the making of these necessary parks.
The selection of city post Office site
central, convenient, covering sufficient
ground and contemplating the erection
thereon of a commodious and magnifi-
cent building--is matter for general
congratulation, the city having long been
compelled to do without proper facilities
for the carrying on of the large and
steadily increasing postal business.
"If it was necessary to veto the bill
against pool selling in the District be-
cause such gambling at the race track
is not prohibited, then, of course, the bill,
now the law, which drove the booksellers
from the city limits, but not from the
District, ought to have been vetoed. But
the city rejoiced with good reason when
the temptation to this demoralizing form
of gambling was removed from the
crowded streets when the booksellers
were driven outside the city, when access
to their establishments was rendered in
convenient and when the decentralization.
especially of boys and young men in
business, was beset with obstacles and
became more difficult. In like manner,
Washington was glad when the further
step was taken and the permanent pool
sellers were elected from the District
entirely, as proposed by the vetoed bill.
The Capital regrets that the booksellers
have been invited back to the District
from Virginia. 1t was unwilling to lose
the proposed diminution of the evil be-
cause not everything is accomplished
that can be desired. 1t would have pre-
ferred a signature of the measure with
a suggestion that there was still another
step to be taken in the fight against
pool selling, instead OF . veto which re.
establishes the Districts Monte Carlo"