The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-01-08
THE CITY OF WASHINGTON

the constitution but also in legisating for it, Con-
gress first assembled here in December, 1890, and
within thfee months thereafter passed IAN act
corning the District of Columbia, consisting of six
teen sections continuing in force the laws previously
enacted by Maryland and Virginia and providing the
means required to carry them into effect. On the
3D. May, 1902, act passed ito incorporate the
inhabitants of the city Of Washington" comforting
upon them certain powers, but expressly providing
that the mayor skould abe appointed annually by the
President Of the United States" and that he (the
mayor should appoint I'd all offices under the
poration" Under this provision of law all the
mayors of the city were appointed by the President
until June 1872 when for the first time its inhabi-
tans were allowed to elect their own chief executive
officer This act has since been several times amend
ed but in no instance has Congress undertaken to
transfer if ii could to the city authorities the pow
ers vested in it by the constitution, far even
regards subjects Of immediate and vital Importance
to themselves. On the contrary, it has, in express
terms reserved the right to repeal the act of ncor
poration and take entire charge of the ty at WILL
as MAY be seen FROM the first section of the last act
Of incorporation passed on the nth May, lS4s.
Peculiarly, them is the city Of Washington the city
of the nation. Every foot of avenue, street, and
alley laid down OH Its original plan actually belongs
III fee to the United States. This point settled
by the Supreme Court in the case of Van Ness Us.
the United States aud corporation of Washington.
In addition to this the government owns fre hundred
and sercntycght acres of land within the city limits
which have been permanently reserved for public
uses, worth Sl3.4l2293 26, as private property is
assessed for taxation, upon which improvements
have been made shown by recent official report
to Congress, costing Sl4,7O9, 1893 O9-making az
gregate Of $2s,12l 63l SO.
Under these circumstances, it is quite natural that
the representatives of tho people who this large
amount of property should feel deep interest in the
welfare and prosperity Of the national metropolis.
They have already contributed literally to its inn
provemcnt; but how much yet remains to be done !!
The extension of the Capitol renders necessary the
enlargement of the grounds around it, and their
appropriate Improvement. Franklin and Judiciary
Pennsylvania and other avenues the mall and other
public reservations, should at least be well cared
for as adjacent private property. The Arsenal
grounds likewise require to be graded aud adapted
to the purposes for which they purchased, and
doubtless all these things viii in due time be done.
All these improvements must be made by the gov
ernment; the city authorities have power TO in
terfere with them if they would. The obligation of
the government, however does not end here. The
18th section OF the act Of 18th May, 1920 makes it
its duty to pay "a just proportion Of any expense
which should che incurred in laying open, paving,
or otherwise improving any Of the streets or ave-
in front Of adjoining to, or which may pass
through or between, any Of the public squares
reservations And in the 18th section of the last
act of incorporation passed the 18th May ls4s this
obligation is again recognised as resting upon it.
This is as it should be, for il is only applying the
rule to the government which is every day APP
piled to the citizen. The latter is made to pay for
the pavement in front Of his house or lot, and why
should not the former do the same? Under this
law, the justice of which will hardly be denied,
the government is now bound to lay the pave
mcnts on the south side of the Botanic Garden and
on the west side Of it from Pennsylvania to Mis-
souri, avenue; on the south side of Missouri aid
the north side of Maine avenue, between Thhd
and Sixth streets; the west side Of Fourth street
between Indiana avenue and G street; on the west
side Of Fifteenth street, from the Treasury building
to the canal, as well several others of like char
aoter which it is not necessary to enumcrate For
these objects appropriation Of five thousand dol
lars asked by the proper department at the last
session of Congress, but, from cause, was not
made.
May we not proceed step farther and say
that the government should also contribute in pro-
portion to the value of it's property TO aid in the
general improvement in the city The revenue Of
the city is derived from taxation and exact Justice
to all demands that this should be as equally dis
tributed as possible. Is it unreasonable that the
government should be asked to contribute its quota
to the general fund We think not. II has recent
ly purchased large number of lots for the use Of
the Arsenal. Before that purchase the taxes upon
those lots were in part relied on to meet the ex-
penses of the city. A large revenue is now derived
from taxation of property around the Capitol, which
the government must soon own. The moment it
makes purchase the property ceases to be tax
able and the of the city is to that extent
up2 If so, is not the principle above suggested
fully established Conccding this, it is yet freely
admitted that whether the government, as prop
ertyholdcr should contribute to these ends in pro-
portion to it's interest in the city, question which
addresses itself exclusively to the discretion of the