Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-03-16
GOVERNMENT
speech of Hon. n p Chipmau ON
their Relation tn Each other.


After referring 20 the location Of the canital
Mr. Chapman said: Il assert that the history OF
the location OF the capital, the declaration of
Us founders, the provisions OF the deed OF con-
veyRnce mate by the Proprietors Of the soil the
'otemPorsueous acts, the plan OF the CITY and
he legislation of Congress show a distinct
md M mistaksble purpose on The part of the
United states TO build here a federal city at
'ederal expense. There was involved in the very
'des OF building up great political aud non
commercial city, with the chief view of accom-
mcdating the necessities of the government, the
implied pledge that government would take
lpon itself the burden of public improvements
IA that city. A city deprived of commerce aud
manufactures Is deprived of the means OF self
support. The founders could not have been
ignorSDt OF the fact that TO make the capital
what they designed il to be was I'M posi- bic, ex.
cePt under the fostering care OF government.
wHArTHE OLD WORLD DOES Par Irs CAPITALS
No nation before had ever attempted IL, aud
Il is absolutely certain that ours never intended
20 DO So Turning to the Old World, We find
That all the great cities have been either the
creation OF the state, or have been fostered and
aided by the state, notwithstanding most OF
them have large commerce, manufactures and
tevenues. l will venture to saw Mat since
washington city became our capital the govern
ment of France has expended not less than
800 COO COO upon the city OF Paris"
After speaking OF the character of the deed of
conveyance from the original proprietors OF the
soil, and
THE PLAN OF THR CAPITAL,
IS submitted by President Washington 20 Con-
=
will take the trouble TO examine this plan, nov
IN hle in the Othce of public buildings aud
grounds, all doubt will disappear as 20 the fact
hat the government intended this city be
developed and improved at government ex-
pense."
He gives table of the ratio OF street areas OF
certain large cities, which show that Paris.
thought by many TO be the most beautiful city
pf Europe, notwithstanding It's grant bou!s-
Yards and its Champs Elysees, has less than
me half the street area of Washington city.
fer nf fha 1nsi =.
Paris are, for the convenience Of business,
made narrow, while their avenues and bOnle-
wards are troad and beautiful; bat here there
8 not street less than double the width OF
Broadway, New York.
NATIONAL CITY.
Mr.. Chapman next brings forward some cor
respondence between Washington and ,Jeffer-
son, and some interesting facts i'm relation to
he loan OF money by the state of Maryland,
and quotes at some length an article from the
Philadelphia Herald OF January 4, 1895, and
Here, | think, Mr.. Speaker, is the ab-
solute proof of my proposition, that contempt
Taneously with the location of the seat of gov
eminent it was the well understood purpose OF
It's founders to establish a city which was 10 be
national, and in whose growth and prosperity
the whole country was TO take an interest"
THE GENERAL Government SHOULD DO IT'S
SHARE
He calls attention to the opinion with regard
10 The duty or the government expressed in the
report OF the committee charged with the duty
of examining into the affairs OF the District an1
mended 10y the committee, he concludes that IL
is the highest legislative confirmation OF the
proposition that he is endesvcring TO establish,
TO Wit That the burden OF improvements here
should be upon the general government, rather
than upon the citizens.
The United States have stood by aud have
seen their capital become by-wOrd and SCOT
Ding throughout the civilized world. They have
seen the SHAFTS of scOrn and cont smut aud ss-
lire pointed toward 1t without making a single
creditabie effort 20 avert them.
For thirty years il did little more than hew
out some paths 10 the public buildings, aud
take OF the streets and avenues for the people
II the District TO improve; the exact amount eN-
pen&ed by government in this period being
$40 OC0-less than 500 year.
Who cand defend this miserable parsimony.
ND who can justify the conduct OF Government
IN thus trItling with a great public duty I'M
aosed upon IL by the foanders OF the Capital
specially when il ia rememb- red that during
he same period il had realized S7a0. 900 from
he impTOvident sale OF lots-funcs which had
Jeen pledged for the benefit of improvements.
Look at YOUR superb Capita. building There
has never been moment since IL was erected,
when its Surroundings would compare favora-
bly, with New England barn-yard. Twelve
million dollars in this marble pile, of grand
promise without and disappointment within, but
Ii only lacks horseback and hitching-rack
to make it perfectly primitive and rural
WHAT THE DISTRICT CONTRIBUTES TO THE Ma
TIoNAL CoPPERs.
District are a thriftless set, doing nothing to-
wards the support of the government, Mr..
Chipman quotes from the annual re port OF the
Commissioner OF Internal Revenue for 1873 70
show that the District OF Columbia, since 1863,
has paid, exclusive of tax on income, into the
United States Treasury ~ ,695, l19. gilmore than
all the other territories combined; more than
Arkansas, Florida, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebras-
ks, Nevada, or Oregon, and more than the ex-
penditures of the United States for improve
ment OF the capital since ITS foundation. Inten
years this tax burdened District has more than
reimbursed the government for every dollar
laid out here for the common benefit Of its own
and private property.
The PRESS DRsIRE A LIBERAL POLICY TO-
WARDS THE DISTRICT.
Mr.. Chapman continued "I have read the
papers closely since we have been placed liz the
crucible, and say that even the papers most
unfair and preiudiced against the personnel of
our local government and its management take
= high patriotic stand when speaking Of the
duty of Congress. / have yet TO find a paper
which advocates the narrow view that the
United States shall do nothing toward improy-
,ng ard identifying the nations capital, es-
pecially as the government owns half the real
estate and possesses absolute proprietary con-
troll over every street, avenue, alley, square,
park and reservation in IL. Why, sir, France
expended Sl5,C00,0OO to open the Boulevard
Sebastopol, and yet We must plead as for a
charity when we ask this rich people 10 make a
last, fixed, and certain appropriation annually
o carry on improvements in which the whole
country is interested.
BUT SIMPLE JUSTICE DESIRED
. confess, Mr.. Chairman, 1 weary OF this con-
test year after year to obtain simple justice for
he District of Columbia. 1 weary Of the in
difference of Congress to the plighted faith Of
the nation. 1 weary of the abject dependence
Of this com immunity and the position of obsequi-
BUSINESS which their agent must submit to lest
he offend some Congressional propriety or step
ON some Congressional toe. 1 weary Of combat
ting the assumption that the District OF Colum-
bia has no rights which Congressman are bound
to respect. and I would turn hopelessly away
from these halls IL did not see around me re-
publicans and democrats who viii never will
ingly see Congress fasten upon this people per-
pctual bondage as tie result OF their unexam
pied efforts ~ redeem the nations capital from
disgrace.
CONVINCING erATHMRET.
Mr.. Chapman gives q state rent Of the account
between the national and the local govern
ments at this time In the matter OF the Improve
ment Of stree n and avenues, including sewers,
which shows totals as follows
Expended by District OF Colum-
OLA ---VEOsoStlO AZ
Expe nded by government....... 4.600,5S6 20
Sl5,1I4,S2l 20
To reimburse District OF Columbia
excess OF expenditures one-half
OF difference. s-.-.-.-........ 81 SN.4f2 90
To make the account square, Congress should
appropriate this cum.