Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-01-18
Largest Circulation in the District
Inpromising Outlook.

There i great danger Of the failure OF Con
sIcSs q pass any bill this season to remedy
our District difficulties. Tire session is al
ready half through, AMI the national basI-
ness now pressing will - occupy the attan-
tiOn Of Congress for the remainder that there
will be little time To give To District matters
And yet 10 is imperative that some action
should NJ taken by Congress this winter, set
Ting definitely the financial relations Of the
Government with this District. The case is
50 serious for our taxpayers and business
men that 10 may h said 10 be almost enc of
life and death To them. Should Congress al
jOurn without such action the shrinkase of
values, and the utter stasnstioa that
would fall upon all business opera
lions would b. something APPALLING. And
vet in face Of this fact We End the
class OF our citizens who have the
most st stake resting supineiy. either from
hOpeleSsneSs, or because they are d.IudeI by
the utterly mistaken idea that matters will
come right without any -xcrtiOn on their
part. In fact. all the action taken by our
citizens. apparently. il by those interested In
opposing particular features OF the District
bills now before Con grcSS. and thus the force
exercised Is altogether in the way of ObStruc
ton Under the circumstances il il not
strange that Congress. however kindly dis
posed towards us. should feel at = loss how
to proceed. 1t Is now time that the response
bile citizens Of the District should take some
united effort to secure Congressional action
establishing the proportions that the general
government and the people of the District
shall pay of the District expenses. This prin-
ciple is established both by the Morrill, bill
and the Sargent bill. In the latter the
per cent. Of the tax the government shall pay
ON its property is given in figures; i'm the
Morrill, bill the exact amount is not defined,
because. in Dir. Morrill's opinion, the proper
tons might vary from year to year; AMI it,
for instance, Congress should see mt to ap-
prOpriatc ten millions o. dollars in a single
wear for District improvements, il would not
he fair To require the people OF the District to
pay an equivalent sum. Our opinion 4. that
10 would he more satisfactory sill AROUND to
have Congress establish the exact proportion
il will pay, as in the Sargent bill; but as We
understand that Mr. Morrill, is not tenacious
of particular points OF his bill OF this charac-
ter, 80 that the general framework is main
tanned. il is probable that he would rca lily
accept any amendment that would make il
fair and just to our taxpayers. 1t is said
that the Morrill, bill, or some bill endorsed by
the joint special committee, will stand a bet
ter chance of securing the attention Of Con-
greSS than any new bill. We know not
how this may he; but there can be no
question that the point il to concen-
trdte ali the strength available upon what
ever bill. embOiyins the principle of
government paying its fair proportion
of District expenses, has the best chance OF
passing this session. IL will never do to
have the matter go over 10 the next Con-
gTe>S. and to a House in which States rights
opposition to building up a great national
capital will doubtless come in play to the
diSadvantage OF this District. And ii must
De remembered. also, that the next House
will be with the exception of thirty or forty
members. utter strangers here. and entirely
: unfamiliar with the wants and necessities of
the people Of the District. and of the nature
Of the obligations of the general government
10 the District IL is imperative, we
say, that there should be action this session
upon the vital point of finance The question
whether We shall or shall not .ssave the
principle" Of suffrage by elccting Cne or more
officers who have no real powers is trivial
ono IN comparison, and can be wrangled over
n leisure after we have secured the great de-
sideratum of government recognition of il
duties and responsibilities in behalf of the
government city. We shall be very foolish
II while ScTambling for the shallow we lose
the substance. VIII not our citizens of
weight and energy move in the matter before
II is too late?