Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-20

Several million dollars Of the District 8
bonded debt fan due this year and next 1t Is
to be remembered that nearly all Of the So
called District debt was contracted between
1871 and 1878 by officials appointed by the
United States over whom the people OF the
District had no control in carrying out the
scheme of comprehensive improvements,wh which
the United States ought long before that to have
perfected at the national expense. In the be-
ginning the nation acquired ownership as a free
gift Of the streets and avenues of the capital,
more than one-haif the area Of the city. IL re-
ceived also as a free gift onehalf Of the lots re-
manning after the streets and reservations had
been subtracted the understanding being that
the proceeds of the sale Of these lots should be
devoted in part at least to opening and improy-
ing the Streets which work upon its own prop
erty vas to be the duty of the government
But the large sum of money derived from these
ales was not applied 10 this purpose For
more than thirty years, during which period
sOo, 900 had been thus realized, the govern
nent's expenditures upon streets and
avenues, which were its exclusive prop
erty, were less than 300 per year,
and its annual appropriations since that time
until a recent period in the city's history have
been widely varying in amount and at the best
inadequate. 1t was shown in 1874 that up to
date the citizens of Warrington had expended
upon the capital in excess Of the amount ap-
propriated by Congress, about S13, 500, 900. In
1878 the government, which had in the begin
ming impliedly undertaken to meet all the ex-
penses Of capital making and then shifted that
burden in the main upon private citizens, de-
cided that justice required it to pay one-half OF
the Districts expenses. This payment was ad-
vocated By Senator Southland in 1885 and he
also urged the reimbursement to the District Of
what IL had expended in the past beyond its
Just proportion Congress has followed only
oae-hak Of Senator southard's advice. The
consistent and equitable policy Of the govern
ment would be to strike balance, and credit
to the District whatever sum is necessary to
make the expenditures of the general govern
ment upon the capital equal to those of its citi-
zens for the whole life of the city. This course
would largely settle the so-called District debt,
contracted in performing the unfulhlled obli-
cations Of the nation. and would save
for current improvements nearly
million dollars annually which are taken
from the current revenues and applied
upon this debt consideration
Of these facts, il it does move the nation to the
luu measure OF lusOce toNaru the capiIai, ought
at least TO hold it unswervingly to the present
comparatively fair and liberal arrangement in
respect to current expenses, to protect the Dis
triet against such unjust exactions as the water
tunnel and geological park expenditures, and
to secure the prompt and hearty adoption Of
measures to meet and dispose Of in the wisest
manner the part of the indebtedness which
falls due this year and next. The burden
which the District ought not to bear at all
should at least be rendered as light as possible.