Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-04-18

The suggestion was made by member Of
tie House appropriations committee at the
recent hearing that If the q. A. r. APP
Preparation were provided on the same
basis as other municipal expenditures to
which the nation contributes the VET
Grams would pay in part for their own
entertainment. This suggestion was made tho
basis OF claim that unless the customary and
egaI rotations OF the United States and District
we're overthrow in respect to this particular
municipal appropriation by a withdrawal of
the nation from its obligation 90 Contribute
Washington could not he considered as the
host in the reception of the Grand Army. This
effort to shift the responsibility OF a national
discrimination against the veteran in the Dis
trict appropriations from Congress t2 the
people OF the District should not succeed. II
Is true that the es-sOld;rr con-
sumner Of the taxei articles from v,:,ch
the government derives It's revenues is indi-
rectly an infnitcsimaI contributor TO the
funds in the Treasury. Bnt 1t is ridiculous 20
base any serioas argument upon this remote,
uncertain and insignificant contribution. Con-
gress makes great parade OF rewarding with
pensions the heroes of the war in token Of
national gratitude. But if the same searching
and exhaustive inquiry is to lie made into ths
real sources from which the public revenue il
remotely and ultimately derived it will be
found that the veterans are ininitismal con-
tributoTs to their own pensions. TO tie re-
wards and decorations which an alleged
grateful and benefcent government bes.ows
upon them IA recognition of patriotic
selI-sacrifcc and valuable services rendered in
defenco Of country. Is Congress taking money
from TIE veterans with one hand and claiming
credit to itself for bestowing the saElo
money upon the veterans with the
other? The nation pretends to con-
tribute 10 the development OF the national
capitalize city which it undertook In the
beginning 20 build up at national expense and
then eglCetcd its implied contrEct-an aEIoGnt
amount equal to that raised bv the residents in
taxes. But the people OF this District not only
pay their local taxes, but they are. like tine
veterans, contributors to the indirect national
taxes from which the government makes
its half contribution. In internal revenue tax
alone they have paid SG.454. 9O3. and in one
year twice much any of the territories
except one. and more than Alabama,
Arkansas, Maine. Mississippi. Nevada, South
Carolins or Vermont. Il the naton
fraudulentiy exactinS from the District part
Of the money with which it offsets under the
law tire District taxes?
Neither the law Eor common sense takes note
Of such small things as these remote. indirect
uncertain and iEtinitesimal contributions. II
is proper to say tina: the national government
rewards tho veterans with pensions, no.with-
standing the veterans possible contribution 10
the fGnd II IS proper to say tina. :bc nation
pays half of the national capitals municipal
expenses. notwithstanding the Districts obvi-
Gus contribution TO the governments half.
II Is also proper to say that Washington
en.ertains the Grand Army, if the
appropriation for the purpose IS provided
for in its municipal budget or appropriation
bill and is paid in precisely the sane manner
as all other municipal expenses. not
wishstandirg under the law every con-
sumner in the nation provides some
almost imperceptible contribution 10 these
municipal expenses. when he makes his daily
purchases. This sentimental notion about re-
curing the veteran 'aIl unbekn9wnst to him
SELF to contribute to his own entertainment is
too strained and .anciful to make the local tax
payer assent to the bad and dangerous
precedent of large appropriation for municipal
purposes concerning which the Just law which
fixes the financial relations Of the republic aad
its capital shall be violated If this municipal,
expenditure is to be made the subject of a dis
elimination, and Congress will refuse to treat il
as an ordinary municipal appropriation TO which
the existing law applies, let the responsibility
rest upon that body. and let it explain to the
veterans the ground of this unfriendly discrim-
ination- Washington cannot afford to be COM
mit.ed to such precedent