Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-01-19

held up the measure in the House, and
blocked its passage until their legislative
demands were complied with.
1t represents no public sentiment, either
in or out of Congress, and it should. be
changed as proposed in the Senate bill, at
the earliest opportunity. Why should the
only Wa shington property-owner who Is
exempt from sharing the cost of suburban
developnI ent be that one who is also the
largest owner of suburban land, to wit:
The national government? One who lives
In Washington and owns no county prop
erty contributes in his taxes to suburban
development, because. being Washington
property owner. he is also District prop
erty-ow ner, and District taxation ought
to be expended equitably in all parts Of the
District. Uncle Sam is a proper contribu-
tor to co lnty development on precisely the
same grounds; with the additional reason
in his case that he is also large suburban
property owner.
1t is neither wise nor just to draw an ar
bitrary line through the federal district and
to say that so much of the national capital
is nation al and 50 much is not; that up to
this point the nation is concerned, but be-
yond this point its interest and obligation
cease The repudiated portion will be, per-
haps, the most beautiful section of the
Greater Washington of the immediate
future; 1t is under the exclusive jurisdic-
ton of Congress. like all ether parts of
the capital; its people pay taxes which go.
in part, to meet expenditures connected
with the ioriginal city for which the nation
has confessed and assumed pecuniary obi.
Cation; and the nation " hich has the same
power of exclusive legislation in respect
to it also ow rs almost the same percentage
of property in it as it now possesses in the
original Washington The street plan to be
extenuedI over it is that of LEnfants
Washing ton. with the broad avenues and
beat tiful reservations that are suitable to
the capital OF France, or the American re-
pubic, but that are grossly extravagant
and unsuitable in the case of self-de-
veloping. self-supporting suburban village,
which the county would become, if re-
prdiated as an integral part of the capital.
If all these aims of the bond-issue propo-
sition can be accomplished the sooner sue
cess Is attained the better. The quicker
the necessary sewers are laid the greater
the DECREASE Of sickness and death in the
city. TIE SCORER the street extensions are
made tine less costly to the community and
the less harassing to individuals this
necessary work will be. The more speedily
correction is male Of the bad precedent OF
this indirect and cowardly evasion of pro-
portionate contribute by the general gov
ernment and the citizens of the District
toward municipal expenses in all parts of
the FEEDER al District, the better for all con-
cerned. II under proper conditions these
necessary pr bic works can be begun dur
ing the presen period of depression so
much the better for thousands of the local
unemployed and those dependent upon
them.
But so far as street extension Is con-
cerned. the principle of proportiOnate con-
tribution is. as affirmed by the board of
trade. "a vital feature of the proposed
legislation" just principle, whose MAIN
tenance is most essential TO the well-being
of the capital. Street extension must be
secured i'm The manner proposed by the
Senate bill. in opposition to the House
proposal, OF the District cam
not aftorH to secure 1T at all.