Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-04-25
or Of The Evening Star:

To the Editor OF The Evening Star:
In conversing with members who oppose
making the proposed library a matter of
joint expense, the same as other municipal
affairs, the only objection / have heard is
that elsewhere throughout the country they
supported by the municipalities. either
by a general or a special tax, and in few
cases. by donations from citizens. Suppose
that to be so, then the question at once
arises. What constitutes the municipality
here at the national capital? There is no
such thing in the usual sense of the term.
Whatever there Is of municipal power or
organization here is Congress. 1t has abso-
lutte contro! of everything, and legislates on
all municipal affairs. the same the town
o: city councils do elsewhere.
The Commissioners, whom it has crea ted
by It's law, are simply executive officers
appointe to execute the municipal laws en-
acted by Congress. They have no power of
general municipal legislation, such as town
and city councils have. and the citizen tax
payers have no voice whatever, either in the
enactment of municipal regulations or in
the appointment of the Commissioners 20
carry out the municipal laws enacted by
Congress, which is our town council. To
quote the words of Senator:
The government of this District is an
absolute despotism. 1t is the only place on
this continent, at least under the American
flag, where the people have no voice what
ever in the administration of their own local
affairs. They have nothing to say about
the imposition of taxes; they have no voice
in the selection of those who are placed
over them for the administration of the
functions OF government"
All the right or power the citizen has is
to pay the taxes which Congress imposes
on what property he may own in the Dis
trict-"onlv that and nothing more
In consequence of this anomalous condi-
ton Of affairs, and because the United
States government owns more than one
hall of all the property in the District. on
which 1t pays no taxes, 1t sOlemnly agreed
to pay one-half of all municipal expenses
Now inasmucil as the United States gov
crnmcnt is in effect and in law the munich
pallty, and. as it has agreed to pay half Of
the municipal expenses. it would seem to
be perfectly clear that If a library is to be
established it should be done by the only
existing municipal power, to wit Congress.
and that it should be supported out of the
municipal fund-half by the government
and half by the citizens. / do not see how
II is possible, in view of the facts for any
reasonable person to arrive at any other
conclusion.
The fact that, as 4 general rule the states
90 not appropriate money to help support
their town and city libraries has no hear
ing whatever. The state has no connection
with or part in the municipal governments
of the towns and cities, and aside from the
state capitol building, it owns no property
in them, and the amount 1t does own is an
fEiinitesrnal in proportion to the whole
property of the state that it is not considered
worth mentioning
3d. too, the fact that the United States
government does not pay taxes on the prop
crty 1t owns in the cities elsewhere Is no
reason, for that. too, is an infintesImal mart
of the whoe-here and there a custom
house court house or a post office build
iGg.
1t Is passing strange that members do not
or VIII not see the facts as they are and
act accordingly. All must see and know
that the national capital is sui generis.
wholly unlike any other city in the United
states, ana unlike any ether national capt.
tai IN tho world, so far as these matters are
concerned, and. therefore, the rule Of action
which applies elsewhere does not apply here
AS showing how these matters are man
aged elsewhere in the United States even
at the risk of repeating what has perhaps
been already seen by most, would refer to
the state of Massachusetts.
The last report of the free libraries Of the
state OF Massachusetts shows that there
are less than twenty towns in the state with
out free circulating libraries. In 2J6 towns
and cities the libraries are owned and man
aged by the municipality. In thirty-siy
other towns the municipality is represented
in the management. In twenty other towns
the municipality, though not managing the
libraries. appropria ties money for their sup
port. There are only seventeen libraries
which have no connection with the malnici-
pality During the last three years the num-
Der of bound volumes in the free libraries
of the state has increased from 2.7594O to
$780, 3I. and in the last year there was a
circulation of 6,267 ,O61 books.
Here it will be seen that the libraries are
established, owned and supported by the
municipal government, and out of the gem
eral municipal fund. That is all that Is
asked here. and it is right and proper, If
rot, why not? The objection that 1t would
necessitate heavy expenditure has no
foundation. The only expense required
would be the rent of a few rooms until we
get our District building, when rooms can
be provided for it there, and a couple, or, at
most, three, persons to keep charge of the
books. Moreover, that matter is wholly
within the control of our town council
Congress-which can limit the expense as
it sees fit.
Again, the citizens have already raised
some 5000 for 1T, and many will donate
books besides, If once established. So, view
ing it in every light possible, 1t would seem
to be the proper thing to do. w. C. D.
Difference.
From the Texas Sftings.
Gus De Smith, hear your mother-in-
law Is dangerously Ill"