Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-21
Get Together.

Confusion Of ideas in respect to the pres
ent situa ton of the District in reference to
highway legislation is responsible for a
copious outflow of irrelevant and mslead-
ing tory the subject.
An act which. practically applied.
threatens the condemnation of suburban
land for streets a a minimum cost of eight
or ten million dollars entirely at the ex-
pense of local property owners and tax
payers. aud which repudiG,tes permanently
all national obliest ton for the improyeme II
of the capital beyond Boundary street.
mas been pronounced constitutional in every
section by the Supreme Court of the United
States. and in the natural course of events
would at once be enforced. TIE only check
upon such enforcement. with its disastrous
consequences to the community is the
virtual finding of two iuries that the as
S"SSmect of benefits proDosed by the a Il
is in certain RESPECTS impracticable In
view of the bare possibility that some other
jury might find otherwise or that the as
sessment feature might be disregarded en-
tire1y. or that the mere amendment of this
provision of the bill might be sought and
secured the barrier between the community
and the disaster CT enforcement of the
present highway act Is very frail and
feeble
The Board of Trade last night co-operat-
ing with the Commissioners took vigorous
and radical action for the correction of the
evil. The point of vital interest to the CAP
ital. the maintenance inviolate of the act
of 1913. was approached openly and cour-
ageously- The declaration on this point is
10 the following effect: That proportion
ate contribution by the United States under
the act of 1873 is vital feature of this
amendatory legislation, and that if the
elimination of section u cannot be other
wise secured, the whole highway act should
he repealed The removal of section u
from the statute is absolutely essential 10
the welfare of the capital No sacrifice is
TOO great TO secure its cxcision The Board
Of Trade wisely recognizes this fact. and
adopts as its primary and dominating prin-
cipIe of action: Section fifteen must be
destroyed"
Next. the Board pronounced the street
extension plan as recorded too comprehen-
sVe in scope in dealing with the existing
hiiSht SUBDIVISIONS. and as a consequence
too expensive for the community to bear
even II the national obligations in the mat
ter verc recognized. The substitution Of
another plan for the one now of record was
recommended. which should reduce the
expense. to be borne half and half by ,,a-
tion and city after deduction of actual
special benefits. from eight or ten millions
10 three OF four millions Those who think
that the reduced amount is too much to
pay for reasonable rect:fcations of the ex-
lstins band OF misfit subdivisions which
VIII permit the plan OF the city to be laid
out in practical conformity to the original
design clear to the District line and avoid
the necessity OF a vastly more expensive
4I.yh nfrer
divisions in the future, must OF course
bear in mind that the law as ii stanCs will
require the payment of more than double
this amount. to be exacted if the benefit
provision fails. wholly from the coatr.bu-
tons Of the local taxpayers. The desire of
every philosophical citizen will be to have
the city plan extended, in the same fash
loH that Baltimore, Philadelphia New
York. Brooklyn and Boston have laid c1t
extension plans, in manner and at an ex-
pense which will not be oppressive. and on
Il oasis OF contribution which will maintain
irvio.ate the act CT 1873
Space does not permit discussion at this
time OF the other wholesome amendments
proposed by the Board Suffice il to say
that the honest effort has evidently been
10 discard from the act that which is bad
and To cleave to that which is good
No minor differences of opinion as to the
best amendments of or substitutes for the
HiSnway act should prevent cooperation
on the part OF those who would rid the
community of the menace of section ff-
teen of the existing law.
So difficult is ii to secure affirmative leg
islation absolutely needed by the District
in the face of the slightest obstruction.
that in The Stars opinion. unless the Com
InissioGers. Beard of Trade, Citizens Asso-
Citations and the people generally get to-
ge:her and stand together in their assault
upon the fatally objectionable provisions
of the highway act that law will stand.
including the 18th section, with its ten
million assessment exclusively upon the
District.