Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-20
Execution of the Highway Act.


For years every thoughtful Washington
harmonious development of the national
capital speedy extension of Washington
magnificent plan of streets which should
correct or prevent as far practicable the
nisfit band of suburban settlements with
narrow. crooked and discordant thorough
fares which has threatened to encircle and
hem in the city The local ambition has
been to have the rev Washington beyond
Boundary street" worthy of the original
city, and integral and harmonious part
of the nations capital
The highway act, which was intended to
solve this municipal and national problem.
was mutilated and perverted in Congress.
ard it was accepted by its friends in its
imperfect state against the advice of the
Starr a last resort to secure its pas
sage. with the knowledge that it needed
amendment. and with the full intention at
that time in its supporters of subsequently
applying for such amendments.
The vital defect of the act was the pro-
vision concerning the payment of the cost
of street extension and financial RESPONSE
bility concerning the Improvement and de-
velopment of the streets created under it,
The broad avenues of the capital. planned
and carried out on the magnificent scale
suitable for the seat of the government OF
the worlds greatest republic, were to be
spread over addition to Washington. but
the national responsibility for a share of
the ccst of this improvement was to be re-
pudiated- On this side of Boundary street
was to be the national Washington. in
which the people of the republic are con-
cerned; on the other side was to be the new
local Washington. of interest only to its
residents. But Washington's street plan,
however fit for the ration's city, is entirely
unsuitable from the prohibitive expense in
volved III it for application to the suburban
settlements. viewed as exclusively self-sup-
porting villages Congress cannot equit-
ably say to the District suburban residents
that the broad streets of the capital shall
pillow through their houses and lots to the
end that the capital shall practically annex
and absorb their property without treating
them in all respects a part of the ma
TONS city. The capitals street plan in
wolves participation in the privileges of the
capital under the act of 1878. in respect to
the cost Of maintaining such plan. The
financial provisions of the highway act
meant virtual confiscation of their property
to numerous suburbanites, reputation by
the republic of the national obligations in
respect to the Greater Washington, and
the creation of bad precedent threaten
ing a similar if gradual reputation of the
national obligations concerning the original
city
From the date of its passage local public
opinion has refused to tolerate this legls,a-
tive provision. In 1894 tine board of trade
in endorsing a limited bond issue TO meet
certain public improvements. including
street extension. stipulated that proper
tomato contribution by the national gov
eminent toward all of these improvements
without exception is a vital feature of the
proposed legislation" The District is of
the same mind today.
There has been a threatening prospect
that the highway act would go into prac-
teal operation in shape which is unjust
TO local property owners, and disastro
10 vital interests of the District; and on
scale which raises the doubt whether the
District can afford SO comprehensive
plan The popular protest against the pro-
posed injustice finds its latest reflection in
the jury's verdict of yesterday in the con-
demnation cases. which in effect pro-
nounces impraeticable the project of financ-
ing the Improvement that is provided by
tie highway act.
This act must be so amended either di-
rectly (Which is the only safe way) or in
directly by the conditions of the appropria-
tive legislation to carry it into effect, so
that the national obligations in respect to
the upbuildiug of New Washington as
part of the federal District shall not be
repudiated. If this alteration cannot be Sc
cured. the highway act, admirable as were
its purposes. and beneficial to the public as
1t was in intent, must be executed ie it
must hang by the neck until it is dead
he