Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-02-06
A Dangerous Tendency.

Senator Allen took occasion yesterday dur
ing the debate on the District appropriation
bill to display his temper with regard 10 the
organic act and the manner of it's interpre-
tation. He confessed to a pronounced dls-
position to compel the people of Washington
to bear all the burden of municipal mann
tenance while arguing against extending
the half-and-half provision to the lighting
of the streets beyond the city boundary.
This attitude on the part of the Nebraskan
suggests the inevitable disaster to result
from a congressional yielding to the idea
that there is any difference between the Dis
trict Oh one side OF the other OF the mag
mary line which was years ago adopted as
convenient boundary between the urban and
the then rural portions of the federal capt.
tai A deplorabe concession has been made
to this conception of the national Washing
ton In the matter Of the street extensions
The House and the Senate have specifically
striven to limit themselves in their infrac-
tions of the spirit and letter of the organic
act thus far to the mere condemnation, eN-
clusively at local expense, Of the land for
the opening of new streets beyond the old
boundary holding the federal government
to its share of the cost of improving and
maintaining these streets when thus opened
But notwithstanding this limitation, the
spirit of violation has spread until 1t IS
found in many items. and fiagrantly in the
pronounced desires of individual Legislators,
such as Senator Allen.
There can be no safe discrimination. The
District of Columbia. not merely the city OF
Washington, Is the seat of government. over
which Congress has the power of exclusive
legislation, and the taxes of which are dis
bursed in accordance with the organic act
through the District appropriation bill
Washington has grown in obedience to natu-
raj demands 1t has grown outward rather
than upward Instead of congeSting, after
tho fashion of municipalities located unfa-
vorably between restrictive natural bounds,
il has spread In recognition of the laws OF
health and the demands of the ideal who
the founders and the makers of the city
wisely set for themselves. 1t has long ago
passed the artificial boundary lines. and. re-
tanning in all respects its federal character
its relations in every part to the national
government which called it into existence
it has developed into great city, 1t has
physically. though not legally, cast aside
its ancient boundary line as outgrown.
Senator Aliens doctrine. carried to its
legitimate extent, would create two Wash
ingtons, the old city, located within the in
adequate bounds of long ago. and the new
city. spread beyond those bounds. There
will never be an official, social line thus
drawn. The demarkation will forever be
imaginary. The capital will be as fully the
capital in what are now the urban suburbs
as within the heart of the business district.
Yet 1t is toward such an artificial, unjust,
unwise discrimination that Congress is
steadily tending as long as the in:quitous
street extension laws are allowed to remain
mrepealed and are regarded as guides to
similar enterprises of the future.
- If it is proper for the government to pay
half the cost of lighting the settled streets
beyond the old bounGnry-and the Senate
apparently had no doubt yesterday to
this-it is proper to respect the organic act
in all things and all degrees.