Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-06
Senator Gallinger Thinks
Congress Means to Be.
EQUAL RESPONSIBILITY
SPIRIT OF THE ORGANIC ACT TO
BE OBSERVED.
Some Arrangement Should Be Made
to Divide the Question Of Ex-
traordinary Expenses.


The deep interest that Senator Gallinger
acting chairman of the Senate committee
on the District of Columbia, has always
taken in the capital and the important po-
siton he now occupies in relation to local
legislation make his views on all matters
affecting the District of unusual interest at
this time. Senator Gallinger has been a
member of the District committee about
eight years, during which time he has been
n close student of every question relating
to the upbuilding and beautifying of the
District of Columbia.
He has always favored a broad policy in
the upbuilding of the capital. He was
closely related to Senator Mcmillan in his
plans for the improvement of the District,
and has always expressed the opinion that
this city could not fail to take rank with
the greatest of the worlds capitals.
"It seems to me that any one who care
fully studies the municipal problem involv-
ed in the upbuilding and government of
this city," said Senator Gallinger when seen
by a Star reporter today. will conclude
that above ALL the idea of providing the
nation with a model capital, to which it
may for all time point with pride, should
be uppermost From the earliest days OF
the republic the greatest minds nave oeeh
employed in considering this problem Ihe
city was laid out on a magnificent scale,
and ever since that day its development
into. the most beautiful of the capitals OF
the world has been as confidently looked
forward to by Americans as has the devel-
opment of the country itself.
I'm every city the subject of taxation has
always given cause for friction between the
various interests that have mad the burden
of taxation The difficulties met in secur-
ing an equitable assessment have always
been great, and It is not strange that the
adjustment of the division of expenses In
Cured in the District of Columbia between
the taxpayers and the general government
has resulted in some difference of opinion
The relation is novel one and there is
lack of precedent in our country from
which to draw any conclusion as to what
is just between the District and the govern
ment-
The Organic Act.
'I have always believed that the organic
act of 1878. by which the District and the
general government were to each pay half
of the expenses incurred in the administra-
ton of the local government, was founded
on a just conception of the responsibilities
of all parties involved and with a view to
simplifying what could not fail to be
difficult and annoying problem were it
treated in any other way. Those VINO thlnk
that the government should NOT pay nan
of the expense should consider the govern
ment in the light of a taxpayer ana ex-
actly as it would be considered if it were
a CORPORATION or an individual carrying on a
manufacturing business. 1t ava1is little 10
saw that were 1t not for the government
there would be no city here at all Carhe-
pie could have said that about Pittsburg,
and many manufacturing establishments are
in the same relation to the communities IN
which they are taxed to the full extent OF
their property
s.There is little doubt that just valua-
tion placed upon the property of the ma
tional government here would snow that II
is probably more than equal to the Vaius
Of all other property. But to nave TINS
Matter adjusted by any periodical assess
ment of the property of the government
would be fraught with encless ahHoEaice
and contention. The trainers OF the aci
of 1S7S realized this and provided the very
simnIe plan by which the District would
nav half of the expense and the genera
government would pay half. thlhk IL
should be our duty to get back to ana Keep
inst as near that plan as possible
Opening Of Streets.
az do NOT however believe in the opening
80 stroa.s through outlying farmlands and
h.,i,o the expense of that borne by the
notional government. Indeed. it does not
seen right that it should be borne by the
taxnayers of the District generally. the
benefts from such openings in large num-
her of cases accrue to the owners or tha
land The District committee mas peen
very unwilling to enter into any extensive
oneninp of such streets, except In cases IN
uihicb there was a popular demand for 1t
bevond the interests to be anected Inc
case is naturally different in instances IN
which II Is necessary to put streets through
asta hlished and improved SUBDIVISIONS In
which perhaps the entire property of some
individuals is taken without benehtng them
in the least There should be way. to
handle this class of cases without lnter1er.
ing with the spirit of the organic act III
the Congress moves slowly, or plainly al
lows Ii to be understood that IL VIII not
move at all, in the opening of streets
through farmlands unless the land rs oedi-
Gated without cost to the government |
think very healthy feeling Will result
among those interested. The land must De
developed and Congress should stand ready
to assist those who dedicate the streets
and should involve expense only In cases
i,,stified by a general necessity such as the
need of thoroughfares to connect dlHereht
sections This is, In a general way, the
policy that has been pursued by the District
committee of the Senate.
Position of Congress.
..I believe that If it were thoroughly un-
derstood here that Congress intends to
maintain the spirit Of the organic act, there
would be no local objection to the in
crea sed taxation which has been placed on
the act authorizing and directing the col
lection of license tax. If the people once
understood that the raising of a large sum
from taxation will result in greater i'm
movements for the District and will not be
used as an excuse to nullify the force OF
the organic act by a reduction of the ma
tional governments share of the expense,
on the ground that the District is able to
nav more / believe the pride of the people
here will cause them to gladly pay the in
creased tax. knowing that the money is to
build up and further beautify the city. For
nv own part l do not propose to allow the
fact that we are getting an increased tax
here to affect my Judgment as to what 1t Is
right to have the national government pay.
Extraordinary Expenses.
"I also believe we should divide the cur
rent expenses of the District from the ex-
penditures for extraordinary purposes No
other community attempts to provide great
public Improvement from current receipts,
and il is impracticable for us to attempt
1t. II these extraordinary expenditures
were provided for separately. the portion
of the District Of Columbia could be pro-
vided for by an advance from the treasury
I