Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-05-12

occur many references to the theory that
Washington was to be the nations city,
maintained and governed by the federal or
ganization.
Despite this original theory, the govern
ment's care was soon relaxed and with the
exhaustion of Its funds for the creation of
a capital the burden of supporting the Dis
triet fell upon the handful of property own
ers who had gathered here. They strug-
gled to keep the streets In repair and feebly
sought to extend them. They taxed them
selves and borrowed money from abroad
and finally, finding themselves at the end of
their own resources, they turned to Con-
gress for relief. A committee Of the Senate
heard their plea and returned report
strongly advocating that the government
resume In fact the burden which It had in
theory never abandoned. that Of supporting
the city of its own creation and necessity
That report. filed IN 1885 by Senator South
ard, should be read today by every Iegis-
lator who seeks to understand the right re-
lations between the District and the govern
ment. 1t is reproduced in today's issue of
The Star.
That report advocated not only the re-
sumption Of the burden OF District MAIN
tenance. but the reimbursement of the Dis
ment the shame Of bankrupt, abandoned
capital. The fact that these Recommended
tons were not adopted in no wise detracted
from their obvious justice, which Congress
in part finally recognized In 1873, when it
passed the now operative organic act, But
in resuming Its task of caring for it's own
city, the nation did not go the full length
required by equity and strict business fair
ness. 1t did not reimburse the people of
washington for their heavy expenditures
in maintaining the capital during the years
when the nation had so shamefully neglect
ed it. In 1874 it was computed that such
repayment would amount to about 3d.
000,0OO 1t may be assumed that the total
score chalked UP on this account by 1878
was at least s15,000.oao
That money is due to the District today,
Just as plainly as though one of the part
ners in business house had supported the
whole concern for many years, only to have
the recaicitrant partner return to his obi
cations and resume his place as equal bene-
fciary and rate-payer. No principles of
equity would excuse the resuming partner
from the debt he owed to his faithful COL
league. That debt could never be meas
ured exactly in dollars and cents, for the
credit of the firm, sustained at heavy sac
rifice by the plucky partner, was surely OF
some account. And SO the District feels
today that it is entitled to some recognition
for the struggles and sufferings which it
endured during nearly quarters of q
century when its people, practically without
aid, were preserving In Washington the
semblance of a city. hardly fit to be sure to
be known as the home of great and pros
pering government but yet the only abide
which that government chose to make for
itself.
The act Of 1878 was an act of tardy JUS
tice- 1t cured. however, only part of the
wrong of the decades of national neglect
Now that the city has been brought to
state of comparative decency and even
magnit1cance through the joint efforts or
both partners, and the local partner has
become crippled in resources through the
bad bookkeeping and the violations of the
act Of partnership of the other partner, the
government might with entire propfiety ana
in simple Justice complete the record by
adopting in full the principles SO forcibly
laid down by the Southland report before the
Senate in 1895