Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-17
"Haying Time" in Capital Making.

1t takes a long time to enlighten the
country in regard to the fiscal relations OF
the District and the general government.
It would seem that by this time, after the
organic act fixing those relations had been
In force for twenty-five years. and under
annual discussion in both branches Of Con-
gress, such comment as the following
by the Sioux City Tribune would be I'm
possible:
The District of Columbia recognizes that
this is the time to make hay. and out or
an overrich treasury it is given 50, ,09O
in this years appropriation BILL
The Tribune apparently does not know,
and perhaps will not until this matter
reaches it's attention. that Of the s., 1896. O9O
carried by the appropriation bill more than
oHs-half comes out of the pockets of the
taxpayers of the people of the District, In
larger proportion than prevails In the aver
age of the eighteen cities on the census
lists with 1000 and more of population.
More than half" 1t Is to be noted, for
despite the pledges given by the govern
ment In 1878 Congress has repeatedly dur
ing recent years forced the District to pay
all of certain charges, notably for street
extensions. planned for the development Of
the capital upon a national scale. In con-
sequence of these infractions Of the organic
act, the act Of partnership. each appropria-
ton bill contains large items checked ex-
clusively against the Districts revenues,
going to make up the total of the budget.
Newspapers outside Of the District have
generally recognized the truth that it is
wise and economical to press vigorously
all the works which are pending or in
prospect necessary to bring Washington
up to the appropriate scale Of beauty and
mnniciDal c0mD1ptenpSS During the at
few years there has been a notable awak-
ening to the fact that the government has
not fulfilled its pledges or done its duty
by the country in the matter Of capital
making and the great project Of the park
commission was hailed as revelation not
only OF the opportunity which here awaits
the capital makers, but of the importance
of steady advances In the prosecution of
public improvements. This was most graft
flying both to the citizens of Washing
ton, who have cheerfully borne their share
of the cost despite their diminished COM
mercial opportunities here in the District,
and to the Jealous friends of the Greater
Washington in Congress who see the Dis
trict In its true aspect as the nations
center
There should In the prosecution Of these
works. in only a part Of which the District
is financially interested as partner, De
no question Of the immediate state Of the
treasury. Too often in the past have the
projects for developing the capital been
halted because of some temporary strin-
gency. In large part the present unfinished
aspect of Washington Is due to this past
policy Of making hay when the sun
shines only. Just the other day Congress
refused to permit the District to provide
by means of a federal advance at int crest
a fund out of which 1t could certainly and
uniformly meet its share of the cost of
some of the pending great permanent
works. Had the principle thus rejected
been adopted by the government years ago.
placing the great enterprise of capital max
ing on a business-like basis with an as
surance of a steady flow Of funds, Wash
ington would now have attained much
closer to the ideal which every patriotic
American cherishes for the seat Of the
government,