Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-15
How It is Done Here, and Elsewhere.

In the course of his short but inspiring
talk before the Board of Trade last night
Representative McCIeary of Minnesota,
who. as chairman of the District bill SUD-
committee has much to do with the ram
ing of the appropriation law for the DIS
trict and who has rendered to the people
of the capital important and highly APP
preciated public service. said that wash
ington should be the model city of the
world one to which other municipalities
would always look for guidance before
starting any big project, and he impliedly
pledged himself to labor to this end. The
applause that followed that statement was
spontaneous and appreclative. The Wash
ingtonians present have been hoping for
many years for just such contamination.
They have sacrificed their time, energies
and means to that end. They have urged
measures and enterprises upon Congress
repeatedly in the hope of advancing the
day when the national capital Shall stand
forth as the Ideal and the guide for all
municipalities. They have resisted. even at
the cost of Immediate betterments, projects
that would sap the resources of the capital
and eventually check the natural progress
toward that ideal.
1t is most suggestive that the dominant
note in the address of President Cox of the
Board should have related to the proper
financing of the cost of the permanent
works now in progress and contemplation.
He urged every member of the organization
to strive steadfastly to secure from Con-
gress legislation placing upon business
like basis of long credit the debt incurred
in bringing the capital up to the national
standard. There is, indeed. no more I'M
portant work ahead of this influential body
of citizens than the enactment, IL possible
through its efforts. of law definitely and
satisfactorily adjusting the finances of the
District so that current needs shall be paid
for sufficiently out of current revenues and
the cost OF permanent works paid on the
bas!s OF a definite federal advance for
stated period of years. or out of the pro-
ceeds of the sale of bonds.
There is today no other city in the United
States, probably none other In the world,
that pays for its permanent works costing
large sums out OF Its current revenues,
actually or in theory. There is, In truth.
no city In existence that can do so. There
is no business concern that finances its en-
Engagements out of it's cash on hand. Why.
then, should Washington be compelled
through a mistaken notion of economy, or
for any other reason, thus to keep its
books? 1t is not good business. 1t is not
good government. 1t Is not equity toward
the present taxpayers. Representative Nc
Cleary and all other members of Congress
must see that If Washington is to become
the model city for all the world 1t must be
first placed upon a business-like basis with
regard to its finances. 1t is not possible
that it serve as a demonstration of the
ability of a city to maintain itself and pay
for its expansion at the same time out of
its current income.
\ peculiar reversal of the situation is
suggested in the hearty and unquestionabiy
sincere praise and wholesome optimism of
MIR. McCleary. Washington now is chiefly
concerned in persuading Congress to allow
the capital to grow according to the rules
adopted in other cities and in all large
business establishments. Until those rules
have been applied here there can be no GER
tainty of such steady and progressive i'm
provement toward the ideal of a national
city as Mr.. McCleary's conception of what
the capital should be involves
In order that the capital may become the
model city which all other municipalities
may initiate, let US first initiate other cities
In the wise and business-like financing OF
this vast project Mr.. McCleary, who has
done and will do so much toward realizing
ths Ideal Washington. might we'll make the
solution of the financing problem his first
step of the immediate future in his cam
paign for the model capital