Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-09

MIR. oicott replied, reiteratfng In part his
previous statement. that the provision was
inserted only after a great deal OF dfscus-
sion. and had been deemed by the commit
tee the only fair thing to do. Moreover.
the organic act OF 1878 had been followed
in this connection.
Mr. Payne wanted to know II the District
committee regarded the act OF 1873 as
sacred thing, that was not susceptible or
amendment or improvement Mr. Olcotr
said that the members of the committee
had no such idea In fact. their Views were
quite different. But just the same, they
thought II was only fair and only consistent
that the United States should pay half OF
this excess expense.
Mr.. Payne said that Ii seemed to him Inas
the opening and use of streets benented
the District of Columbia alone and that the
procedure that had been followed for years
was the only correct one and shooio not
be reversed at the suggestion of the DIS
trict committee.
Representative Morrell OF Pennsylvania
wanted to know IL Mr.. Payne considered
1t fair to the tax payers OF WASH
ington that when the United STATES
wanted TO open a boulevard In conforna-
ton to the plans of LEnfant, the French
engineer who laid out the city, that the
United States government should not pay
a cent toward the cost of this improve
ment.
Mr. Payne said he thought this was fair,
and that there was no reason why the
United States should pay half of the bin
when Che DfStrlCI got all the DeneHt.
This city was a very fortunate place. 1t
was an honored spot. 1t was the capital
of the United States. One-half of all its
other expenses were paid by the govern
ment. Consequently. he did not think that
the general government should be imposed
upon IN ordinary street opening PROPOSE
tons. All the benefit, he thought, should
be assessed on the adjoining land and paid
by the District. He said he was willing
that the United States should pay one-half
of the other expenses, but at that the Dis
trict Of Columbia got by far the best end
of the deal. He asserted that the taxes
in Washington were the cheapest in the
United States.
Mr.. Olcott intimated that. in his opinion.
il was not fair when street openings were
made affecting remote sections of the city
that benefits should be assessed on abutting
property.
But he felt that If 1t was right for the.
government to pay one-half of the ex-
seRses, .of the District. sasr provided in tle
organic law of 1875 1t was right that the
excess expenses of any street opening Or
boulevard expenses should be borne on the
Balf-and-half basis a.
Representative Lilley of Connecticut I'M,
proved this shining opportunity to reveal
remarkable lack of knowledge concerning
District affairs Mr.. Lilley wanted TO know
II Mr.. ,Olcott-. thought it proper for the
United States government TO pay one-haH
of the District expenses. Mr.. Olcott re-
piled In the affirmative
Mr.. Ililley then wanted to know If Mr..
O.cott considered it proper for the United
States government TO pay three-rourths or
the District expenses, and explaining MS
reason for pressing this inquiry IL became
apparent that Mr.. Ijlley thought that the
general government paid not only one-haif
of the general expenses of the District Dut
also paid half of the Districts half.
After his mind had been disabused of this
idea serious consideration Of the bill was
resumed.
Mr.. oIcott asserted In this connection that
In fhe tFaa oaY1t he cfrtn of
Columbia the general government got quite
as much did the District
, Each side had an hour for the discussion
OF the bill. and Representative Sims in OPP
position to the paragraph requiring the gem
eral government to pay half of the excess
Of damages over benefits, took the floor. He
gave notice that he would offer an amend
ment striking out this provision inserted by
the committee.
Home Rule for the District
Representative Sims devoted most of his
attention to the home rule and self-govern-
ment proposition for the District Ineiden-
tally, he pointed out a number of the So
called evils that result from the lack of
suffrage in the District. Corporations were
not taxed heavily enough, he insisted, and
the small property owner paid a great deal
mere in proportion to his holdings than
the large property owner. The people of
ele District Of Columbia should not be
nothing in the world to do with it. Con-
tgress made the laws and they had only to
obey them.
1t was unjust of Congress. Mr.. Sims
thought, to say to the District that a cer-
tain street shall be opened or extended and
then go ahead and make the District foot
the whole bill. On the other hand he dis
approved of the United States government
paying half the cost in every case This
had a tendency to make the damages ex-
coed the benefits. while the proposition. to
make the District foot the entire excess
had a tendency to make the damages light
and the benefits heavy and acted as a check
on street openings.
Mr.. Sims demanded that the people of the
District be given local self-goverfment He
said large proportion of the citizens OF
the District favored It. AS the city con-
tinued TO grow Congress, Mr. SINS thought
would find 1t impracticabIe and practically
impossible to govern the city through two
committees, one of the House and one OF
the Senate.
Local Appointments.
Home rule should prevail In the District
of Columbia, Mr.. Sims asserted, as well as
in every state. territory and city in the
United States. The principle of home rule
in states and territories had been enunciat-
ed in both republican and democratic plat
forms, and one platform of the latter party
had specifically mentioned the District of
Columbia included.
Mr. Sims referred to various local au-
pointments where the places had been filled
by men outside of the District He re-
ferred to several judgeships and to other
offices in the District, which. in his opinion
should have been given to men born and
bred here or who had been. through inter
ests and holdings. identified with this place
MI Sims insisted that no other city 10
the Union would stand the treatment given
to the District of COLUMBIA without making
an cutlery for relief. He thought that the
national capital should be a model in public
institutions as well IN "bouevards I"
District Administration Criticised.
Representative Hepburn of Iowa took up
the cudgels against the provision to compel
the United States government to pay one
half of excess expenses. Mr. Hepburn in
sisted that the government of this city for
the purpose for which 1t was devised is the
best that he could think Of But he said he
did not admire the administration of the
city. He did not believe that two news
paper men and an army officer were the
best adminstra tive officers that could be
had He sdmireG the oratoIical ability that
these men had displayed In various parts
OF the country but he wished they would
exercise little more administrative ability
In Washington and little less oratoricaI