The Washington times., 1906-04-12
Congress and Our Streets.

The Congressional Record is enlivened
these days with observations on the
government of the District of Co.
iUmbia- AS must surely be the case
where body OF 500 members is fulfilling
the duties Of city counsel, much of
this comment IS uniformed. inaccurate
and futile But the greater part OF IL
is inspired by genuine interest in the
Capital OF the United States, genuine
doubt as TO the superiority of the pres
ent administration of its affairs and
genuine desire that the administration
may be made as business-Iike al possible
IN order that the development of the
District may be as rapid and sound as
possible Whoever IA Washington pro-
ceeds 30 answer the observations of Con-
Eressmen on the District in any other
light does himself, as well as the Repre-
sentatives and Senator'S. a great in
Justice.
Street extensions are the occasion for
the last notable reflections on the Dis
trict. No less a parsonage than the
hoor leader of the House Republicans
was moved by that subject to protest
against the whole project OF having the
National Government pay half the ey-
cess of damages over benefits involved
IN that construction. His contention was
that the extension of streets was a mat
ter Of neighborhood Importance. and not
matter of such interest to the Capital
at large as would Justify a demand on
the Treasury of the United States for
part of the cost
There is a tangible criticism from a
very interesting source. The thing to do
with IL is TO answer II. not TO inveigh
against Congressman for making it. or
when ii is made. Il ON considering it,
To answer il, the people of the District
will do well TO bark back to the condi-
lions which produced the present form
of their government.
After discouraging experience with
fsatherduster local legislatures, Con-
gress came to realize the desirabiLty of
controlling the growth OF the city in
which its buildings and its affairs were
the items of most Importance. The
thought behind thar conclusion was that
the development of the city should he
along such lines as would prove most
advantageous to the National Govern
ment. Consideration for the people of
the District was at the utmost only
incidental. Ard. as Congress intended to
expend certain sum on the improve
sums which were spent on the mainte1
nance of the city. and as it owned more
than half the real estate within the city,
II was conceived to be good business
principle for the National Government to
pay half the cost of both the improve
ments and maintenance. That is the
argument which produced the organic
act of 1878
Now street extensions ara 90
much matters of yearly maintenance as
they are general and permanent i'm
provements. IL is an absurdity to con-
tend that only the neighborhood imme-
diately affected is benefited. PennsyI-
vania avenue and Rock Creek Park
drive are thoroughfares of value to
the people of the Northeast as much
as TO the people who live within sight
of their curbs. The traffic of the city
IS general. and the development of the
means of traffic wherever demand for
such development actually exists is a
general benefit. Otherwise, how could
Congress Justify it's control over the
extension of streets at any distance
from the public buildings2 1t is hard
~ likely the Republican floor leader
had fully considered that case before
he presented il.
But IL he had contented himself with
Directing TO the opening Of new streets
where there IS no demand from resi-
dents already established in houses and
where there is reason to think the I'M
dertaking purely speculative he would
have had an extremely good case. For
great deal of money has been spent
on that kind of construction since the
organic act was made law, which would
better have gone to school buildings.
Fairgrounds. a hospital for INDECENT con-
sumptives. more pay for District teach
ers, hremen and policemen. and hun
dred other causes.
Our city council does well to scruti-
-NQize projected street improvements But
10 does not do well TO permit that scru-