Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-07

else of this plenary authority alone that
they can look for relief.
THE plan Of the city. as approved by
Washington. is on q scale Of unprecedented
magnifcence; with streets 90 to 16O feet IN
width, covering more than half Its area:
and at the period of its foundation. and for
uiation or resources OF any kind: the inn
provement OF It's streets and the building OF
sewers. bridges, ETC., being the sole and ex-
elusive care of the government and Its
agents. 1t was not until 1872 that the cor.
poration Of Washington and the levy court
Of the county were authorised to open ana
improve streets and roads.
From the facts here stated 1t Is appar-
ent that Washington was projected by It's
founders for q purely national city, to be
governed and improved exclusively by Con-
gress without regard in a legal sense to the
voice or wishes Of its citizens
"And although the appropriations by Con-
gress for general improvements in this Dis
trict have never been at all commensurate
with the princely grant under which the
government now holds nearly a hundreo
millions of real estate, or with the grand
design and expectations OF the FOUNDERS OF
the republic and it's capital. as manifested
by their early acts, they have at all times
admitted the national obligations and re-
sponsibilities In this regard.
The Organic Act.
The following Is part Of the text Of the
act:
"BIH providing for the permanent gov
eminent by the District. introduced in the
House Of Representatives, H. R. 325y."
THE annual estimates Of the District of
Columbia shall be transmitted to Congress
by the Commissioners OF the District OF
Columbia at the same time that the regular
annual estimates for expenses OF the gov
eminent are submitted by the Secretary OF
tho Treasury, and with his action on the
same to be printed In the general book of
estimates.
.The Secretary Of the Treasury shalt
carefully consider all estimates submitted
to him as above provided. and shall ap-
prove. disapprove or suggest such changes
in the same, on any item thereof as he may
think the public interest demands; and
upon such estimates submitted to him. he
shall cause to be made q statement OF tho
amount approved by him and the fund or
purpose to which each item belongs. which
delivered, together with the estimates as
originally sumbitted, to the commissioner
of the District of Columbia, who shall
transmit the same to Congress
ITO the extent to which Congress shall
approve of said estimates, Congress shall
appropriate the amount OF 30 per centum
thereof, and the remaining so per centum
of such approved estimates shall be levied
and assessed upon the taxable property ana
privileges in said District other than the
property Of the United States and OF the
district of Columbia. and all proceedings In
the assessing, equaliZing and levying OF
said taxes the collection thereof. the listing
return and penalty for taxes in arrears. the
advertising for sale and the sale OF prop
erty for delinquent taxes, the redemption
thereof, the proceedings to enforce the lien
upon unredeemed property, and every other
act and thing now required to be done In
the premises, shall be done and performed
at the time and in the manner now pro-
vided by law, except in so far as Is other
wise provided by this act"
Credit Due to Experimental Govern
ment.
The passage of this bill and the assunp-
ton by the general government Of one-half
Of the expenses Of the District afforded inn
mediate relief-the amount collected for the
year 1873 was about 100000 one-half
derived from taxation and one-half appro-
priated from the treasury Of the United
States This act has now been in force for
twenty four years; the debt Of the District
has been reduced about $8.O00.000 by the
operation OF the sinking fund. and the IN
creasing expenditure Of the local govern
ment for general expenses and enlarged
improvements fully met. Much criticism
was evoked at the revolutionary acts OF tIs
experimental government of 1871-lS74. but
II is generally conceded now that to the
bold assumption of authority exercised by
the board OF public works. to the unparal-
leled zeal and courage OF its executive the
present city owes Its position as worthy OF
its character as the capital city and as
subject of local pride and congratulatton
to its citizens. LEWIS-J. DAVIS.