Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-04
Street Extensions and Equity.

Notwithstanding enactments by Congress
TO the contrary, the District still maintains
that In all new street openings the cost or
the acquisition of the land should be borne
equally between the municipality and the
federal government, under the plain teNns
of the organic act. The fact that this prin-
cfple has been ignored In the past and that
the contrary proposition has been estab lish-
ed as the present practice, with the Dis
frict bearing all the burden of street ex-
tensions. does not in the least degree weak
en- the logic or affect the justice or the
local contention.
There is now pending before the House
OF Representatives, having been reported
from the District committee, Dill amend
ing the existing law In respect TO the III
.. vision of the cost of street extensions
. After the benefits have been assessed
C against the lands adjacent to the projected
szstreet the balance of the cost shall De Oh
cvided equally between the District anu the
general government. This is merely a re-
version to the organic act, the specific prin-
chile OF which has never been repealed. 1t
ds a reversal of the practice that has pre-
walled for some years but a just reversal.
and the fact that 1t is opposed to the pres
ent policy of Congress should in no regard
lessen the force of it's appeal to the House.
In another part of today's issue Is
printed a letter from one of the leading
citizens of Washington strongly setting
forth the claims of the District in regard
TO this mea sure. There is no denying the
position he assumes. for 1t is that OF strict
Justice Mr.. Henderson bases the argu-
nent for the passage of this bill upon the
organic act of 1878 by the terms of which
the United States government assumes to
bear one-half of all the expenses incurred
in the establishment and maintenance of
tn capital municipality. He asks the viz
4ually unanswerable question: Why should
the United States force the District to bear
the whole cost of the acquisition of streets,
the title 10 which it Immediately assumes
by virtue OF its own terms of guardianship
over the seat of government? There is. as
Mr.. Henderson says, no precedent in all the
range of American municipal or state opera
lions for this singular measure of inequity.
IT cannot be defended on any ground save
that of the desire OF Congress coupled with
Its power to inhict whatsoever laws il sees
fit upon the helpless capital
It has been urged that Congress has in
effect repealed the organic act with respect
to the streets excepting them from all 9TH
ser forms Of municipal improvements, and
that therefore the organic act no longer ap-
plies to the situation. This is begging of
the question. Congress has never Ventured
; TO repeal any portion, or section or phrase OF
the organic act 1t has simply violated 1t.
II cannot do through laches that which it
8 win not undertake TO do ~ direct and le-
gtimate legislative means In the highest
sense. that of morality, Congress has broken
its pledge and its own laws, and this pend
ing bill offers an opportunity for it TO undo
: the wrong it has done. If full justice were
done to the District there would be remu-
neration for every penny it has been thus
forced to spend for street extensions in as
Stunning the burden which should properly
be borne by the federal government Know
ing the unlikeiihood OF getting thus full
loaf Of restitution, it now asks for the half
loaf of assurance that never again viii the
United States force the District to pay for
'streets which It automatically proceeds TO
. contiscate as it's own properly