The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-03-24
MR.. SHOEMAKER.
lContinued Lon - Fourteen)

Of the Commissioners, of the Board of
Trade, OF the Business Mems Associa-
ton, Of many. If not of all, the citizens
associations. and the press Of the Dis
trict. 10 impose a system OF financing
which is not enforced in the administFa-
ton Of the affairs Of the nation, nor by
the representatives OF States, or the
counties or other cities throughout our
country, l. G., the making of large and
very expensive improvements mainly for
the benefit Of future generations from
current revenues instead of paying Tor
these larger and unusual improvements
from the proceeds Of a twenty-five or
fifty year loan. We are not unmindful
OF the advances made by Congress from
time to time over the protests Of our
Commissioners; thus anOrding an eX-
cuse for correct financing which could
have been provided for by long-term
- loan. These advances have led
Congress into the erroneous policy Of
loaning money 20 the District upon in
terest, rather than meet its obligation as
made In the compact of 1873.
In other words, Congress has said to
our people, instead of paying what we
owe, we viii loan you the money needed
and charge you interest.
. Congress is now. to a great extent,
indebted TO the District of Columbia by
reason Of its failure to comply with the
compact of 1878. made with the District,
when it assumed TO tax its people with
out representation.
If we are to be deprived annually Of
thousands Of dollars TO which we are
rightfully entitled under this solemn
compact; II a system of financing is 10
be continually enforced, resulting in the
burdensome increase of annual taxa
ton. particularly burdensOme upon a
vast quantity Of unimProved and nom
productive real estate, and Juries are TO
be directed IN future as they have been
In the past, and are now being direct
ed and required by Congress
. 10 take private property for public
use without compensation; and if they
continue to levy speculative and mag
mary Dement'S resulting often in cOnfis-
cation, how then can il be said that our
Government is being honestly and eco
nOmicaIy administered? I fear that
many Of those who contend for honesty
and economy Of administration are not
required TO give very much to its sup
port.
needs new streets and avenues. and we
are graufed to have a system in con
necuOn Herewith. These new streets
and avenues, however, are not alone for
the benefit and advantage OF the terri
tory through which they extend, as some
of narrow view would have us believe.
They are for the benefit. extension, en-
largement. and Identification Of Wash
q .rsr~ 70
Improvement which has always followed
along the line Of public Improvement
will continue to add strength and give
greater value to property even in the
very center of the old city, for every
public Improvement is a general public
advantage. Is It fair, however
Can 1t be economy Of admlnis-
tration in behalf of our local land
owners and taxpayers for Congress
while exercising exclusive jurisdiction,
depriving US of a voice in the admin
istration of our affairs and violating
the compact of 1873, to dictate a great
national street plan. national because
of The arbitrary direction Of the streets.
because of the number of streets the
quantity Of land involved, and because
Of the great width of avenues which
bisect them; national by reason Of the
great cost which viii necessarily be
incurred in the future to grade and I'm
prove them. and then require by legis-
lative enactment. as il has, that
no part Of the expense shall fall
upon the Federal Treasury, but that
the $1,000 land owners of the District
out of a population of more than 300 900
must execute ii.
Two glaring illustrations may be Sc
lected from many. Six hundred
thousand dollars was used by
single legislative enactment TO pay for
the whole cost Of extending Sixteenth
street to Mt. Pleasant and half Of
Sl,2OO,OOO TO pay half the cost Of Rock
Creek Park. which was declared in the
act TO be a national park and pleasure
ground for the benefit of the people of
the United States. These appropriations
and others depleted the District treas
ury. which then had a considerable bal
ance TO its credit and we have ever
since suffered from this unjust action.
TheTeupOn. Congress increased the rate
OF taxation. for which there was no
necessity, as above stated, except be-
cause Of this gross wrong in the admin
istratiOn of the affairs of our people.
The act establishing Rock Creek Park
not only declared il to be a national
park for the benefit Of the people of
the United States, but il directed that
the title be taken IN the name Of the
United States. Yet II required the land
owners Of the District of Columbia to
pay half the cost.
Where else has the United States es-
tablished a national park or made a
national Improvement for the benefit
of the people OF the United States with
out paying the whole cost from the Fed
eral Treasury Tt is a national park be-
cause Of the declaration in the act Of
Congress. The title is taken in the
name of the people of the United States.
and il IS a fraud and an imposition on
District land owners to be required TO
pay enc dollar more for its ACQUISITION
than the people of any other section of
our great country are required to pay.
Some may say the District is bene-
flied. If this be true, It may We'll ne
said that there are other national parks.
national reservations. and national
buildings, not only here but elsewhere
which benefit the section in which they
are located, but the local land owners
are not required 10 directly contribute
TO their establishment. Rock Creek
park extends TO Maryland; therefore.
Maryland may be benefited? IL would.