The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-03-03
PRIMER DEVOTED TO
THOSE WHO NEED 1T.

How much longer viii the plea of
ignorance of the organic act of the pres
ent form Of government Of the District
OF Columbia be permitted to cloak the
false economies Of Congress1 When
viii the gentlemen who take upon
themselves the appropriation of the
Districts revenues continue TO admins
ter their trust under a cheese pairing
policy
The situation with regard to the pro-
vision made for Fairgrounds brings the
condition of things existent at the
Capitol strongly before the public. The
members of the House Of Representa-
tives who insisted upon paying for the
Fairgrounds entirely out of the reve-
nues of the District displayed a talent
for misconception that was surprising.
One wrote to Secretary West that he
could not see why the National Gov
eminent should father what other cities
looked after themselves.
To play schoolmaster TO Congress has
never been a very profitable undertake
ing. But it would not be amiss for some
public-spirited citizen to address a
memorial to a few of the members on
this particular subject, purely in the in
terest of education
The District of Columbia is not
beggar when l. knocks at the doors of
the statesmen on the hill. II is not
asking aims when it presents estimates
Of its needs.
The United States Government has
undertaken 10 administer the finances
of the Federal district over which it
claims exclusive jurisdiction. 1t owns
and occupies more than half Of the tax
able property in that district, immense
tracts of the most valuable Of the citv's
real estate, on which no taxes are paid.
1t owns and has absolute control Of the
1csSsr supply, the streets, alleyways.
roaSs. bridges, and water approaches.
1t requires tie city to guard its prop
ertgs giving it some assistance, it il
true, but not -very much
In return for this-and 1t was the
proposition, of the United States Gov
ernment, it must be remembered-the
Federal Government agreed to pay an
nrAlly a sum equal to the total reve-
nuss derived from the usual municipal
Sources through the taxation of its citi-
Eensain thu regular tax channels
With this synopsis understood, the
voluntary Instructor should then pass
70 the next -step-the administration Of
authority to govern conferred by this
agreement on Congress. Every penny
of the localrevenues is turned into the
Treasury of the United States, from
which nothing can be paid out without
specific, authority from Congress. The
annual appropriation bin is the vehicle
this authority uses to meet the city's
biHz.
In other municipalities throughout
the country current expenses are met
with current revenues When extraor-
binary expenditures are made neces-
saTy-such as the construction of water
works. the building of q city hall. the
extension of streets on a large scale.
and other such imProvements-bonds
are issued so that the burden of the
first cost Is spread over a number of
years-over Posterity.
But Congress requires the District of
Columbia TO pay the cost of its extraor-
binary improvements out of current
revenues. a peculiar policy, which has
some advantage. but also helps swell
the annual estimates of the cost of
government.
In their administration of the govern
ment of the District of Columbia some
Congressman have lost sight of the fact
that the contribution of the United
States Government to the expense of
maintenance is just as much a part of
the revenues Of the District as the taxes
paid by the citizens. That it IS, in eff
feet, the payment of tax and not in
any sense a free gift.
If those members Of the House who
have opposed the Fairgrounds on the
ground that they would thus be fur
nishing the money of the whole people
70 carry out a purely local enterprise
would only understand this condition,
would only study the organic aet-the
articles of Incorporation of the United
States and the District of Columbia
they would easily understand the in
dignation of the people at the peculiar
forms of economy they attempt to
practice. The nu9ber of members who
need instruction. is small, It Is true.
but there are enough Of them to make
It fairly uncomfortable for any indi-
vidual who puts forward a plan for