Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-07
UNFAIR TO DISTRICT
Residents Should Not Bear
Burden of Development.
ORGANIC ACT DISCUSSED
Members of Congress Not Well In
formed on the Subject.
OPINION OF w. F. MATTINGLY
Gov. Shepherds Attorney Speaks of
Relations Between National and
District Governments.

1t would have been folly in the early
days of this country to expect the popu-
lation of about 1900 residents of the
District of Columbia to pay for the de-
velopment of the National Capital along
the lines laid down by Maj. L'Enfant
it would be. and is. folly to expect the
citizens of the District today to pay for
the development of the Greater Wash
ington without the federal government
contributing its full share.
This is the opinion of ". F. Mattingly,
long a resident of Washington and at
torney for Gov. Shepherd during the
times when. under Shepherds regime.
Washington began to take on the SEM
! blance of a great city.
But ever since the establishment of
the federal District. with the national
capital al Washington, there have been
members of Congress and thousands of
citizens throughout the country who
failed utterly to understand the real re-
lation between the federal government
and the District of Columbia. This re-
suited in early days in attempts to have
Washington abandoned as the capital
Uninformed Congressman.
There are in Congress today men
WiiO nave Iot Iedu VI Tic fSdI IcldtiOHS
between the federal government and the
District, who have no real knowledge
of the subject. 1 am glad to say, how
ever. that more and more members are
lea arning the obligations which are upon
the federal government to care for the
District. Members come here express
ing the opinion that there is no more
reason why Congress should approprl-
ate for this or that Improvement in
Wa G N than that ShOlll0
appropriate for similar improvements
in Milwaukee, Kansas City or New York
They should look into the truth of the
matter.
1T would be an excellent thing if
these members of Congress could be
prevailed upon to visit foreign capitals
and observe what has been done for
those cities by the governments of the
countries in which they are located.
The policy adopted by France of spend
ing millions upon the Identification of
Paris has made that city the show city
of the world. and in consequence France
reaps the benefits of the billions of dol
lars spent there every year by visitors
Governments Proprietary Interest.
'.The federal government owns at least
half the land in Washington today. 1t
is constantly acquiring more of the land.
Not long ago several squares were con-
demned near 18th street and Pennsyl-
vania avenue and purchased by the gov
ernment to erect upon them buildings for
several of the departments. The Capitol
grounds are to be enlarged to the north
by taking in several more blocks. 1t is
proposed. and ultimately the proposition
will go through. to purchase all the prop
erty on the south side of Pennsylvania
avenue between 14th street and the Bo-
tanic Garden. Each time the government
able territory of the city, in these
cases. the land which is left must bear an
increased burden of taxes.
Comparison of Tax Rates.
"A comparison of taxes paid by the
residents of the District and those paid
by citizens of other places as large as
Washington shows conclusively that the
citizens of Washington are taxed as
much and in many cases more than the
inhabitants of the other cities. The per
capita tax of the residents here is greater
than in these other ciIIes, though we
have some 10000 colored citizens, many
of whom are not property owners
Before the civil war, and for num-
Der Of years thereafter Washington
was little better than mudhole. The
citizens of Washington were expected
10 bear the burden of the improve
ments along big lines, and they could
not do it. Conditions here were ma
tional disgrace up to the time that
Gov. Shepherd and the board of public
works, by the expenditure OF some $2O,-
60o, 900. began the real development of
the National Capital.
Mr.. Mattlngly declared that he be-
lieved no time should be lost in con-
vincinE those members of Congress
who believed in the repeal of the Or
ganic law of the District. SO far the
appropriations We're concerned, that il
was the duty of the federal govern
ment to pay at least One-half of all
the expenses of the National Capital
Sees Calamity in Change.
W. V. Cox, president of the Second
National Bank. expressed the same
opinion.
1T would be d great calamity for
Washington should the organic act be
changed in this respect" said Mr.. Cox
| If citizens of the District were COM
| PEELED to pay for the great improve
| mentS which are to be made here in
| the future, without the assistance, or
without the proper assistance, OF the
government, it would mean heavy
burden of taxation. An endless chain
| of increased taxation and depreciation
| in property values would follow. AS
| often as it was found necessary to in
crease the rate of taxation, the value
| of the property which must bear the
| higher tax would grow less"
FAIR TO THE DISTRICT.