Evening star., 1911-05-29
The Partnership Account.

The most prominent characteristic OF
Chairman johnson of the House District
committee is, according to those who
know him best. absolute fairness. wash
ington confidently anticipates, therefore,
that In seeking the information which
will enable him to strike an equitable
balance between nation and capital In the
national-capital partnership Chairman
Johnson will be thorough and unpreju-
diced, that he will carry his investigation
back to the birth of the city when the
partnership began. and that he Will de-
eide promptly and heartily in favor OF
the District, II the facts point that way.
Washington is convinced that an eQui-
table balancing Of the partnership account
means reimbursement to 1t of several
million dollars. Washington firmly be-
heves that while the nation up to 1873
exacted an excessive and oppressive con-
tribution from the local taxpayers toward
the upbuilding of the capital and since
that date has required all that could be
eouitably demanded, 1t has failed to
carry out fully its own obligations toward
the capital, having shamefully neglected
these obligations for three-fourths OF
century and not offering now to reim-
burse payments made on its account dur
ing the season Of neglect.
The general government, by the fact of
planning a magnificent capital, covering
a large area and characterized by broad
streets, avenues and reservations to an
extent unsuitable for a self-supporting
commercial city. and by founding this
capital in a place comparatively unin-
habited. as well as by the terms OF the
bargain with the owners OF the SOIL and
by the declarations Of its representatives
at the founding Of the city and after
ward. showed an intention to build up q
national city at the nations expense. on
a grand scale, irrespective of the future
population Of the District In connection
with the gift to It Of over 20 per cent OF
the soil OF Washington. in order to sell
lots carved from this gift. the nation
promised that Washington should be the
permanent seat OF government. and pre-
tended that this permanent capital would
be impsoved at national expense. without
regaRd 70 tho scanty population that
would b at first attracted to It. Having
secured this magnificent donation and
pocksted the proceeds from tho sale Of
l0ta. the nation utterly failed to meet its
promises. It frequently threatened to
remove the capital. which meant Of
coWse. the death OF Washington. It
practically abandoned tho work Of street
Improvement and capital making to the
scanfy resident population.
For moro than thirty years, during
which period $4,000 had bean realized
from the sale Of lots pledged for the
beneflt Of improvements. its expenditures
upon streets and avenues. which were
its exclusive property, were less than
500 per year. and its annual approprta-
tions since that time until a comparative
ly recent period In tho city's history have
been widely varying In amount and at
the best inadequate In 1873 the govern
ment. which had In the beginning i'm
.pliedly undertaken to meet all the ex-
penses of capital making. and then shifted
that burden In the main upon private
citizens. decided that justice required 1t
10 pay one-half OF the Districts expenses.
The payment in justice and equity of
one-haf the expenses Of capital develop
ment was urged by Senator Southard's q
committee in 1885. He also advocated
the reimbursement to the District Of
whatever 1t had expended In the past be-
yond its just proportion. Congress has
followed only one-half Of Senator South
49, sS1'ASe- A'alSS JoSdAS ASQoA % LAioS
the government should pay q certain pro-
portion OF the capitals expenses now,
both justice and consistency demand that
il should pay the same proportion OF the
expenses of the years OF its indifference
and neglect. A balance should be struck.
and whatever sum is necessary to mako
the expenditures OF the general govern
ment on the capital equal to those Of
it's citizens should be credited to the
District.
Whenever since 1878 the nation has
failed in violation OF the organic act to
duplicate in full the local tax money In
annual appropriations on the Districts
account (and such failures have occurred
in several years., these duplicated dollars
have been lost to the District, unless
Chairman johnson, as q result Of his in
vestigaton, now secures their equitable
reimbursement. On the other hand,
when. as has happened In several years,
the nation has advanced more than its
share on the Districts account, 1t has
treated these advances as loans to the
District. and collects them with interest
from the local revenues.
Washington is gratified at the prospect
of a square deal at last.
Many statesman would like to be
looking after the fisheries interests as
rapresepted nv the tro1rf cfro1r naov