Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-19
FAVOR ORGANIC LAW
Plans for Attacking Proposed
Change Discussed.
MEETING OF Committee
Arguments of Residents Will Be Set
Forth in Brief.
ATTEMPT AT REPEAL IN 1896
Mr.. Sinclair Recalls Defeat of De
Almond Bill-Government's
Valuable Property.
ATTEMPT AT REPEAL IN 1896

Declaring that every preparation should
be made to resist the proposed attack on
the organic law of the District as far as
1t relates to the half and half principle
| of appropriating for the District, the
special committee appointed by the board
of directors of the Chamber Of Commerce
to take up this matter at its first meet
| ing yesterday outlined a plan of cam
paign.
While members of the committee ex-
| pressed their belief that Congress would
act fairly by the District and would not
discontinue the plan by. which the fed
eral government pays one-half the ex-
penses of the National Capital, they were
| OF the opinion that ample notice had
been given by various members of Con-
gress that an attack was to be made
| on the present method of apprOpriating
for the District.
Henry b. F. Macfarland, who was elect
ed chairman Of the committee, said dur
ing the meeting that while he had con-
hdence in the wisdom and justice of Con-
sreSS upon any question when 1t had
the facts before it. 1t was necessary to
inform Congress as to the facts. Accord
ing to published interviews with repre-
sentatfves 1t was evident that prominent
men In Congress at present contemplated
proposing important departures from the
organic act of 1878 which the United
States Supreme Court has called the con-
stitution of the District of Columbia 1t
had also been stated, according to those
interviews, that opportunity would be
given the citizens to be heard before any
such legislation. was recommended
Therefore, Mr.. Mcfarland said, the citi-
Zens were warranted in preparing to
exercise the right of petition to prevent
any departure from the principle of the
half -and-half anDOrfiOnmenf of he
preparations under the partnership be-
tween the District and the national gov
eminent.
He said the citizens must be prepared
to meet whatever attack on the act of
1878 might develop. They must be ready
to show Congress that the present ar
rangement is justified first and chiefly
because this is the National Capital,
see made the best in the world, not only
physically. but in every other way.
The citizens must guard against the
dangerous suggestion that in the Ma
tfonal Capital appropriations there should
be distinction between national and local
objects. so-called. The compact of 1878
permits no such distinction and no reason
can be given for making it. The National
Capital is one and indivisble in this re-
spect. Parks, buildings, streets. lights,
so-called national objects, are only part
of capital which must have all the
other essentials, as, for example,
model health department or a model pub
lie school system, in order to be a COM
plete capital. Incidentally every depart
ment of the District government ministers
to the national government and also to
it's officers, employees and to the visitors.
The fact that very few of the people of
the country can ever visit Washington
has nothing to do with their desire and
purpose to see that it is made in every
respect a model capital, in which they
shall take constantly increasing pride.
THE second thing to be kept before
Congress is the fact that majority of
the real property otherwise taxable be-
longs to the United States"