Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-08
VOICE OF THE WEST lis AGAIN ON STAND
Governors Approve the District McManga Begins Second Day
Organic Act. Before the Grand JIry
UPBUILDNG OF CAPITAL MANY WITNESSES WANTED
Partnership Plan Authorized by United Marsha Have 2s
gress Should Be Respected Names on List
EXPRESSION FROM THE SOUTH ARRESTS MAY BE DELAyEn'
Visitors Say Nation Should No Further
Taxpayers Be Returned Week or More
OF the District Work in
Governors Approve the District
Organic Act.
UPBUILDING OF CAPITAL
Partnership Plan Authorized by Con-
gress Should Be Respected.
EXPRESSION FROM THE SOUTH
Visitors Say Nation Should Not Inn
pose Burden on Taxpayers
OF the District.

The great west, through the mouths Of
the governors Of eight states and the
lieutenant governor Of a ninth, yesterday
voiced its approval OF the plan by which
the federal government bears part of the
expense Of the National Capital. There
was no hesitation. no hedging. in the
statements of the governors that 1t was
the duty Of the entire country to con-
tenance of the national city. One and all
demanded that the city should be made
the most beautiful in the world And
one and all asserted emphaticalIy that
this could not be done without the federal
contribution Of money.
The opinion expressed by the governors.
VINO were here on special trip to bring
the whole east into closer touch with the
west, was that the country, through Con-
gress, had made a contract with the Dis
trict Of Columbia in the enactment Of the
organic law Of 1878. and that contract
should be lived up to. The contract calls
for an even division Of the expenses Of
the District-bar none-one-half to be
paid by the federal government and one
half by the taxpayers Of the District.
Nation Should Bear Larger Share.
Several OF the governors went 30 far
as to say that In their opinion the share
borne by the federal government should
be more than one-half.
One or two. while declaring that tho
federal government should pay for all
the big improvements looking to the
Identification of the National Capital as
such, said that in their opinion the resi-
dents of the District should pay the ordi-
nary municipal expenses. But they ad-
mitted that they had not given the SUBJ
ject careful study when the fact was
called to their attention that under the
contract laid down in the organic law Of
1878 the citizens OF the District are
called upon to pay one-half of all the
expenses Of the District. many Of which
are for the Improvement of the National
Capital as such.
A number Of the delegation were not
Informed in detail as to the relationship
between the federal government and the
District OF Columbia, but as soon as the
facts were laid before them they declared
In favor Of retaining the present plan of
apportfoning the expense.
An expression Of opinion from the
south, in favor of continuing the present
contract between the federal government
and the District, was given The Star by
Gov. Noel of Mississippi. who was also
In Washington.
Views Of the Governors.
The following interviews were given
exclusively to The Star on this subject
by the governors:
Gov. James II. HawIey Of Idaho, demo
crat:
The people of Idaho are interested in
seeing the National Capital maintained
on proper scale, and they believe that
the federal government should do it's
share in the up-kcep of the city. This l
believe, is the spirit throughout the west.
We are proud OF our National Capital,
which is a national city and should be
made the most beautiful in the world.
The people Of my state do not feel that
1t is a burden but duty, to contribute
their small share to the expenses of the
capital. The government should certain
ly pay one-half the expenses of the Dis
trict, If not more.'
Gov. Adolph .. Eberhart of Minnesota,
republican:
II believe that the government should
do its share toward the maintenance and
Improvement of the National Capital. II
the government owns half the property In
J.
assured that 1t does. and a. little more
than half. it should pay one-haf Of the
expenses of the city, bearing its share
just as other property holders. wash
ington is a beautiful city. and should be
made still more beautiful. and that can
be done only by a liberal policy on the
part of the federal government"
Organic Law Not Unjust.
Gov Tasker L. Oddie Of Nevada, repub-
lican:
'1n my opinion the federal government
should pay one-half of the expenses of
the National Capital. I am not sure but
what I would favor the government
paying all the expenses Of the capital.
The organic law Of the District is not
an Injustice to any one in the country
unless 1t be to the citizens Of the Dis
trict because 1t Is not sufficiently lib
eral.
II take a pride in Washington, as must
every other citizen Of the country. The
city belongs to every American Just as
District Of Columbia 1t is impossible to
consider the relations of the federal gov
ernment and the city from any other
standpoint. If the citizens derive a bene-
ft from the erection Of fine buildings
by the government and the establishment
Of beautiful parks and wide streets, the
entire country derives great satisfaction
and beneft-from the establishment and
maintenance Of a National Capital of
which all may be proud"
Gov. Oswald West Of Oregon. demo-
crat:
"The citizens Of the country take jus
tifiable pride in their National Capital,
and I believe that 1t should be maintain
ed as a beautiful city should be. / be-
leve, however that the federal govern
ment is doing it's full share in the up
keep and development of the capital. 1
do not think the citizens Of the District
would have just cause for quarrel even
II the federal government should pay less
than one-half of the expenses. But
say that If the people Of the District can
prevail upon the national government to
pay half the expenses OF the government
let them do It.
Makes Property Valuable.
sThe federal government has spent
hundreds of millions Of dollars in the
erection of splendid buildings and the
Of Washington. These i'm
provements and the fact that the govern
ment Is located here are the assets which
have made property valuable In Wash
ineton. I think that the benefits derived
hv the residents of the city from the To-
cation Of the government here are great
enough. and the citizens should be willing
fo nav a large share of the expenses of
the District to keep these benefits. II
Congress- should change the method OF i
for the National Capital
(Continued on Eleventh Psge)