Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-25

committee. with all respect to it. expend
the funds of the District? The appro-
pfiation committee eXpends the funds OF
the United States. But 10 per cent or
more of the funds of the District are
contributed by the District. Why would
it not be better for the nation to sub
NIT to charge equaling. say, the taxes
realized from the real estate of the Dis
trict, put that to the credit of the Dis
trict. and allow the whole sum. includ-
ing all that the District cares to raise. To
be administered by a District commit
tee. accountable and open to the citi-
zens of the District? Why should the
appropriations committee undertake or
desire to administer funds which belong
wholly to the District?
: Adjustment Should Be Made.
Il believe that il Mr. Nye's bill ever
does get before the House and passes.
as it undoubtedly will. very large
amount will be added to the current
revenues Of the District. Before that
time comes. or when that time comes.
an adjustment should be made between
the relations of the federal government
and the District. fair to the govern
ment and fair to the District, which
will enable the District to increase its
taxation and its improvements as fast
as the people of the District want to
increase them, without feeling that they
are bound by the opinion or wishes in
matters of purely personal and local
consideration to the views of the House
of Representatives or to the people OF
| the nation.
But as long as we are held fast and
bound to the dollar-for-dolla rule
there is going to be the same fight in
this House with every street-openirg
case that has occurred since 1 have
been member of the House We are
going to take up the time OF the House,
! Ia ian
of members. we are going to excite
their suspicious here and their suspi
cions there as to nearly every street
! opening case, for fear some fellow Is
working some kind of a real estate
game back of 1t. L believe IL the Dis
trict committee of the United States
Congress be clothed with full power to
administer the affairs of the District 1T
ought to place in the hands Of the
property owners of the District all of
the measure of control In the matter OF
local improvements that is contained I'm
the charters of the great cities of this
country.
Il believe the committee ought Ia
place in the power of the Commission
ers OF the District Of Columbia all OF
the powers that can he safely admins
tered by the administrative or execu-
tive officers of any of the great mu-
inequalities of this country, and 1t
should reserve in the District commit
that properly belong in legislative
body
Opening of Streets.
Il understood your argument to be-"
said Representative Campbell of Kansas,
that there should be a change in the
assessment of taxes on account Of street
! openings. 1t has been my understanding
for years that we have been assessing
the benefit on the abutting property when
streets were opened. is not that your
understandings
YES" replied Mr. Borland. II I'M
derstand that the amount is advanced
by the general government and 1T Is paid
back by an assessment on the property.
Not by the general government. but
out of the joint revenues of the general
government and the District
But advanced by the general govern
ment," interrupted Representative john
son of kentucky.
Advanced out of the joint revenues and
paid by the property owner" Mr. Bor-
land rejoined. when the amounts are
paid back they shall be carried not into
the federal Treasury, but into the nearest
like appropriation. And the nearest like
appropriation has been growing on that
account. The bill changes that, l am
glad to say
The Districts Forum.
Il believe that a good deal of the con-
tention of the people of the District
| would be satisfied by the creation of
District committee clothed, I have
designated. with the power to appropriate
and clothed with the powers Of the
courts and the general powers over the
civil government of a state. which the
District properly is. Then let the people
of the District go to the District COM
mittee as their forum. their Legislative
body, and all measures of self-Eovern-
ment and self-control that can be left
to the people of the District should be
left to them
This statement by MIR. Borland was
greeted with applause.
II quite agree" said Mr. Campbell,
that no bill for a street opening should
come upon the floor of this House. 1t
should all be done by some authority
here in the District.
Representative J. Hampton Moore OF
Pennsylvania then obtained unanimous
consent to print in the Record some re-
marks upon trusts, combinations and
cold storage, the result OF inquiries made
by a special subcommittee of which he
was chairman as to the food supply OF
the District.