Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-06
The Danger Defined.


Representative Burleson's statement re-
EaTdinS the prospect of changes i'm the
existing relations between the District
and the federal government amply justi-
fies the so-called agitation of the ques-
ton at present in evidence here. The
Chairman of the District appropriations
subcommittee says that there are only
three possibilities wherewith to put an
end to what he calls the unethcal posi-
ton of the District. One is the adoption
OF the Judson plan for a program of per-
manent improvements involving stated
method of payment on a long-term basis:
the second a substitution of fixed sum
In lieu of the governments 30 per cent
contribution to the Districts maintenance
possibly as low as $4,000. 900 and third
the absolute repeal of the organic act.
with the federal government taking all
District revenues and appropriating what
ever il sees fit to keep up the National
Capital. Adding that the JudsOn plan
will not be urged by him again, he vir-
tually comes back to the. statement that
in the reimbursement of the Districts finan-
cial relations there will probably be either
a fixed sum appropriation or fiuctuat-
ing amount. but in either case with the
organic act materially amended if not
repealed.
1t is difficult to understand how there
can be any question of the seriousness of
the Districts present situation in the face
of such statement from one who, while
OF course not dictator of the House poll
cies with reference to the District of CO.
lumbia, nevertheless stands so high in the
esteem Of his colleagues and occupies
such an important position in the organi-
cation that his views go far toward de-
termining the course OF that body. Mr..
BurlesOn does not it is true, paint a pic
ture of immediate activity in Congress to
the end of modification or repeal of the
organic act. but he quite distinctly puts a
time limit upon the continuance of the
present federal-District relations AS soon
as the unfunded debt is liquidated. in
about three years. something will have to
be done, he says, to provide a different
plan of raising revenues and dispensing
them.
1t is not The Stars purpose at present
TO discuss this point of the necessity of a
change or the justice of any alteration in
the present relationship. Addressing it
self TO the people of Washington. who are
presumably of one mind in favor of hold
ing the United States to its compact of
1878 il hopes to arouse them to a sense
OF their own danger. trusting 10 their
good judgment not themselves to eXag-
serate the situation or to engage i'm
campaign of personality aginst Congress.
which can have only a harmful effect
This is no time for panic, but for calm
thought upon question that has been
in truth. impending for several years
and which is even now in a condition for
profitable discussion to the end of reach
ing a satisfactory answer. No sensible
or courageous community menaced with
peril ever in truth defends itself by
adopting the tactics of the ostrich, and
ii is to be hoped that Washington will
not now try to avert the danger of or
ganic act repeal or material amendment
i,y sticking its head in the sand of bust
ness conservatism and trying to drive
away enemies by the process of denial.
1t is gratifying to find Representative
Burleson reassuring the people of Wash
ington that Congress will do nothing in
imcal to their best interests. All that
the District fears is that Congress may
act without a full appreciation of the
case. that il may proceed TO repeal or
modify the organic act without fully COM
pretending it's true nature and the cir
cumStanceS antedatlng IL, or measuring
the immense advantage reaped from it
in the development OF a truly national
capital In the light of his statement it
becomes the duty of every Washingtonian
who feels that he has stake in the well
fare of the community to enlist himself
in the campaign of education 10 see that
the members of Congress are supplied
with the facts and figures relative TO the
Districts progress. its responsibilities and
it's limitations. and. without resorting to
personal criticism, endeayor TO impress
upon the Legislators that any change in
the organic act would be calamitous for
this city and for the United States inso-
far as the government is concerned in the
development and maintenance of a capital
commensurate to its position in the world.