Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-15
Fair Play.

A moments reflection should impress
upon every fair-minded representative
the absolute unfairness of the House
discussion of the District appropria-
ton bill and Of the treatment OF
Washington proposed on the basis OF
that discussion.
No one In Washington familiar with
the facts believes for a moment that
the District bull subcommittee OF the
House appropriations committee, which
has been studying the details of mu-
nicipal conditions and needs, would
legislate for the District In the terms
of this bill. If its action was final, and
meant enactment into law.
Under partisan pressure to establish
vote-producing economy" record for
use in the approaching compaign cut
into-the- bone appropriation bill Is pro-
posed. and in meeting the obligation to
defend the proposals at least perfume
torily, or in enjoyment in a few cases
Of the opportunity to attack Washing
ton with impunity. representatives
commit themselves to statements and
assume attitudes which are unfair and
indefensible. Washington has no rep
resentation I'm the House. and these
OAtCh liouU ny thOCO "hO
from committee assignment should be
best informed about District affairs.
almost invariably 60 unchanenged.
II the Washington newspapers attempt
to make corrections In fairness to the
District which should have been made
promptly on tho floor Of the House by
some one Of the Districts constitutional
legislators their action II resented, with
bitterness by some legislators. and the
effect Is sometimes to prejudice still
further the Districts case. For In the
annual trial Of this case by Congress 1t
Is to be remembered that the same peo-
pie are judges. jury. prosecutors and
nominal attorneys for the defense. In
the whole procedure there II no one who
Is the distinctive champion and advocate
Of Washington. In criticising. therefore,
what Representative A.. perhaps In
thoughtlessness. says Incorrectly or
Washington In his role as prosecutor or
assailant, the Washington newspaper or
individual may be hardening into per-
manent Injurious hostility Representative
A. as Washington's Juror or Judge.
Washington. for instance. contends ear
nestly that 1t Ii unfair on its face to
slash the school estimates In the manner
proposed, making insufficient provision to
pay salaries which Congress has in effect
fixed. and checking the erection Of school
buildings ON sites which Congress has
purchased. Washington taxpayers do not
wish their money wasted In extravagance
on public schools or any other item Of
municipal expenditure. II Congress has
so legislated as to pay the school teach
ers more than they should be paid. or
has blundered in Its system of securing
school sites and building upon them, the
sooner Congress ascertains the facts and
by direct legislation corrects its blunders
the better the local taxpayers will be
pleased, whose money has been thus
wasted by Congress. But the facts have
not been ascertained: Congress has not
after investigation corrected Its school
legislation: Washingtonians generally do
not believe that the charge of extrava-
gance against Congress In this connec-
ton can be sustained; and in any event
it is palpably unfair to assume this ex-
travagance without full inquiry. and on
the basis of this assumption. when Con-
Sress is appropriating, not legisating. to
slash reckiessly the school estimates.
Ii is also obviously unfair to prejudice
Washington's case in the discussion of
this appropriation bill by injecting into
il the contention that Congress did not
intend to share in the payment of the
Districts funded debt of 1874 and 1873.
and that several million dollars in reim-
bursement are due from Washington to
the United States on this account. This
contention Is before the House District
committee. Investigation into it is being
made BY that committee. 1t has been
understood that the particulars of the
claim would be made public and full OPP
portunity be given to the District to pre-
sent its side Of the case before any one
Of the Districts constitutional legislators
would commit himself in respect to 1t.
No opportunity to be heard has yet been
given to Washington. The contention In
detail has not yet been publicly stated.
1t 10 obviously unfair under these cir
cumstances to take the subject from the
; District committee. from which any legis-
iative propositions based upon 1t should
proceed. and to project the claim, un-
proven. into discussion Of appropria-
tons under the existing law, as construed
ever since It's enactment.