Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-10
Direct or Indirect Repeal?

II feeling prevails in Congress that
the organic act Of 1873 is an inequitable
arrangement and that the United States
should not pay one-half of the expenses
of the District for the purpose OF main
tanning the capital municipality, a
straightforward direct proposition should
be advanced for the repeal or the amend
ment of that statute. There would then
be a fair opportunity to meet with argu-
ments the reasoning advanced for a
change In the fiscal relations between the
local taxpayers and the federal govern
ment. An open field would be afforded
for full inquiry into the subject for
the purpose Of determining whether the
circumstances which justified and even
required the enactment of 1878 prevail
today and are likely to continue in the
future; whether, in short, the arrange
ment of thirty-four years ago was just
and reasonable and founded upon per-
manent principles.
Such course would be infinitely pref
cradle and far more just than the at
tempted process of piecemeal abrOgation
now in progress, chiefly in the House of
Representatives. committees of which are
continually bringing forward propositions
for the partial repeal of the act by set
ting aside now this and again that item
of District appropriation to be borne en-
tireiy by the local revenues, or as in the
latest instance for the raising of funds
for a particular municipal purpose by a
special tax levied upon all property as
in the case of the general tax. This
method of attacking the organic act is
essentially unfair, for 1t ignores the prin-
ciple underlying the enactment OF 1873.
Furthermore. in almost every instance
the infraction of the statute Is coupled
with some matter Of urgent public ne
cessity or general desire. such as the ex-
tension of streets in the suburbs, the
provision of Fairgrounds or the supplying
of deficiencies in the pensions of police
men and firemen.
By this means of adroitly attaching
provisions for the invasion and weaken
ing Of the organic act to praiseworthy
and even essential projects of local public
betterment the enemies Of the present
relationship between the District and the
national government avoid a direct issue
upon the vital question. 1t is practically
assured that there is no majority In
either house for the repeal or the amend
mert of the organic act in any essential
PARTICULAR. Virtually every ~
has been invaded the vote carrying the
proposition has represented minority
of the House. In the case Of the play
grounds infraction the item was carried
practically by a fuke. 1t could have
been rescinded before the bill passed be-
You'd the stage Of amendment had the
true friends Of the District been on their
guard.
It is quite possible for the enemies OF
the organic act to continue this proce-
dure until the statute has been riddled
with indirect amendments and direct vios
Iations. The proposal to levy special
tax to supply police pension deficiencies
is the most menacing of all the assaults
that have been made upon it. The time
has come to challenge definitely and
stoutly these breaches Of faith and to
demand for the District the square deal
that is being denied to it every time a
. bit of legislation is framed and urged
and favorably reported which in any par
ticular or degree fails to square with
the partnership agreement of 1878.