The Washington herald., 1913-12-26
MIR. Underwoodps Plan.

The people of Washington are win
ming powerful friends every day in their
fight against the plan of a few mem
bers of the House of Representatives
TO overburden them unjustly with tax
alton for the support of the Nations
Capital. The views expressed yester-
day by Representative Oscar w. I'm
derwood must certainly commend
themselves to the fair-ninded Con-
gressman as strongly as they will to
the fair-minded citizen.
First of all, Mr.. Underwood admits
that the Federal government ought to
contribute to the upkeep of the Capital
He is neither in favor of nor opposed
to the half-and-half principle adopted
thirty-fve years ago, because he does
not know whether it is on equitable
basis today, but with other members
whose craftsmanship is of the wise
and safe brand he will oppose the
passage of the Crisp bill, which would
tear the organic act of 1873 to pieces
and provide nothing in its place.
Mr.. Underwood's plan is for the ap-
pointment by the President of non
partisan commission to investigate
fully and determine Just what the
proportionate share of the Federal gov
ernment in the expenses of the Capital
ought to be. Citizens of Washington,
we are confident. will not object to
that. and if those members of Con-
gress who claim that the District is
unduly favored by the half-and-halt
system really believe what they say,
they ought TO be eager to see them
selves sustained by the actual figures.
The half-and-haif principle in the act
of 1873 was adopted after the most
painstaking inquiry and extended dis
cussion by the ablest statesmen of that
time and many Of our best informed
business men are convinced that the
principle is just as equitable today, and
for that reason will be disposed to
regard as a waste the time and money
which inquiry by a commission will
necessarily involve The Herald is
inclined to agree with them, but we
believe that from no quarter will there
be real opposition to a fair investiga-
ton which will show beyond dispute
that the District is not fattening at
the expense of the country at large
Mr.. UnderwoOds suggestion that the
commission be composed of men not in
Congress IS vital Neither should it
be composed wholly of residents of
Washington When the verdict is rem
dered it should be unassaiIable The
people of. Washington have the fullest
confidence in President Wilson and
would he perfectly content to leave
their case in the hands OF any COM
mission he might select
Meantime, the attitude of Mr. I'm
dcrwood, leader of his party in the
House, is practical assurance that the
Crisp bill will not be enacted into law.
There still remains, however, the con-
hscatory section 8 of the District ap-
preparation bill. which is a direct blow
at the half-and-half principle, conhs-
eating $I,5oo,ooo of the revenue of the
District, yielded by taxation of its resi-
dents. and placing it in the Federal
Treasury. If Mr.. Underwood's plan
of settlement is to prevail it is just as
necessary to strike out this confscatory
section as it is to defeat the Crisp
bill.
If Chairman Johnson, Representative
Crisp, and the RS who have mani
tested such a penetrating interest in
District affairs are sincere in their ex-
pressed desire to see exact justice done
they will he'll . lear the. way for the
Underwood riry.