Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-27
initiate condemnation proceedings to
convert the inhabited alleys into minor

initiate condemnation proceedings to
convert the inhabited alleys into minor
| streets and open them through to a
main street at each end. In such
condemnation proceedings the jury
should be given power to assess upon
the adjoining benefit district as much
of the damages as can be properly
awarded as benefits to the adjacent
property. The excess, if any, of dam
ages over benefits should be charged
against the general fund of the Dis
trict.
I'm many cases 1 believe it would be
found by the jury that the actual benefit
to the property fronting upon the main
| street by the elimination of the alley
| would be greater than appears at first
glance The rental value of the street
property would be very much higher
when 1t is removed from contact with
noisome alley filled with a fighting and
Ilaw-breaking population. Large numbers
Of industrious and self-resp Getting people
who do not live in these alleys must live
upon streets which are adjacent to them
and where they find 1t impossible to keep
their children from the contamination or
the alley associates. 1t has been found
in all cities that the presence of insani-
tary and vice-breeding tenements depre-
ciates the rental value of the surround
ing property and the elimination OF such
conditions will increase the rental value
which permits an immaculate oiPeioA
Of part Of the cost.
Question Of Cost.
1.-The question Of cost and its proper
apportionment is a matter of detail that
Congress should be well able to solve
There is ample taxable wealth in the Dis
trict of Columbia to meet with ease all
of the social and industrial problems OF
the District The greatest cost after all
ts not the cost in dollars and cents, out
In wrecked lives, crippled opportunities
and in moral and social degradation OF
the wage earnerS.
1.-THE greatest asset to a city or ma
ton is it's men. The greatest crop ina.
in mind and body. All other costs sink
into insignificance besides this.
The great nation which has MADE
this city Its capital and which has ere
ated here 80 much of wealth, beauty
and refinement has also charged itself
with the obligation Of meeting the So
cial problems which have accompanied
the increase In wealth. This great
nation, which has invited 10000 Ameri-
can citizens to come from all parts or
tn country in the service Of the gem
eral government and to bring their
families to make their homes here. has
assumed the obligation to make those
homes pure, wholesome and attractive
may be. In discharging this oblfga-
lion Congress has as full power over
the taxable wealth of the District as
any sovereign state has over the tax
able wealth within its borders. Con-
xress should have, and, l believe, will
have, the support Of an aroused and
vigilant public opinion among the
great mass Of the citizens of the Dis
trict OF Columbia itself"
Half-and-Half Avoids Discussion.
Representative Mann Of Illinois tried to
pin Mr.. Borland down to % direct state
mcnt of whether or not Mr.. Borland
would advocate violating the half-and-
half agreement in his method of cleaning
up the alleys. Mr. Borland said several
times he did not care to get into d dis
cussion Of that matter at this time.
"If the District was already bearing
too great a burden OF taxes Mr.. Bor-
land said. land il property in tbs city
was being sold under the hammer. and
II conditions generally We're bad. and if
there were no other way OF doing 1t, ]
think il would be the bounden duty OF
so, 100000 American citizens to bear the
expenses of the Districts.
Mr.. Borland also said that much moro
money than is now raised for taxes in
the District could be collected on gen.
eral inheritance law and by tax on in
poihle r,rOperty.