The Washington herald., 1913-12-22
DISTRICT NEED
NOT Beg FAVORS
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.

paid a, beautiful tribute to the people OF
the District, and lauded the men COM
posing Congress. Then. referring to the
Christmas passage in st. Luke's Chap
ter, GLORY to God in the highest, on
earth peace, good will toward men, he
concluded with the assertion that the
highest Christmas gift the District and
Congress can exchange is good will. The
sermon, in part, follows:
THE money Congress furnishes is not
a Christmas present to the District
Some times we act as If it were. We ask
of Congress as if we were asking favor.
Congress grants as il IT were giving ia
vor. That is a wrong attitude on both
sides. We have no favors to ask of Con-
Sress, if we are good citizens
Congress has no favors to grant, II
Congress is faithful to its trust. In years
past individuals and organizations have
asked favors. In years past Congress has
some times granted favors. The favors
have been like donations or gifts out of
the public treasury. They indicate bad
government. They indicate wrong atti-
tude on the part OF the people asking.
Congress is not Santa Claus. Congress is a
steward to care for public property. The
District of Columbia must not write beg
ging letters to Congress, as if to a colos-
sal Santa Claus. That is the wrong idea
of the relation between Christmas, Con-
gress. and the District of Columbia.
Defends Finance Committee.
The Finance Committee of the House.
composed of honor and of ability. bring in
bill cutting the estimates of the Com
missoners between three and four mil
lions of dollars.
Appropriations for schools and play
grounds are also cut. estimates for al
most every department are reduced, and
a great variety of things asked for by
the Commissioners are left out of the
bill
1t seems to me TO be a part of our
duty as Christians today to ask our
not authorized. Different theories are
advanced:
I'D Because Congress does. not un-
derstand. l do not believe 1t. The
average of intelligence in Congress is
high. There are many experts on
municipal affairs in Congress. There are
men who have read much, Travelled wide
ly, worked things out at home. 1t is
not because Congress does not under
stand.
"Cg 1t is asserted that it is because
Congress does not care. | cannot accept
that theory. The men l have met-and
care for human life, They care for hu-
man suffering. They are eager to war
on disease. They believe in education.
They want to have Washington a safe
city, AN efficient city, sanitary city,
beautiful cAy.
Enormous Cost of War.
Senator Burton tells us that because
Uf war. past or present our government
yea ending June 30, 1914, $JS5, 100000.
That means that 81 cents out Of
every dollar expended by our national
government goes for war.
IF we had only per cent of what we
spend for war to add to the national
government. half of our local budget,
for us to equal, dollar for dollar, we
could have all of our local improve
nents, We could abolish all the slum
alleys. we could have school doctors
and school nurses and get the worth Of
our money now spent in education.
Christmas Sunday is not the time to
discuss legislation" but Christmas Sun
day, of all Sundays of the year, is the
day to speak of something which is at
the basis Of all legislation. which under
lies all government, which is the glory
alike of individuals and nations, and that
is justice and goodwill.
the half-and-half principle to be just. l
must not attack the motives of those who
believe it is unjust
Anxious to Do Right.
81 have lived here for fourteen years
have worked constantly for local i'm
provements. l have dealt with many
Congresses and many Congressman. |
have always been treated with the utmost
courtesy and consideration, and / have
nearly always found the men in Congress
anxious to get things right.
II have seen raids on the public treas
ury, and so far as / have had any infu-
ence, 1 have always opposed them. But
because some men have succeeded in
raids, it does not follow that every one
asking legislation is raider. 1t does not
follow as asserted this week, that every
man, woman and child in the District of
Columbia is a CRATER Such a charac-
terization of an entire community does
not call for much Of a reply.
Nor is 1t d community hostile or dis
respectful to the Congress of the United
States. Disrespectful Things may now
and then be said. A hostile attitude may
now and then be assumed. But always
it is to the shame and sorrow of the real
community.
THE best Christmas gift Congress
could make to the District of Columbia
is good will.
THE best Christmas gift the District
can make to Congress is good will