Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-12-18

change that plan. That fiscal plan is one
| of the features of an arrangement I'M
der which the general government has
| taken over and administers the affairs
| of the District. The arrangement in its
general features has been considered
wise and advantageous to the nation.
and IL the time has come to modify 1t
| the modification should come after full
| consideration of all features of that
relationship between the District ana
, the general government of which the
half-and-half plan is but one of the
| factors.
LAS an illuminating illustration of the
unfair and illogical character OF section
to which / have referred. let me call
attention to the facts with regard to
| Fairgrounds. Fairgrounds are support
ed entirely from District revenues. 1t
seems we are SO little Interested in CIV
! ing the children of this community an
| opportunity for fresh air and exercise
| part Of the pact, so far as Fairgrounds
are concerned.
|, This year the Commissioners asked for
an increase in the appropriation for
Fairgrounds amounting to nearly $1,000,
| most OF which was to be used for the
purchase of tract in the northwest now
| used for Fairgrounds by the suferance
! of the owner. AS the District must make
payment out of its own revenues there
| would seem to be no excuse for denying
| the opportunity of obtaining this prop
| erty before it further enhances in value,
but although under section nearly
| million and half dollars OF the
District revenues would be confiscat-
ed by the national government. the COM
mittee declines to allow the Commission
ers to rescue portion OF these FUNDS be-
longing to the people of the District for
the purpose of purchasing needed play
ground for their children.
Nav Be Some Foundation.
1.-The gentleman from Iowa, Mr.. Prouty,
during the debate on Tuesday said it was
mo secret that the people of this town
look with suspicion and disrespect on
Congress- l hope that is not true If
it is, may not Congress be at least partly
to blame? Suspicion and disrespect sell
dom exist without some slight founda-
ton. What has been the attitude Of the
House, as voiced on the floor of late
toward the District? l am certain that
there Is much work of a constructive
character in legislation for the District
that needs to be done. Have we per-
formed our duty in this regard? / think
not.
81 cannot recall any discussion. much
less the enactment Of any useful con-
structive legislation, for the District in
many months. On the contrary, there has
been a perfect flood of criticism and fault
finding of the District and its people and
a number of proposals of legislation OBJ
noxious to them and OF doubtful justice
! and wisdom have been pressed with heat
and haste.
District batting has become a popular
pastime in certain quarters, and under
these circumstances it is perhaps not to
be wondered at If the people of the Dis
trict are suspicious and critical OF Con-
gress.
Whatever Congress may conclude to
do in the future our duty in the present
is to deal fairly and considerably with
these people from whom We have taken
the franchise and whose city council we
have constituted ourselves. It may be
that some different plan may be devised
better adapted to present or future con-
ditions but 1t is neither fair nor logical
for Congress to overturn, In whole or
in part one feature of the arrangement
under which the District is governed and
administered without consideration OF
the situation as whole.
No More for Constituents
"One thing is certain do not antici-
pate that the constituents of any Of us
will receive more at the hands OF the
federal government because the District
may receive less 1t is not particularly
logical, In my opinion, to argue against
the present arrangement under which the
government Is pledged to pay half of the
expenses Of the District on the ground
that the sums thus expended would. IL
divided up on the basis Of population.
amount to certain sums for each state or
locality Of the Union.
ION that theory 1 should be entirely
justified in voting against river and
harbor priations-even in voting
against the Panama canal expenditure
neither of which can be of direct benefit
TO my constituents, because the sums
thus expended, If divided up among the
states would give each certain sum
Th. question is. is the plan fair one
* the expenditure proper. are We bound
hy the arrangement as made until
changed as whole? AS to the last
question there can be but one answer.
.s.It is natural that the people of the
District should desire such appropria-
fions as will maintain creditable gov
eminent here and provide satisfactory
facilities here AS citizens Of the ma
| ton. of which this is the capital. we
should all be of the same mind. With
view of restoring amicable relations be-
tween the District and Congress, IL such
have been In any wise disturbed, l de-
sire tn express the hope that those
charged with legislation for the District
will in the future give at least as much
| time and attention to the work of con-
structiye and helpful legislation as is
given to the resurrection of ancient and
doubtful claims to faultfinding and criti-
cism Of the District, its oflcers and Its