The Washington herald., 1913-12-29
COOPER'SPLAN
Meets favor
Creation of Board to Look
Into Half-and-haf Plan
Discussed.
WOULD COLLECT DATA
Resolution Authorizes Employment of
Expert Advice-Appointments
by President Are Provided.
By JOSEPH p. AMIN.


by President Are Provided.
By JOSEPH p. AMIN.
Wide discussion and pretty general ap-
proval is promised the resolution pre-
pared by Representative Henry A. Cooper,
Of Wisconsin. creating a commission to
inquire into the equity of the present half
snd-half arrangement between the gov
srnment and the District of Columbia
This was apparent yesterday in views
expressed by many who have taken a
deep interest in District affairs
The least that could be accomplished
by the enactment of the Cooper resolu-
ton would be the acquisition, for the
information of Congress, of the very ma
terial upon which any weIl-considered,
equitable readjustment must be based.
Inc resolution does not commit Congress
TO any course as regards the District It
does not commit Congress TO any support
Whatever of the District; il does not an
Iasonlze the desire of many members to
wipe out the present form OF government
here and substitute a local self-govern-
ment, nor does it antagonize the views
OF those who believe that the reins of
government should remain in the hands OF
Congress. And it meets absolutely and
squarely the desire of very large senti-
ment in Congress for unbiased, reliable
information as to the extent to which
the Federal government is a burden upon
the taxpayers of Washington.
should Receive support.
1t can be safely said that there is no
limo aTnf
withdrawal by the government of all
financial support to the District. Vir-
tuaIIy all members acknowledge that
some measure of support is just and due |
Ihe District, whether under the present |
form OF government or another.
But no man yet has pretended to know
"hat would constitute fair basis upon |
Which to divide the expenses. Some say
the haIt-and-half plan is good enough
and thoroughly satisfactory. Some saw
they believe the government at present is
contributing too heavily to the support
OF the District Some add that the wealth
OF the District-aside from any ineuual-
ltles charged against the tax assessment
foLs-ls not being taxed as heavily as il
should De. But all admit that they are
entirely iii the dark as to what would
constitute an equitable adjustment Tbev
are at ioss-one and alI-for Just such
Information as the District Fiscal Conn
mission, proposed by the Cooper resoIu
iion' would be directed and empowered
TO furnish.
Early Report Directed,
While directing an early report. so that
the plan may not be used by obstruction !
ISIS, the resolution authorizes the enpIov- :
ment of such expert advice as if NAV :
deem necessary. This will make il possi- | !
'ie lor The members of the commission | &
10 premise their work upon a scientific
survey OF conditions. and at the same
ume so prepare their report that the
"'"'SuCS from which they drew their I
''ilCluSiohS may be used by legislators to b
""iI- out their own recommendations Z
Five members of the commission ,ro :
l" be appointed by the President under I
the terms OF the Cooper resolution and \
I'o'hlhE IorDldS the appointment of MEM Z
Del ot the Presidents Cabinet or other :
government officials if the President so h
ueSlres 10 constitute the commission ex-I 9
,tp' lHaI Two members must be bona 2
M residents of the District. The antireI .
cOl.missiOn could be So constitnte5 .Lat
no salaries TO members would be ,,ecosN !,
sdrN' as the resolution prohibits or,,l e.
henOef VINO Is at the same time drawing n
ihother salary from the government from Z,
accepting any compensation for his serv-
C as member of the commission.
Will Not Discuss Matter.
Neither of the District Commissioner
cared 10 talk of the resolution until II
comes before them through some of4iciaII
-hanneL 0iiioiN'
dont care to express a PERSONAL
opinlon' said Commissioner Newman g
Commissioner Siddons said: b
Al a meeting of the West End Cfti- |
zens' Association several davs ago c
suggested he ]
lIa"n from the two houses Of Congress y
ms IS a part of the provision of the q
s. ooper resolution. and there are to be o
several men outside of Congress on the v
$ -oIilIhlsslon AS to its wisdom, 1 do not o
mink should comment now" n
IL seems to me good plan," said a
-uho H. Rudolph, former District Com v
missioner and now president of the
Board of Trade o
'ourt of Claims. retired, feels that tbe s
"oper resolution may help to settle d
any dissatisfaction that may be felt a
II congress with the ''half-and-haIf'' N
1lan, but he sees no ground for thinking fs
nat the organic act is not fair to both b
ides. OO'" Il
IF Congress is dissatisfied with the h
ma .I -and-haIt plan," he said last night, W
thlnk 1t is proper that a commission n
'e appointed to draw up a plan that Il
you'd be fair. But 1 think the 'half-and- Il
lalf plan is eminently equitable, in view Ct
II the large real estate holdings by the, t.
government in the District 81
when you consider the value of the cl
property and improvements thereon
Wned by the United States here. includ-
ng the title which the government holds
the ground in front of nearly every c.
esidence on the older streets of the 81
ity, it would seem to me that no COM I
laint Of the Justice of the organic act a
ould be made. The United States owns 10
rom twelve TO fifteen feet in front of
early every residence on some streets. in
his property coming to the government II
'hen the streets were narrowed for i'm st
roVements some time ago."
Idea Called Feasible ~ ~
Richard B. Watrous, secretary of the h;
mer1can Civic Association, said: to
Representative Cooper's bill is timely sc
nd would appear eminently practical, q
onforming as it does to the suggestion e,
lade few days ago by the distinguished in
ader OF the House, Mr.. Underwood. 1t
a growing practice of cities nowadays CT
it is Of great privat, corporate bodies, d