The Washington times., 1913-05-27

existence of the alley population is
menace not onl to the unfortunate
poor themselves but to the well-to-do
and industrious citizens as we'll.
In approving the plan to condemn inc
alleys. convert them into parks ana
playground or fill them with sanitary
houses. Congressman oBrland said:
In such condemnation proceedings
the jury should be given power to as.
sess upon the adjoining benefit district
as much of the damages as can ne
properly awarded as benefits to the ad-
jacent property. The excess. If any,
OF damages over benefits should oe
charged against the general fund OF the
District. In many cases ! believe IL
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 ap-
pears at first glance. The rental value
OF the street property would be very
much higher when 1t is removed from
contact with a noisome alley filed with
fighting and law-breaking population.
Large numbers of industrious and self
respecting people who do not live in
these alleys must live upon streets which
are adjacent to them and where they ind
II impossible to keep their children from
the contamination of the alley assocf-
ates.' 1t has been found in all cities
that the presence of insanitary and vice
breeding tenements depreciates the rem
tai value Of the surrounding property
and the elimination Of such conditions
VIII increase the rental value, which
permits an immediate absorption OF part
of the cost.
Cost Up To Congress.
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 N he
District Of Columbia 10 meet with ease
all Of the social and industrial problems
Of the District. The greatest cost after
all Is not the cost in dollars and cents
but In wrecked lives, crippled opportun-
tiles and In moral and social degreda-
ton of wage earners. The greatest as
set to a city or a nation Is it's men.
The greatest crop that It raises is a
crop Of children sound In mind and
body. All other costs sink into insight
1cance beside this
The great nation which has made
this city its Capital and which has Gre
ated here so 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 ma
citizens to come from all parts Of the
country in the service OF the General
Government and to bring their families
to. make their homes here. has assumed
the obligation to make those homes
pure. wholesome and attractive no mat
ter how humble and limited ttey may
be- In discharging this obligation Con-
Sress has full power over the taxable
wealth OF the District as any sovereign
State has over the taxable wealth with
In its borders. Congress should have.
and. I believe, will have the support Of
an enroused and vigilant public opinion
among the great mass of the citizens
Of the District of Columbia itself"
Mrs. Woodrow Wilson and Mrs Archi-
bald Hopkins entered the House gallery
while CONGRESSMAN Borland was speak
ing, and remained until he concluded
his speech The wife Of the President
and her companion frequently appIauded
the statements OF the Missouri Repre-
sentative. and leaned against the gal.
lery railing with evident deep interest
They were recognized by several MEM
bers who have been on Summing tours
with them.