Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-12-20
No Demand for Change.

SAAsSAA6Ss
No one who is familiar with the opera
ton of this ill-advised system in Wash
ington would ever advocate a return to
it. On its face 1t appears to be reason
able that some part Of the cost of paving
the carriageways should be assessed
upon the abutting property because there
Is unQuestionably some benefit resulting
from the Improvement. But 1t is imprac-
ticable to assess the benefits equitably,
and in the long run complete justice Will
be done to all by defraying the cost from
the general fund.
Under the present law in force for
thirty-five years, the small property
holder in the suburbs and on many of the
unimproved streets of the city, has con-
tributed toward the payment in the oder
portions of the city, and now. when he Is
about to have his own street paved, he is,
If the proposed change is made, to be
assessed for costs. There is no demand
for this change and it would work great
hardship and injustice upon a deserving
class of small property holders in the
suburbs and elsewhere who are paying
for their homes in monthly Instruments
Moreover, the proposed change would
not reduce the tax on any property In
the District single dollar and there is
no public necessity for such change;
nor is there much analogy between this
system and the existing law under which
sidewalks and alleys are paved, where
the benefits are almost wholly local.
The present revenues are adequate for
all the work estimated for by the Com
misSionerS and aggregating several mil
lions of dollars more than the House OF
Representatives has appropriated in the
present bill.
Some charges have been made on the
floor of the House of Representatives in
support of this change that primeval for
ests have been leveled and streets paved
through them and through waste places
for the benefit of spectators. one-half
at the expense of the United States, and
that the Borland amendment, il ii be-
comes a law, will check such expendi-
lures.
The charge is absolutely without
foundation all such work having been
done wholly at the expense of the proper
ty holders so far as paving streets is con-
cerned, thereby increasing largely the
revenues of the District. Moreover, I'M
der the existing law no street can be
paved in the District at the expense of
the public without specific appropria-
ton therefor. which, of course. is wholly
under the control of the appropriation
committees and Congress.
Pleads for Integrity of Compact.
There are a number of items in this
bill as 1t passed the House of Repre-
sentatives which are made payable who'll
ly from the revenues of the District, in
violation of the organic act.
The Washington Board of Trade
pleads for the integrity of that COM
pact, and protests vigorously against
each and every departure from it by
Congress. In behalf Of the people of
this federal district, who are without
direct representation in Congress. it re-
spectfully urges upon your honorable
committee to permit no infractions of
that just measure which has been pro-
nounced a constitution by the Supreme
Court of the United States in Eckloff
against the District of Columbia Obs
United States, 24-243-244).
The maintenance of the half-and-half
plan, the vital feature of this consti-
tuition, is absolutely essential to the
health, comfort and convenience of the
inhabitants of this capital, and Of all
those persons who come here on public
or private business, If it is to be main
tanned on the scale intended by it's
founders. In this connection your at
tention is invited to report of the
Board of Trade upon the financial re-
lations of the District of Columbia and
the federal government from 1871 to
1912, unanimously adopted January 10.
1912, a copy of which is sent herewith,
with a request that it be considered a
part of this communication and in
Guided in the printed record of the
hearings.