Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-12-19
Direct and Insidious Attacks.

While the District is gratified at the
many expressions of friendship and SYM
pathy and support which have been
evoked from members of both the House
and the Senate by the precipitate action
ri the House District committee in ap-
proving the Crisp bill repeating the half
snd-h provision OF the act OF 1878.
and is in a measure treasured by the
abandonment of the plan to add that bill
as a rider to the appropriation bill. it
does not feel that the danger Is fully
PASSED. There is still need of unrenitting
Watchfulness on the part of its friends
In Congress not merely to prevent the
open and direct repeal of the organic
act. but TO check the more dangerous be-
cause more insidious attacks upon that
statute.
The manner III which the Crisp bill vas
f.-rced through the House committee.
without warning and without hearing,
proved an advantage to the District in
that il aroused its friends TO action The
total lack of fair play was resented, and
tl,e stoppage of the plan to force the con-
sideration of this repeating measure at
the present time was an inevitable result
of so unfair maneuver. In sense this
incident has been beneficial to the Dis
trict in that il has brought forth state
ments from influential legislators which
prove that they realize the essentially ma
tonal character OF the District of Column
bia and appreciate the necessity as well
b. the justice of federal participation in
the cost OF its municipal maintenance.
There are at this time three menaces
D.at are quite as much 10 be feared as the
proposal of repeal of the organic act. in
gcrous character is not immediately
recognized by everybody. One of these
ls the attempt to take from Dis
trict revenues million dollars in
liquidation of an alleged debt owing
nearly forty years, the equity of
which is denied and the payment of
which will deprive the District not only
OF. the million in which it is mulcted but,
under the terms of the act of 1873, the
million of fedora; money with which it
should be matched in annual appropra-
tons There is next proposition to re-
dnce the amount of the federal con-
tribution by a half-million dollars a year,
meaning net loss of appropriation
funds of million. Finally. there Is
the proposed transfer to the federal
Treasury of all the revenues of the Dis
vision which was described yesterday as
actually advantageous to the District be-
cause designed as a compromise in the
face of the threatened abrogation of the
half-and-half principle.
The District desires no hasty off-hand
compromise surrendering principle, and
should accept none Grave as would be
the injury inflicted upon it by a with
drawal of the government from its half
and-half agreement. it must resist and
protest against any proffered adjustment
involving less than the equal participa-
ton by the United States in the District =
maintenance. unless the change Is
brought about after thoughtful and de-
liberate consideration of al the equities
on both sides of the case. IL NAV be true
that no man can with mat henatical exact
ness work out the precise proportion of
District expenditures which the United
states should assume. But it is also true
that when all the equities are regarded
ana the governments obligations and in
6rests are measured the even division
o. the expense between the District and
The nited States is fair basis OF the
partnership in capital maintenance which
~ view OF the Constitution must be main
tanned.
II Is obvious from reading of the de-
pate IN the House yesterday and of the
interviews with members OF both House
and senate that have been published that
the legislators realize that if the question
OF the Districts fiscal relations with the
federal government is taken under con-
slderation ne subject calls for careful
celebration and not for hasty judgment.
III was assured that the proposed razing
81 tie Districts house without the pro-
ais'on Of any new shelter would not be
sotlntenanced