Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-05-13

and trumpets its deadly purpose. 1t pro-
claims that it would eliminate entirely
! national participation in capital munich
| pal maintenance and upbuilding, as no
| longer necessary or defensible. 1t would
| destroy the half-and-half plan and would
substitute nothing in its place
Section Fights assault Is covert. indirect.
insidious The appropriation bill contains
| no word Of reference to the act of 1878, or
direct suggestion of repeal: not even the
customary clause repeating inconsistent
laws. But In effect section stabs
mortally the half-and-half provision. The
Constitution of the District of Column
bia. so designated by the Supreme Court
of the United States. is thus amended in
a vital point so far as the action Of the
House is concerned. without any verbal
suggestion in the bill Of amendment or
repeal without the slightest allusion in
it to the fundamental law. thus amended
or repealed without word of explana-
ton, objection or discussion o. even a
separate vote on a local constitutional
amendment which revolutionizes the Dis
trict's form of government and the rela-
tons of nation to capital.
In the case Of the Crisp bill the definite
fixed standard OF national participa ton
in capital uphuildng is destroyed by
avowed enemies who would not have the
nation participate at all In capital main
tenance: in the case of section S this
definite, fixed standard Is destroyed by
aHo"ed friends. vino are willing or anN-
'ous that the nation snail do more, not
.ess. in capital Development
In hoth cases the keystone in the arch
Of the capitals development and pros
perty is demolished. and the rebuilding of
IN" wrecked structure is left to chance
and the fates in the uncertain future.
Prior to 1878 the nation, through Con-
sress. participated as 1t saw fit in CAPT
tai upbuilding. with no definite equitable
measurement of its obligation toward the
nations city and it's people. There re-
suited a neglected. shabby, discreditable
capital: humiliation. reproach and
shame to the nation.
In 1878 a definite equitable standard of
national participation In capital building
was fixed. There has resulted one of the
most attractive and most wholesome of
the worlds capitals; a worthy object of
national pride.
1t is now proposed by the Crisp bill
and by section s to abandon this def
mite standard which has worked so well
for both nation and capital and under
which Washington has so wonderfully
prospered, and to restore so far as any
fixed degree of national participation in
capital making is concerned the relations
prior 10 1873, during the period Of the
capitals neglect and shame
Shall the half-and half plan be
abandoned. unless and until some other
definite standard of national participa-
ton is after thoughtful and deliberate
consideration substituted in it's place?
Shall the degree of national participa-
ton in capital maintenance and devel-
opment be rendered uncertain. f1uctuat-
ing from year to year, shifting from
too little to nothing with the whims
and caprices, the likes and dislikes,
the spites and the fancies of the few
individuals. the mere handful of leg
islators who in successive Con-
crosses are willing and are permitted
to act for the nation in dealing with
local concerns"