Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-04-30
Preserve the Nation City.

be taken in the House next District day
On the Johnson Prouty bill which is the
crisp bill thinly disguised. only few
days remain in which to persuade our
Constitutional legislators of the lower
House to consider the vital issues on their
merits to be present next District day.
ana to give square deal TO Washington
In its essence the proposition is much
more than 10 double the local tax Dur
den. making il s15.11oo. The evidence
is convincing and irresistible. if our leSis-
Iators viii only take the trouble 10 con-
slider IT, that our present tax burden is
reasonable and fair. heavier per capita
than in three-fourths OF american cities,
heavier in the aggregate than many
richer cities. and harder to be borne than
In other cities approXimatiuc IT in size.
on account of the capitals lack of taxable
resources its large percentage of tran
steut and mountaineering population. and
its tremendous percentage of realty eN
e,npt from taxation. The charts and the
figures upon which vast wealth of tax
able resources is imputed TO Washington
nave been demonstrated to be based upon
an unsound foundation, thoroughly dis
credited as unreliable by the government
census, and leading when practically APP
piled TO ridiculous results There is fatal
error in their basic principle, and when
carried to their logical end they are re-
duced to an absurdty.
MIR. Borland argued on last District
day thar Washington was not now
overtaNed when compared with Kansas
City, though its per capita tax burden,
according to the census. was slightly
greater than that of his home city.
suppose Washington is not now over
taxed in comparison with the home
city of this or that representative.
Does that fact constitute a reason why
its tax burden should be more than
doubled. proposed by Messrs. John
son, Prouty and Crisp? Washington
expects Mr.. Borland as a fair minded
man TO vote against the Johnson
Prouty bankrupting proposition the
logical result of his comparison be-
tween Kansas City and Washington.
And the capital is confident that any
congressman who will in the light of
the approved census figures compare
the tax burden of his home city with
that of Washington and will then use
his eyes and his brains in measuring
for himself the comparative taxable
resources of the two cities. will be con-
sonabIy taxed, all things considered
and will reject promptly and firmly
the Johnson Prouty- Crisp proposal
Consideration of the nations as
well as the capitals interest and well
fare forbid the withdrawal by the ma
ton from its obligations to the ma
tons city.
The nation should not repadiate its half
atio
nance: for the logical sequence of such
action is surrender of all power and ex-
elusive jurisdiction in respect to the
District of Columbia and the destruc-
ton Of the nation-controlled capital CON
ceiyed and created by the forefathers
II the nation repudiates entirely its
national capital obligation except in di-
rect relation 10 public buildings and
grounds il must in honor surrender all
exclusive legislative power in respect to
the District of Columbia 1t must set
up here sovereign state of Columbia.
by constitutional amendment repeating
the ten miles square provision; or it
must rctrocede to Maryland the portion
Of the District ceded by Maryland over
IA century ago to form the seat of gov
eminent.
capital partnership. divorces absolutely
capital and nation. changes the seat of
government from the District to the
area occupied by public buildings or
Hs"d as public grounds. or necessary for
any national purpose. and destroys
Washington as the nations city.
This step should not be taken
. ~ Because. tending to bankrupt and
iepopulate the city which will take the
place of the former capital, it will result
IN a shabby and discreditable environ
nent of the seat of government HUI
initiating to national sclf-respect
- II will be dshonorable. destroying
equities and vested rights which spring
from the century-old pledge. based on a
valuable consideration, to preserve and
develop Washington as the permanent
national capital. The nation as half
owner of Washingtons original lots made
this pledge 70 each purchaser of a lot
from IT as distinctly as if the pledge
had been written in the deed.
g, II will offend the fine strong spirit
NJ American nationality" The national
capital is not only the symbol of union.
hut is in itself a patriotic. unfying influ-
cnse. The nation should not and will not
destroy this material embodiment of the
union Of the states. this bond and token
OF the spirit of American nationality.
Elsewhere in The Star these PROPOSE
tons are discussed in some detail in ed
itorial correspondence.
When troops are landed in fever