The Washington times., 1915-10-20

The justice and wisdom Of that ar
rangement in the interest OF the coun-
try's Capital are clearly seen by the
country. The injustice and the unwis-
dom OF trying to make Sj1,"D people
do the work OF 100 ooo on people In main
tanning and developing the great Capi-
tai which belongs to them un seems
10 be equally apparent TO our fellow
countrymen. They apparently realize
that the founders were right In saying
that absolute responsibility went with
absolute control. and that the commit
tees OF Congress were right. in the
reports between 1874 and 1873. in saying
that the nation ought to take at least
one-half OF the burden under which the
district people had stagssred into BANK
ruptcy and carry 1t through the COM
ing years. To them the exclusive con-
troll OF Congress over the Capital sec ms
natural. and they suppose that all the
Senators and Representatives take an
intelligent and sympathetic part in that
control. They suppose that ali Con-
gress Is interested in the continuous
progress OF the Capital under welt con-
sidered plans and in systematic and
orderly manner.
They would not like tho ambassa-
doris and ministers OF foreign countries
who are resident In Washington to re-
port to their countries the effects OF
such unsympathetic and inefficient
TREATMENT, oT u nave IHe UNOFFICIAL VS.
itors constantly coming from all the
other countries to Washington make
equally severe. II not equally important.
criticisms. or to have the foreign press
recording the results OF such treatment
At the celebration OF the centenary
Of the National Capital. December u,
1870, all the states of the Union were
represented and twenty-five OF them
by their governors. the largest mum Der
OF governors ever present at one time
WQahinDtnn nd
Iowa. who was the spokesman for the
states at the proceedings at tho White
house, and eminent senators and Rep
resentatives at the joint meetings OF
the two houses III the hall of tho House
spoke Of the common interest OF the
country In Its Capital, the common de-
sire to have Its Capital titlT represent
the greatness of the nation and its
pride in all that had beon done to that
end since lSN. These official speeches
OF chosen representatives OF the people
non-residents Of the District OF Column
hia. should u" road with cnre. MS pup
lished by Congress. in the desire TO dis
cover the real sentiment Of our fellow
countrymen with respect to the mainte-
nance and development OF the common
Capital.
NATIONAL EXPENDITURES FOR
NATIONAL. OBJECTS UNAFFECT-
ED RY TIE "HAI.F-AND-HALF'
LAW.
In this brief we have limited our dis
cussion as to the proper proport on to
be contributed by the United STATE
and the District OF Columbia respective
~ to the class of expenditures men
toned in the resolution providing for
the Joint Select Committee OF Con.
Sress on this subject namely. The
expenses Of the Government of the Dis-
trict of Columbia. or any branch there
OF, including interest on the funded
debt" Tho existing fiscal relation be
tween the United States ana the Dis
trict of Columbia. commonly called the
half-and-half Arrangement, relates only
TO those expenses. The District resi-
dents rs national taxpayers contribute
IN common with Their fellow citizens
throughout the country to the expendi-
lures Zoe phrely national objects and
purposes including national buildings,
in the District Of Columbia. 1t seems
obvious. but 1t also seems necessary to
state that there Is nothing IN the ex-
sting half-and-halt arrangements. as
there was nothing in any law before
the act Of June II, 1875, setting up that
arrangement. to affect In any way,
much lees to limit the expsnditures