Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-22
Two Things to Be Done.


gress to do. First: To decide that
henceforth Washington is to be local
city, and consequently place 1t under
local control. permit the people here to
govern themselves. levy their own as
sessments collect their own taxes and
direct their own disbursements. VIII
the people of the United States approve
this? We might well assume they Will
not. Second: The alternative Is for
Congress to exercise exclusive con-
troll, as at present, and then naturally
there will follow a duty to participate
In the cost of such Improvements AS
Congress may direct, because they al
ways will be of national magnitude.
'"The fact cannot be denied that the
people of the District of Columbia do
mated, free of expense to the nation,
all the land necessary for great sys-
ervations within the old city limits. and
row Congress has not only dictated
but is enforcing a plan for the new
and greater Washington. which appro-
pirates one-third of all the territory,
remaining now private property. for
streets and avenues. and there Is ap-
pended as a part Of this national street
extension plan provision which reads
as follows: .raod
nv the court as damages for each high
Way or reservation or part thereon con-
demned and established under TINS act
shall be oue-half assessed against the
land benefited thereby, and the other
half shall be charged up to the reve-
nues of the District of Columbia
Further Provision.
And it provides further in the same
act:
THAT no expense for the improve
| ment of any street, circle. reservation
| or avenue laid out under the provisions
| of this act outside Of the cities OF
| Washington and Georgetown shall be
| chareeable TO the Treasury OF the
United States. but such expense shall
be paid solely out Of the revenues OF
| the District of Columbia
| Our citizens desire plan FOR the
| new and greater Washington II the
general government will share the ex-
pense, they favor a national plan II
! however. Congress will not meet the
| cost. or at least part of 1t, then we
should be permitted to suggest a local
plan, which will not bankrupt our
people.
! pIan. as shown by the map. wiz con-
vince every one that 1t is not local nut
national 1t was designed by Congress
without request of the District people,
and over the protest of many. iocai
! street plan could have been established
at one-fourth the cost of acquiring the
land. grading and regulating, but Con-
| gress thought proper to give the pres
emit street-extension plan national as
pect, with due regard for the nation
rather than the landowners locai
plan would have suggested system OF
| streets not SO numerous or wide and
| corresponding more with the topogra-
ply of the land, thus preserving the
! great natural beauty Of all this outiy-
| ing section.
Some urge that local landowners
should take into consideration the ad-
vantage derived from holdings OF the
United States government. consisting
of its clerical force. buildings and
grounds. 1t might we'll be commended
that there Is a corresponding advantage
inuring to the United States by reason
of the existence of the local population
and their improvements.
How Would q. s. Get Alonge
IF, therefore, the question is asked
How would our people get along with
out the government? the answer might
be, How would the government get
lalong without thc Inhabitants Of Wash