Evening star., 1915-03-29


per capita than in l41 Of the other
1914 American cities: a. Washing ton.
instead OF being the richest among
American cities. is absolutely the poor
est in taxable resources. lt'is rem
dered incapable by the crippling le2is-
lation of Congress OF bearing alone
the burden of capital maintenance and
upbnilding: t5p since the Washing
tontnn IL today compared with other
Americans heavily taxed municipality.
raised under the present system to pro-
vide adequate maintenance and wise
development for the National Capital.
the half-and-half arrangement should
not now be disturbed.
tPagcs 1, =. 3 and this broadsidc.l
VIII
Power and Obligation Coupled.
The nation should not repudiatc
it's half obligation in respect to capital
maintenance: for the logical sequence
OF such action In surrender of nll power
aud exclusive Jurisdiction in respect to
the District of Columbia. and the de-
struction of the nation-controlled cap
ital, conceived and created by the fore
fathers.
If the nation repudiates entirely its
National Capital obligation except in
direct relation to public buildings and
grounds 1t must in honor surrender all
exclusive legislative power in respect
to the District of Columbia. 1t must
set up here sovereign state of CO.
lumbia, by constitutional amendment
repeating the ten miles square pro-
vision; or 1t must retrocede to Mary
land the portion of the District ceded
by Maryland over century ago to form
the seat Of government.
This action. dissolving the National
4 Nly vol ,rtv~ u.
capital and nation. changes the seat
or government from the District to the
area occupied by public buildings or
used as public grounds or necessary
lor any na tional purpose. and de-
city.
This step should not be taken:
ID Because, tending to bankrupt and
depopulate the city which will take
the place Of the former capital, it wiz
environnent OF the seat OF government.
humiliating to national self-respect
90 1t will be dishonorable. destroy
ing equities and vested rights which
SPRING from the century -old pledge.
based on valuable ccnsider;t ton 10
preserve and develop Washington as
the permanent National Capital The
nation as half owner Of Washington
original lots made this pledge TO each
purchaser of lot from il as dis
tinctly as il the pledge had been writ
ten in the deed.
ts) 1t VIII offend the fine. strong
spirit of American nationality" The
National Capital is not only the symbol
OF union, but 1t is in itself d patriotic.
unlfying influence. The nation should
not and VIII not destroy this material
embodiment of the union Of the states.
TINS bond and token OF the spirit OF
American nationality
The nation should mon diminish its
tn itxl Il;
for the logical sequence of such action
is surrender by the nation Of control or
the capital municipality to the local
majority stock holders. Power and oh
II the latter is destroyed or diminished
the former is I'm equity destroyed or
diminished in proportion.
III the nation without repudiatinu
entirely its capital-nlaintenan obIipa-
tlon cuts it down from oue-half to
one-third or one-quarter, and confines
Il to a close calculation of actual
benefits in protection aud DEVELOPMENT
conferred upon the government prop
erty, then the nation should cut down
in proportion the control which il .x-
crcises In taxation and municipal gov
ernlnent of the District. Ceasing to be
majority or one-haE stock cllholder in
this municipal corporation. il should.
in good faith. turn over cont rol OF the
fiscal concerns OF the corporation to
the majority stockholders This sur
render of power accompanying a re-
pUdiation of obligation should be
genuine and effective. Il should trans
fer to the majority contributors TO the
tax fund absolutely the power to say
how much should he raised in taxes.
in what form they should be raised.
and by whom and for what purpose
they should be expended No pow cr
should be reserved to tlse nation
which is not cf the negative. limited
character that is appropriate for the
protection Of . minority interest and
representation.
coupled. and the nation should not
bunko the capital by merely pretend
ing to surrender power While gen
timely repuiiatinS a material ooilG;t-
ton.
The WashinEtOnian eager to exercise
hi. American right of full representa-
tiOn In C0nEress should not need to
destroy the half-and-half law in order
soldier of the nation he Is entitled to.
and should enjoy. this representation
whether Congress for the nation re-
tains or surrenders control and eA-
elusive power of Legislation In respect
to the capital.
Doubtless there should be readjust-
ment of the relations of nation ana
capital, but for the varied reasons
which have been suggested 1t should
involve no alteration of the half-and
half contribution arrangement of the
act of 1878.
Preserving its status of a majority or
at the very least OF 4 half stockhoider
In the municipal corporation in order
to Justify its full and exclusive con-
troll Of the corporations financial con-
Germs, the nation should SO exercise its
full taxing and legislative powers as
to represent faithfully the other and
unre presented half of the municipal
stockholders. If one-half is to act for
the whole it must learn the views and
1N IaN
due consideration in connection with
its own. BY the referendum ii can as
certain the legislative wishes of this
half: and by the recall
it can give the now irnpotent half At
least a negative voice in the selection
Of municipal officials.
Retaining the half-and-half relation
and national control In municipal af-