Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-11-06
pride which actuates Congress in that
mater would continued" =.

lpride which actuates Congress in that
Imatter would continue?"
No Disaster Under Any System.
"oh. I do not predict dire disaster un-
der any fiscal system.'
What do you think of Mr.. Brown
lows contention that Congress will al
ways do its duty by the District Of Co
lumbfa 20
advocated by my colleagues, Commits
Isioners Newman and Brownlow. / have
no objection to their fiscal plan. but ]
lido believe that Washington has COM
and a residence city, and it will make
better progress under a fixed proper
ton of federal contribution.
Offers a Fiscal System.
| c. C. Lancaster, who told the commit
| tee that he had talked on every sub
! ject of Importance in the District at
some time in the past twenty years,
| and that he stood before them as an
American citizen, the equal of any
member of the committee. and a citi-
zens' association president for nine
teen years. next put forth his theory
of the proper fiscal system for this
capital. In brief he advocates:
1. That Congress should assume full
responsibility for the finances of the
District of Columbia and should appro-
pirate for all District expenses.
2. That Congress should collect all
taxes by a fixed but reasonable rate
levied very much as at present:
3. That Congress should provide for
entirely of residents of the District of
Columbia.
Past Municipal Record Clean.
I'VE have had a clean municipal rec
ord" he announced in clarion tones to
the committee. land if you will search
the pages of history from 1902 down to
the present time you will find no
smirch, and if you should find stain
there it would be like a clap of thunder
to our people here.
Here is our record. Has II met the
views of the American people, or has
lean people? If not, who has laid down
on the job?"
He paused. declared that with these
few preliminaries he would get down
to the meat of the situation and then
declared:
I'm 1902 the child of the nation was
born. 1t did not spring ful1-armed
from the brain of Jove, but was left
naked in the bulrushes of the Po-
tomac."
Humor Is Injected Into Hearing.
from the rear of the committee room.
while Representative Gard made the
remark to his colleagues:
"a sort of September morn"
Mr.. Lancaster continued:
ut was deserted on the banks of the
Potomac by it's foster father, but we
rescued 1t out of the bulrushes. We
gave it clothes and its first meal and
right away it showed it was going to
be an expensive child.
I'VE continued to find it the most ex-
pensive child in the country. But we
did not shirk our duty. No. With love
and patriotic feeling we went down
into our pockets to our elbows to clothe
and educate that babe We had found in
the bulrushes."
Referring then to the situation of the
capital in 1885. he said:
Senator Southland Eulogized.
'The name of Senator Southland will
go down in history. for it was he who
first sounded the clarion note of hu-
initiation that the federal government
had not done it's part toward the Ma
tional Capital.
Did you pay more for that baby than
if it had lived in some other city,"
asked Representative Rainey.
''Oh. yes"
But we have given you s15o.o00. 900
in thirty-seven years" suggested Mr..
Rainey- That's not much, of course,
but it's something"
You watt admenished Mr.. Lam
caster. leveling his forehnger at the
Illinois legislator, and when I am
through that hundred and fifty millions
won't look like SO much"
Mr.. Lancaster told the committee that
proper credit had never been given Gen.
Grant for saving the National Capital
while he was President.
President Grant saw the danger which
threatened the capital" said Mr.. Lam
caster. land he called upon that mag
nihcent brain, Alexander R. Shepherd,
who has been reviled by many. and Shep-
herd leveled the hills and valleys and
made the capital city what It is"
Taking up the consideration Of the act
Of 1873, called the organic act of the
District. Mr. Lancaster said:
Where He Believes Congress Erred.
Congress did not do its duty then.
1t went into a picayune partnership
with bankrupt man. the District of
Columbia 1t agreed to match half dol
lars with this bankrupt when he didn't
nave any half dollars to match. Con-
gress could have squeezed the life out
of US residents Of the District through
this plan. That's all wrong"
Then you don't agree with the gen.
tlemen who have come here advocating
the retention of the half-and-half
pl1n," said Senator Works.
l. II do not" was the reply. Congress
should have assumed the whole respon-
sibility for the development of the
capital"
THE people Of the District should
have paid no taxes?' asked Represen-
tative Rainey.
"Oh, no." said Mr.. lancaster, II don't
hold that But Congress should have
said, We will pay all the bills and We
will assess you a fair amount
Il am delighted" continued Mr..
Lancaster. that 1 have been spared to
tell this committee that IL was an out
rage to make us the partners in build
ing up the National Capital. The peo-
pie here have never shirked their duty
and they are perfectly willing to pay,
but they don't want 70 be robbed"
Criticises Extension Of Streets.
Mr.. Lancaster criticised the manner
| in which Congress has legislated for