The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-11-13

II have no sympathy with such sugges-
lions. / speak In tie light of the ex-
perience Of one who has served more
than third of q century in the two
Houses of Congress. ] do not believe
there is a more responsive body than
The congress-composed OF House MEM
bers who are elected every two years
and senator's elected every six years.
No Way TO Escape wranEie.
ITO charge that these men would
adopt a cheesc-paring policy toward
the Capital OF the Nation is to Inn
peach the patriotism of 100.000.000
people. have no sympathy with that
sort of talk
Until this partnership between the
District and the Federal government
Is dissolved there is no way to escape
the constantly recurring wrangles In
the Senate and House over the half
and-half plan. These wrangles always
occur whei. the District appropriation
bills are up. and they will continue to
occur so long as this unnatural part
nership lasts.
IF the present plan of dividing eX-
4 penses Is to be maintained. and IL the
gentlemen of this committee cannot be
/ persuaded to recommend different
plan. then l would be glad to see II
maintained. but think the people here
/ U.
residents here ought to be required to
Apay fair taxes on their property
they ought not to be penalized for liv-
ing here. nor should they receive I'M
usual benefits because they live here
! And. as I said. / would establish no
connection whatever between the Dis
trict taxes and the amounts appropri-
ated from the Federal Treasury for
tho maintenance and development of
the Nations Capital"
Thinks District should Benent..
Senator Works wanted TO know II the
witness thought sentiment through the
country opposed liberal contributions to
the upkeep of the National Capital
Il do not believe any such sentiment
would be manifested in Congress were il
not that some gentlemen think they can
popularize themselves among their rural
constituents as posing as self-appointed
guardians Of the Treasury" replied Sem
atOr Blackburn.
| MY general belief is that II the $3.50
percentage arrangement was proper
thirty-six years ago. the percentage to-
day ought to be G. per cent for the Fed
eral government and ) per cent for the
I District taxpayers"
! Senator blackburn. while a member Of
the House and Of the committee which
reported out the organic act. said in the
course of a speech to the House:
/ There Is but one point more to which
j desire TO call the attention OF the
House. and then ! shall have done. II Is
the necessity Of having some basis of ex-
penditure fixed between the Federal
Treasury and the District treasury. How
can a property holder in the District Of
Columbia determine or guaGe the value
of his property today? Can nc tell what
tax It will be subjected to as long as he
Is left the victim OF the within and caprice
OF Congress? The property holder does
not know whether the appropriation
made by Congress will be 10 per cent or
I % per cent OF the expenditures of the
District The people of the District
have a right to demand that you shall
fix this question permanently and final
ly. But whatever per cent the
government Is TO bear should be deter
mined and fixed permanently. so that
legitimate and permanent values may be
established In the District"
Repeats His Sentiments.
This passage was read to him by Col.
WorthinEton:
Il repeat every word Of it now" said
former Senator Blackburn. AT that
time the half-and-half principle was the
best solution that could be had. II was
the best thing that could be put through
the two houses. II conditions were to-
day as they were thirty-six years ago. I
would still favor the fixed proportion
but I am suggesting something batter
than that"
Referring to the mental condition OF
District taxpayers in relation to Con-
gress. Senator Blackburn declared:
THE present District OF Columbia COM
mittee in the House constitutes a night
mare that is found on the pillow Of every
District resident when he goes to sleep
at night.
Il think the people OF tfse District have
been pretty badly frightened by the eter-
nal wrangling over the half-and-half ar
rangemcnt and the threats to disturb the
present relations have hung like a night
mare over this community"
John Joy Edison. in statement prior
to submitting to examination, urged the
equity and wisdom of constitutional
amendment giving the residents of the
District the privilege OF voting for Presi-
dent and Vice President. and granting
the District a representative with voting
privilege In the House and one or two
Senators He strenuously objected. how
ever to changing the form Of local gov
eminent, except that he favored more
direct participation by citizens in such
affairs as concern schools. matters OF
public health. etc.
Edison Cites Specific Case.
Mr.. Edison explained his fear that with
an indeterminate contribution plan in
force special influences and impulses
would restrict Congressional contribu-
tons. Senator Works was skeptical OF
this, whereupon Mr.. Edison remarked:
II have in mind that when the appro-
priation for the Library OF Congress was
under consideration. a certain member
of the House, and he seemed to be rep
beers. declared in tones of shocked hor-
ror that his constituents were men and
women of the farm and furrow. and
that they would rise UP in wrath II he
should vote for a 900 library. Sub
sequently. the appropriation was cut to
$4,000. Since that time / have had
occasion many times to take clients and
friends who were farmers through the
Library Of Congress. l have never heard
a remark about extravaganza from them
in this connection, and I never heard
more fullsome admiration"
Mr. Edison related this to show that.
while the sentiment through the coun-
try might be in favor of generous con-
tributions to the Capitals development.
that development might easily be retard-
ed in Congress.
I'm the course of all my appearances
before committees OF the House and
Senate" declared Mr.. Edison. discussing
the half-and- half plan, 81 never heard
question raised once against an appro-
priation because It involved the half-and-
half principal. Such questions were al
ways determined upon their merits