Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-20

march of events since 1878 has demon
strated that If occasion shall arise for
changing the respective equitable contri-
buttons of the people here and the people
of the whole Union to the expenses of the
District of Columbia, that change will
have to be one that will not diminish but
will increase the share of the nation.
George F. Hoar's Address.
On this subject We submit as especially
appropriate now what was said by Mr..
George F. Hoar in an address delivered
by him at Washington the 18th day of
December. 1900, at the memorial celebra-
ton of the one hundredth anniversary
of the establishment of the seat of gov
eminent in the District of Columbia.
Il have spoken of the antiquity of Euro
pean capitals. London has been CEN
ter of civilization for more than 1900
years. The house of commons has existed
for 500. There has been a bishops pal
ace at Fulham more than 1000. Paris
has been a seat Of government for tfr-
teen centuries; Berlin for nearly four
Vienna for seven. And yet there are few
places that can show for any one century
more than three products Of architecture
tnat equal the Capitol! the Washington
Monument and the Congressional Library
If we can add to the glories of Washing
ton three such structures only for each
coming century, we need not be ashamed
of comparison with any foreign city when
Washington shall have reached the same
age. Yet in 1900 we were a people of
but 100000. We are now 77,00O,O 900
The population of this District is multi
piled in larger proportions still We shall
deal with our metropolis in the coming
centuries, as compared with that which
has gone. with a liberality proportioned
to our wealth, numbers and power If
God spare the republic. what may we not
WnS M,
What Has the Nation Contributed to
the Expenses of It's capitalp
The poverty of the national govern
ment at the outset, the agitation for
the removal of the capital following
the capture of Washington by the Brit
ish in 1914; the winning of the west !;
the absorption of the people in the set
try; the absorption of Congress In ma
tional political questions: the distribu-
ton among the states and territories
In 1887, of the first large surplus Of
the national government from doing Its
duty to the National Capital after its
management OF the sale of the lots
donated to the United States and of
their proceeds had failed to realize the
purpose Of the founders as indicated
by one of them, President Jefferson, in
his message to Congress, January II,
1902. that the proceeds of the United
States lots should insure a consider
able surplus to the city. to be en-
ployed for Its Improvement" In fact,
the lot money was spent on national
government buildings and grounds and
their surroundings.
The Secretary of the Treasury in a
report to the Senate dated May %,
1878. gave items of expenditure BY the
United States for general improvement
Of streets and avenues aggregating
$s7o,632.S7 for the period from 1890 to
1871. In the Southland report of 1895 it
Is stated that the proceeds of the lots
given the United States by the original
proprietors were s741.024.45 up to
and $4,000 worth given away. and it
Is clear that If the sale of the lots and
their proceeds had been efficiently man.
aged they would have yielded an
amount sufficient to do much more than
was done In the period prior to 1871.
The Secretary Of the Treasury in the
report Of May %. 1878, Just referred
TO. gives expenditures by the United
public and private purposes from 1890
to 1871 aggregating $13,s0S.211.4s. We
find that under the head OF Capitol"
are included expenditures related to the
Capitol and other national buildings,
amounting to s63S,s7s.42. For the same
period the United States expended
s2,25o.s54.74 for public and private
benevolent institutions in tho District
Of Columbia. including care of insane
United States soldiers, sailors and
members OF revenue marine. The Wash
fngton aQueduct. built by the national
government primarily for Its own pur-
poses and still under the authority and
control OF the War Department, cost
$3,407. 474.S6.
Other Appropriations.
This amount was expended chiefly be-
tween 1853 and 1866.
Another item of expenditure was for
bridges. aggregating $984.372.6S. OF
such expenditures the Southland report