The Washington times., 1915-11-05

/ on this question. Now. II seems to mo
| that this In another matter about which
confusion of words haa confused the
| issue. l think every one VIII agree that
" was the intention of the trainers OF
the Constitution that this should be a
| teueral center. set or here away IRON
the political activities OF the states for
the purpose of housing the seat OF gov.
ernment There is no doubt put what
that was the intention originally, but
think we will also agree that there 10
| now a city of $4,000. people here. In
other words. the advocates of both sides
are right. II Is the National Capital.
the seat of government: II IL also city
Of 10000 people. In other words, we
! nave an equation containing two rae
| tors, and the thing to do IL to ascertain
which is the dominant factor. II Is OBJ
vious that the National Government is
the dominant factor. which must and
VIII continue to run the District OF Co
iumbia; which will continue to take the
responsibility for everything That is
| done In the District of Columbia. 'and
will conduct tho affairs Of the District.
Right here I want to digress to say
: word on a subject which has received
great deal of attention from the
representatives Of the citizens commit
tee. That is :he comparison OF Wash
lngton with other capital cities OF the
world. a subject which has also re-
ceived considerable attention, and has
been discussed by the advocates Of self
The fact that London Ia the capital of
Great Britain is not tho dominant ele-
ment OF the situation there. 1t Is tho
ment is the fact that London is the tre-
mendous commercial. financial and in
dnstrlal center of the whole British en-
pire. In considering the affairs OF that
factor than that 1t IT, the seat Of gov
ernment. We are told that London has
done this. or Paris has done that. or
the people OF in Rio de Janeiro have
whatever to do with what ought to be
done In Washington. because we have
a wholly unique situation. as I said,
parallelcd only by Camberra, and not
tuition Of Australia, under which It is
esta blished. provides that title to all
lands In the federal zone shall remain
In the government forever.
Point of Conflict.
IF that provision had been incorpor-
ated when the District OF Columbia wa.
constituted you gentlemen would not
have been here 20 conduct this invcsti-
CATION today. because that is the point
Of connict-the issue between the Gov
eminent OH one side and the right OF
the Individual to the use OF the land
privately owned land In the District Of
Columbia. this question would not have
arisen. as tho District would have been
actually a Federal reservation
Going back to the fact that the
dominant element in the EQUATION un-
der consideration is tho National Gov
ernment, come to the declaration OF
the plan OF fiscal relation which Com
missioner Brownlow and believe
should exist between the District and
the United States. That is. that the
District OF Columbia, continuing to
be city OF $4,000 people, but being
the minor factor OF the equation, and
the National Capital being the major
factor. that for purposes OF govern
ment. for purposes Of financing the
municipality. the primary. the whole.
responsibility Is that Of the National
Government.
Should Pay All.
The National Government should
pay all Of the expenses OF the District
OF Columbia just as 1t pays all OF the
expenses OF the Agricultural Depart-
ment, the Navy Department. the War
Department. the Department OF Com
merce. and of all other Executive de-
partments or branches of the Federal
Government. II should pay all billa
out OF any moneys in the Treasury not
otherwise Appropriated. So much for
what the Federal Government ought
to do In the District OF Columbia.
Now what should the $4,000 peo-
PIE In the District do? What should
the second. minor element in the oous
ton. do? Take an individual mem
Der or that group of $4,000. take a
in man the 'ohn bis,rie, Soe Of Sng
Hobbs should pay into the Treasury
OF the United States a fair and rea-
sonable sum OF money for the privil-
ese. protection. and civic rights that
ne enjoys by living in the District of
a ~ hA ii. N
in town should pay a reasonable ami
fair sum OF money because they live
mere, Just as anybody In any city pays
Tor the privileges and advantages OF
living In that city. In Washington
John Hobbs would pay 1t into the
Treasury OF the United states as a
tax for the privilege OF living here.
lhat money should be converted into
miscellaneous receipts along with
moneys derived from internal revenue,
otnce receipts. and all the other
moneys that the United States col
lects and II should bear no relation
Whatever TO the amount of money thai
congress appropriates for the estab-
l,shment and upkeep OF its National
Capital.
Would Determine Question.
or course. II the committee should
look favorably upon this plan. which is
Variously known as the Hoar plan. the
Sims plan. and. lattcrly. In somewhat
different form. the Works plan, one very
important question will have to be deter
mined. That is the question OF how
much John Hobbs shall pay. trust
that II this plan does appeal to this
committee, IL it should decide to RECON-
mend its adoption to Congress. that tho
committee will. upon its own initiative
ana with Its own facilities. obtain the
information which ought to be obtained
III order TO fX that amount at q figure
which will be fair to John Hobbs and
iair TO the National Government.
would most earnestly urge that you do
not accept the information OF any
agency other than your own. The reso-
luton creating this committee carried
an appropriation for its expenses. n
that appropriation IL insufficient / am
sure that the moment Congress meets
you can get additional funds. ] believe
lnat thc committee itself. by the eX-
penditure Of money provided by Con
sress' shouId itself. or by the employ
nent or competent and reliable people.
investigate now much should be paid
anu arrive at determination of how
Ihucn should be paid after the most
carctul Inquiry and not by eX parte
sthtenlchts made by anyone other than
employees. W '''
In this connection I would like to
suggest that a fair sum of money for
John Hobbs to pay for living in Wash
inston would be what 1t would cost him