The Washington times., 1915-10-20
Declared RevoHi11g
To Sense of Justice

There is something revolving to
proper sense OF Justice in the idea that
the United States should hold free from
taxation more than onc-half of the area
of the capital city. should require to be
maintained city upon an unusually
expensive scale from which the ordin-
ary revenues derived from commerce
and manufactures are excluded: that
In such case the burden Of maintain
ing the expenses for the capital should
fail upon the resident population.
A very large proportion OF this popu-
iation are temporary residents, and only
brought here to serve the Government
IN various capacities. They acquire no
permanent interest. and generally hold
but nttle property. The remaining nor
ton OF the population-ts made up chief
ly OF persons engaged In minor traffic.
and in supplying the wants OF the Gov
ornment. OF themselves. and Of the
temporary residents referred to. so that
there Is absolutely no source OF revenue
which can be looked to as a permanent
support for the necessary expenditures
OF this city. Aside. then. from all ques-
ton OF sentiment or patriotism or pride
IN the National Capital. your commit
tee are impressed with the belief that
the Federal Government sustains mt
least such relation toward the citizens
'nd the local government as would re-
quire II to contribute to municipal ex-
nen rs an amount bearing the relation
the interest of the Federal Government
nc bears TO the interest Of the local
government. and this they believe to be
at least one-half. -
Your committee will not attempt to
present n comparative statement OF ex-
penditures made by the Federal and
local governments Reference has boon
made to expenditures only. to show the
utter lack OF any policy toward the
District. which runs through the whole
a stnt tant. -
hciently illustrated in the one fact.
that the Forty-second Congress aprro-
priated more money toward the i'm
rrovement Of the Capital than had been
appropriated during the seventy years
preceding. 1t Is believed that It would
be much wiser and much more eco
nomical. both to the national and local
governments. to fix upon definite
sum. or proportion to be contributed by
both. and that 1t is more important
that these appropriations should be made
regularly and upon some wcl,-defned
principle. than that they should be
large. Such n course. had II boon ndopt-
ed in 1900 and steadily pursued toward
the Capital. would have made It today
the most beautiful capital city in the
world. ana such a course now, steadily
pursued. Will make It so Mt no very
distant day.
"Nour committee would not hesitate
to undertake. the preparation Of n hill
looking to this wcll-dcfncd basis OF OK
pCnditlIrcs; but in view of the fact that
n Joint committee OF the Senate and
House have been charged, with an OK
ain!nation into all the questions in their
detail. which should be first examined
before maturing such n measure. and
your committee Is not SO charged. nor
in possession of the necessary facts.
they therefore feel constrained to sub
nit these general Views and wait the
further order OF the House, should the
t.t., ,,.tt "a r.
sent bill answering the inquiry of the
| resolution"