The Washington times., 1915-10-19
WASHIN0TONS FIGHT FOR ITS
FUTURE

relations with the Federal
nment, there will be formally
ated an inquiry out of which
o come some conclusion big
manent enough to insure the
# the National Capital city.
harm might be done to this
a wrong decision which
cad to a mistaken Congress
policy. This city is unique
American communities in
has not the determination of
destiny. It was called into
by the fiat of a National
nent which insists on hold
tight rein of exclusive con-
here was not in the begin
economic justification for
a city here. That justifi-
,ust be provided by the Ma
Government, inasmuch as
no other government here.
ps it will be determined that
-and-half plan of apportion-
costs Of municipal manage
tween local property and the
Treasury is not scientifical-
ct or even the best possible.
fter all, is not the most i'm
e." stion. The supreme con-
IN that national author
! f,cognize a national obli-
o this community, and shall
at obligation.
is one group Of extremists
ye that if taxes here were
ough, the town could main
.lf without any contribution
e Federal Treasury. Per-
could. If six or seven mil
,re were taken annually from
'mes of Washington people
led to their contribution to
'ent costs, the people would
be able to live. France
spite that it is bearing the
If a war that is impoverish-
Britain lives, despite that it
entity been warned on high
y that its people must ex-
give the half Of their in
o the government to meet
emergency.
it a happy France, or a
England, that under neces-
'mits to such privations ?
be a prosperous Washing
Apply Washington. a credit
pital of which the nation
eel proud, that would be
lily squeezed for revenues
tate in a great war is
o.? Is that the kind of a
Capital the people of the
'tates ought to have?
os it is true that the Fed
vernment ought never to
owed any of the real prop
This District to be alienated
Perhaps speculation has
1t inflated some of the
But precisely the same rea-
has been applied to New
y; a certain school of econ
.pply it to the whole ques-
land values. They can cal
cry convincingly how much
.ings would be if the initial
of private land ownership
" been made. But the cold
lat it was made, and it can
nmade now by any process
ans infiiction of economic
the community.
shington is to be the Capt.
the nation honestly wants
will be a beautiful city. 1t
no slums. Its people will
nably prosperous, content
e, and moved by a proper
the city. Can slums be elm
ON Washington if the bur-
ixation on local property is
Can the citizenry be kept
ind and the state of purse,
he town worthy its place in
d, if the problem of exist
o be made vastly more diff
r the great majority who
IS through indirect assess
! the form of rent, prices
odities, impositions for pub
ces?
not answer these questions,
t that the Governments
here gives the value to
The trouble with that ar
is, that the Government is
y thing here to give value
rity of value. The Govern
lit a city where there was
ary need for it. The Gov
permitted land to be alien
t established and counte-
iscal relations under which
community gathered here,
& that the Government
provide those elements of
At policy, development, op-
y and security in values,