Evening star., 1915-03-29
A Little Bill for Back Pay.

Washtugton's recital OF past grievances
must be modified somewhat to represent
just complaints at the present time. Capi-
tai movers no longer retard the city's
growth. The nations ''bantling' no
longer fears sudden death. Congress full
fills its obligations in respect TO the i'm
provement Of the District with fidelity.
An appropriation equal to one-half Of the
estimated District expenses is- annually
made. and considerable sums are fire.
quently appropriated for special purposes
which enure to the benefit Of the capi-
tai. The ward Of the nation Is properly
clothed and fed There can be little COM
plant Of injustice on the part of Congress
In its treatment of the capital so far as
outlays of the present are concerned. II
the District has grievance in this re-
spect it consists in the fact that the same
principle Of dividing expenses which now
prevails has not been applied to previous
outlays, with the result of reimbursing
the District for past expenditures beyond
Its proportion. 1t is difficult to see how,
bursement can be avoided by Congress
The general government, by the fact
or planning a magnificent capital, cover
ing q large area and characterized by
broad streets, avenues and reservations
to an extent unsuitable for a self-sup-
orting commercial city, and by founding
this capital in a place comparatively un-
inhabited, as well as by the terms Of
the bargain with the owners of the soil,
and by the declarations of its represent
atives at the founding of the city and
afterward. showed an intention to build
up a national city, at the nations ex-
pense. on a grand scale, irrespective of
the future population Of the District. The
capital was TO be primarily a center OF
federal action, and the occupation Of the
ground by settlers was merely incidental
to this great purpose.
1t was to be a meeting place for the
use, convenience and entertainment of
the people of the entire Union, and the ex-
pense of It's support and adornment was
not to be limited by the scanty resources
Of what permanent population it might
acquire. Probable favoritism toward this
population was the ground Of one Of the
arguments against the ratification Of the
clause of the Constitution which pro-
vides for 'the ten miles square" In
the Virginia convention Patrick Henry
said: "The people within that place may
be excused from all the burdens imposed
on the rest of society and may enjoy ex-
elusive emoluments to the great injury
Of the rest OF the people" And in the
course of pamphlet discussion respecting
the government of the District protest
was entered against Congress meeting all
the needs OF the capital, on the ground
that the independence and self-respect
OF its citizens would be degraded. Con-
sTeSS seems LOT long llHle TO nave OBEY
ed this protest so far as to render no
assistance whatever worthy the name in
the work of capital making. For more
than thirty years. during which period
100000 had been realized from the sale
of lots pledged for the benefit of improve
ments. its expenditures upon streets and
avenues. which were its exclusive prop
erty. were less than 500 per year. and
its annual appropriations since that time
until a recent period in the city's history
have been widely varying in amount, and
at the best inadequate. In 1878 the gov
| ernment, which had i'll the beginning i'm
piiedly undertaken to meet all the ex-
penses OF capital making. and then
shifted that burden in the main upon
private citizens. decided that justice re-
quired II to pay one-half of the Districts
expenses. The payment Of this propor-
ton by the United States as the untaxed
| owner of one-half the city property and
as Interested to that extent in all i'm
:s..t, r. /. ~; i ~. i, ,..":.t..
| reimbursement to the District of what
ever II had expended in the past beyond
its just proportion. Congress has follow
ed only one-half of Senator Southard's g
advice. If Justice requires thatNthe gov
ernnept should pay certain proportion
] VI District expenses now, both justice and