Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-25

SdplIdl aB mas De0n possible only uu-
der the half-and-half plan Of 1873.
The governments contribution would
fall far below the amount under the
present arrangement: the local taxes
would increase. and the District would
be again bankrupted. One of its ef-
fects would be an uncertainty as to
what taxation would be required.
which in turn would render uncertain
all taxable values, and ultimately de-
stroy them. It Is as important to the
such values should be reasonably
stable. On the subject we quote Mr..
Blackburn's unanswerable reason. CIV
en- in the House in 1873, why there
Contribution between the federal
Treasury and the District Of Colum-
bia, SO that the District taxpayer
should not BIO left the victim Of the
whim and caprice Of Congress-
Should Fix Percentage Permanently.
Whatever per cent the federal gov
eminent 10 to BEAR he said. should be
determined and fixed permanently, SO
that legitimate and permanent values
may be established in the District of
Columbia
"Our third proposition. that tho pro-
portion of the District expenses to be
paid by the national government
should not be less than one-half, was
fully recognized by the majority Of all
the committee that passed upon the
even by the one committee. the joint
committee of 1875. which reported in
favor of a contribution by the federal
government Of not less than 40 per
Mr. Hunton Of Virginia. a member Of
that committee, in the debate Of 1878:
when he supported the half-and- half
plan, and said:
81 believe 1 can say. in the presence
of the gentleman from Vermont (Mr.
Hendee, who had also been a member
of the joint committee Of 1879. that a
large majority Of that joint select COM
mittee thought that so per cent on the
part of the government and 90 per cent
on the part of the people was about
the fair thing
'.The half-and- half plan was adopted,
as practical American statesmen settle
great questions. because 1t was on the
whole a fair division as between two
parties in interest. In view of all the
equities. 1t was not revealed from
heaven: 1t Is not a rule of perfection,
but 1t has proved its value by expe-
rience. and its justice, to all those VINO
have examined the facts without pref
udice. 1t has been accepted by the peo-
pie Of the country and the people of
the District, as on the whole the most
satisfactory plan that could have been
adopted; 1t has worked well. and 1t
ought not to be changed unless 1t Is
shown by irresistible evidence that
there Is better reason for change
than has yet been produced.
Not Impaired by Departures.
Since 1873. in the large total Of Dis
trict appropriations, leaving out the
self-supporting water distribution serv-
ice, the haIf-and-half plan has been
followed strictly with the exception Of
comparatively a very small amount Of
expenditures wholly from District
revenues. amounting, to June 80. 1914.
to only s3.120.71749. There have been
no such departures from the plan as
warrant the statement that it has been
impaired by departures. although it
would have been better If 1t had been
strictly observed.
Much of the discussion of this ques-
ton has implied that the District of
Columbia was the only jurisdiction to
which the United States Treasury had
contributed. We have assembled the
facts as to gifts of land and money
made to the states and territories in
which the District of Columbia has not
shared. Briefly. grants of public lands
have been made amounting to 1854
1913 acres to the states and terrific
ries, besides nearly as much more in
railroad land grants, which also benefit
ed the states and territories. The
United States has also given to the
states and territories a percentage Of
the funds arising from the sales Of
public lands within their boundaries
| amounting. to June 80. 1914. to $751;,
324,910.04. These grants of land and
money were made for public education
and public improvements.
Under the so-called Morrill, acts ap-
preparations of money for education in
| agriculture and the mechanic arts were
\ made. amounting. in 1915. to $36.302, 900
for agriculture and mechanic arts. and
to $27,376,S61.1 for agricultural expert
ment stations. Congress gave to the
states under the act of January /, 1897
all the surplus in the United States
Treasury except $5,000,000, which
amounted to $2s, l01 .64491, as deposits,
which have never been recalled.
Under the Sm1th-Lever act Of May
1914, $4,000 has been paid for co-opera-
tive agricultural extension work in the
states, and the amount will be increased
each year until in 1928 it will amount to
$4,5S0, OO0 after which there will be the
permanent annual appropriation of that
amount
1.-THE District Of Columbia shared in
none Of the gifts or appropriations men
toned.
"Of the expenditures for the improve
ment of rivers and harbors up to June
80, 1913, namely, s3s4.539, 5O6.27, those in
the District Of Columbia amounted to
$721,61819.