Evening star., 1915-11-24
Friction Based on Prejudice.


1t has been seriously argued that
the half and half law should be re-
pealed because it causes friction with
Congress and has aroused prejudice.
Washington's position has hereto
fore been that this prejudice. this
irritation and this friction spring
from lack OF information concerning
the facts. and that they will disap-
pear when once the truth concern
ing the actual relations of nation and
capital and the National Capital OBJ
legation has been brought Nividly to
congressional attention.
The appointment OF the joint con-
gressional committee has given Wash
ington this desired opportunity. 1t
has tried to utilize this cnance and 1t
is hoping through the judicial decision
OF this committee to remove the
prejudice which it believes to be un
reasonable. At the root of this If
ritation and this prejudice has been
and is the feeling. especially strong
among new members of Congress,
hat the half and hall plan requires
100 large a contribution from the ma
ton for capital upbuilding and is un-
fair to the people OF the United
States. including their constituents.
Nobody has ever proposed in Con-
grcss that more than one-half should
be paid by the nation toward munich
pal maintenance of the nations city.
Repeatedly within the last twenty
i've years it has been formally pro-
posed that the national contribution
should be reduced or eliminated al
together. And the friction and irri-
ration have been caused by the in
ability OF those who think that the
United States should not pay one
half of capital maintenance to pre-
vent such payment.
The obvious way to remove this
prejudice (since it is unreasonable
is to bring all the facts and sound
arguments available forcibly and
pointedly before the prejudiced. to
the end of convincing them that the
nation does not exceed in the slight
est its National Capital obligation,
and that this community has far ex-
ceeded its own obligation in the up.
building OF the nations city.
If Washington is not able through
the report of the joint congressional
committee or in some other way to
dissipate and destroy this unreason-
able prejudice, based on error, es-
pecially in the House OF Representa-
tives, the prejudice and irritation over
District appropriations will be re-
moved only by yielding to them and
by failing to appropriate adequately.
The congressman who thinks unfair
10 his constituents d national halt
contribution toward capital mainte-
nance will be still less disposed to
appropriate from the national Treas
ury the whole OF such maintenance.
Inc indefinite contribution plan
avowedly destroys all relation be-
tween District taxes and congress
sional appropriations for the District.
and specifically the nation will fur
nish every dollar OF capital maintc-
nance. Will appropriations in .his
shape lessen or. increase anti-District
prejudice and irritation among the
ill-informed.
VIII Commissioner Newnan's con-
gresham, who revolts al paying one
hait the cost OF free car tickets for
Washington police, show enthusiasm
Over the proposition that he pay in
accordance with the new wording of
the appropriation bill the whole cost
OF these tickets?
There are millions OF Americans
who have been deluded into the be-
Lief that the Washingtonian paws no
taxes at all and is mendicant. SUD-
ported by the national government.
tie Will never be able to get away
from this delusion if appropriations
TOR the smallest items OF municipal
expenditure are made on the face of
The bill solely from the national
treasury, and are, as proposed, alb
solutcly unrelated to local taxation