Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-20

of all suitable improvements and deco
rations obviously properly and imper-
atively devolves upon Congress. and 1t
will. as 1t respects the character OF Its
jurisdiction and the dignity Of its
trust, exercise a Jealous care over it.
The acquisition of this District con-
ceived in a supposed public necessity,
| suggested by humiliating experience
Of the congress of the confeleracy, it's
wisdom affirmed by kindred events In
our recent history. should. 1t is SUP
mftted, be maintained intact by the
body in which the Constitution vested
Of expenditures which should be borne
by the United States and the citizens
and resident property holders Is a prop
osition not deemed susceptible OF exact
determination, nor does 1t. in the views
taken by your committee, become I'M
portant."
Control Of District.
The committee proceeded to recon-
mend the government of the District
through department in the govern
ment Of the. United States strictly nm
tied to the affairs Of the District. AT
the head Of this department was to be
a board of general control, designated
a board of regents, of three persons
to be appointed by the President and
confirmed by the Senate.
The bill SO reported. after some de-
question of the contribution by the
United States to the expenses Of the
District. was laid on the table:
On the 18th OF Februar E..l 1878 MI MI.
mittee. reported bill III. R. s25s)
providing "a permanent form of gov
eminent for the District of Columbia"
In referring to this measure in the
House. Mr.: Hendee. on the goth OF
:.There have been three different at
tempts. as l understand to make a
permanent form of government for
this District. and each one has failed.
There have been two special commit
! tees, joint committees. of the two
houses. appointed with power to sit
In the vacation and prepare bill and
present it as form of permanent gov
eminent for the District. In each case
failed: and now the regular committee!
on the District of the House has for
some time been considering a bill for
that purpose, and present as result
Of their deliberations the measure now
before U.s."
Proportion Of Expense.
In explaining the bill to the House
on this occasion, Mr.. Hendee said he
did not agree with the majority of the
committee In regard to certain parts
of the bill which did not relate in any
! way to the question of the proportion
of expenses of the District that should
| be borne by the United States. On that
subject he said:
There is another clause In the bill
which l consider very wise, and per-
haps the most important provision In
it. 1t provides that of the expenses
or burdens Of this District the United
states government shall bear so per
cent and the people OF the District SO
per cent. Up to the present time the
relations of the general government to
| the District have never been set
tied. Since the seat Of the
government was permanently estab-
Iished in this District the entire ex-
penditures of the United States for i'm
provements In the District have been
about 100000. while the amount
paid by the citizens of the District for
1914, 100000. make these state
ments upon data furnished from the
Treasury Department and other de-
partments of the government which
Of appropriations and the character.
etc Hence. l think the pro-
vision in this bill for making the bur-
den Of the expenses and the debt bear
equally upon the United States and
the District Is very wise and fair. To
| settle all questions of this kind will
save the time of Congress In discuss
| ing the subject every year, as has been
OOne heretofore. 1eOpIe owning prop
erty can then know what is its real
value; for today property is almost
! worthless here from the fact that this
great debt of 323.O00.000 stands as a
| mortgage upon the property Of all citi
zens, and they can never sell or dis
pose of it or pledge 1t advantageously
until the extent of that mortgage is
ascertained by some act of Congress.
That Is what this bill does, and /
think that one Of the wisest pro-
! visions that could be inserted in any
organic act by the government of the
District. Hence for all time,
unless something new should occur,
the division Of 50 per cent is wise
and fair one"
Bill Is Defeated.
The bill was defeated on final pas
sage. but the debate discloses that this
was because of objection made by
number of members Of tho House to
Droy}aioua If the bill as repOrted nv