The Washington times., 1915-10-22

30. Therefore. the latter could well
have been treated as a great park with
circuitous highways involving slight ex-
hense ior Grading ana
system. burdeninR District people to the
extent OF millions OF dollars to execute,
and we see everywhere great cuts and
nils, which appear 70 be a species Of
vandalism because OF the destruction OF
a once beautiful topography.
Dictated BY Congress.
Congress. again considering the Fed
erai asepct rather than the interest OF
local landowners. dictated tho existing
plan In behalf OF almost one hundred
million comprising the nation. and en-
forces the entire cost OF acquiring the
land and executing It's provisions upon
less than $1,000 taxpa yers out OF local
population OF $1,000.
The Shoemaker brief refers critically
to the assessments against District
revenues for part Of the cost OF ac1uIr-
Ing and maintaining Rock Creek Park
and Geological Park. and draws dis
tinction between stun and live monkeys.
to wit:
''our Geological Park IL an adjunct
Of the Smithsonian Institution. the
nucleus OF which was once located ada
cent to the Smithsonian Institution
building and people OF the District had
nothing to do with It. II was and Is
that institution. notwithstanding the
fact that local Taxpayers paid half the
cc"' ~ acquiring the land necessary for
the Geological Park. and are now pay
The cost Of acquiring and improving
this park should he refunded to the
District for the reason that II Ia Fed
cfal undertaking and Improvement upon
Federal land.
Costs of Monkeys.
"IIow local people can he charged for
this feature Of the Smithsonian Institu-
ton and escape expense as to its other
features IL difficult to understand. For
stuffed monkeys In the Smithsonian In
stitution the United States pays the
whole cost. but for monkeys alive the
District is charged with half the amount
II will not be sufficient to say that
$1,000 local taxpayers should pay half
the cost Of National Rock Creek Park.
the National Geological Park, and the
national street extension plan. because
they derive an advantage and enjoy
them. for the reason that this Is also
true OF the remaining population or
100 400 who are not taxpayers, and II is
also true of the thousands who visit
Washing ton annually from all parts or
the country for recreation and instruc-
ton.
Duty OF Congress.
In conclusion. the Shoemaker brief
u hich IL marked prepared at the re-
quest OF the tBrightwood) Association
and ordere dto be printed" says:
TT would seem to be the duty Of
Congress-. having absolute Jurissd ,ss
H. int,nance of Washington. Every
man Is obliged to support his home,
and naturally the nation 10 called
upon to care for the home OF It's gov
without the consent OF our land
owners, everything here Is very prop
s sation af's scale by Sf 'en
mensurate with the needs and graft
flying to the pride and interest which
the people Of the United states have
the demands Of Washington are ma
tional. and cannot be compared with any
other city In this country. and there Is
consequently a duty and an obligation
resting upon the United States. repre-
scnting millions of people. to contribute
to and assist the few thousand taxpay-
ers who happen to own property here In
their effort to make Washington what
It ought to be.
Opposed To Change.
Therefore we respectfully protest
against any change in our existing
/ form of government or It's mode OF
| administration. unless. as suggested
| herein and object to the recent in
crease OF assessments on real prop
erty, because We believe such action
unnecessarily burdensome to an eN-
tent beyond reason, and that II pro-
| duces a revenue which. with the prop.
er contribution from the United
States. exceeds the legitimate needs OF
the District OF Columbia. and i'm.
/ poses burden our land
| ought not to be called upon to bear.