Evening star., 1916-08-17

vision a shield against oppression OF
the unreprcsented taxed. 1t should not
be considered merely stating a
standard of measurement of the ma
tfOn's capital bcneficence.
The organic act being opened up, is
opened in all it's parts If the half
and half provision is to be repealed or
radically changed, a definite and care
fully considered substitute should be
provided not only by the enactment of
new definite proportionate contribu-
tions by the nation and capital re-
spectively. but by the substitution OF
other equally effective safeguards for
that which the half-and-haEf provision
supplies against excessive and unjust
taxation Of the uDrepresented.
The same questions Of equity are
before Congress today as were before
IT forty years ago. If the decision Of
1878 against local self-taxation is to
be reaffirmed. then it's provision Of ap-
proximate self-taxation and of protec-
ton of the unrepresented against ex-
cessive and unjust taxation should be
reaffirmed with even greater emphasis
than in the seventies. II the provision
in effect TINT one half-cOntributOr to
the municipal fund shall act alone upon
appropriate tfOn propositions initiated and
submitted by representatives of the
other half is to he repealed. then either
scIf-taxntiOn should be restored to the
local community, or some device of in
direct representation in taxation through
the of the referendum and recall
tntion in Congress should be granted to
the people Of the District.
In the United States no tax can be
equitable which is imposed despotically
by A taxing body in which the taxed
are unrepresented. without safeguards
against excessive taxation and without
devices to ascertain, in order that they
may receive due consideration, the
views and wishes of the unrepresented
taxed.
Greater or Littler Washington?
Congress for the nation lis now deter
mining the future of the National Capt.
tai. Whether 1t liz to he GREATER
WASHINGTON or Hitler Washington, 1t
will embody the national idea and will
serve as index of the strength of
national patriotic sentiment and of ma
tiOnaI prosperity and power.
No act of the forefathers furnished
more convincing evidence of wise fore
thought than the creation and general
they planned the men of today are to
carry out with the engagements and
improvements BETTING the greater re-
public of the present time and neces-
sary to make the modern city In every
branch OF municipal development a
model capital.
What is done for the capital is done
for the nation and for the promotion of
national sentiment. At once the bond
nnd token Of union the nations city and
the spirit of American nationality are
intertSyined. Sincere and enthusiast site
love for country In what keeps nlive
the modern republic and gives it pros-
perity nnd glory. Both capital and ma
tiOn have planted the roots of their
existence in this patriotic sentiment.
and part property, haIlovyed by every
association which can keep patriotism
alive, rest upon the same supports.
The national sentiyent never
stronger than 1t is today. The whole
republic thrills in response to the pa
trfOtic impulse. The nation and what
ever pertains to 1t are spelled in the
largest type.
1 do not believe for nm instant that
American sentiment will declare now or
ever for a crippled and humiIiated cap
ital; whose people are oppressed by
inequitable taxes to which they have
not assented and are shamed by un-
necessary and un-American political
disabilities; for national city
whose material develop ment is discredit-
able when compared with the broad far
seeing plans of the forefnthers. L am
convinced ON the contrary that the
hundred millions Of Americans of To-
dny would, IL pOIled, decide that there
can be no more patriotic and ennObIfnx
labor than that which assOciates one's
name with the fllustriOus fOrefathers In
developing worthily and ON an equitable
basis the city of the Union, thereby
fostering the national sentiment, real
izing the national aspiration and gratf-
flying the national PRIDE