Evening star., 1916-01-06

Ienough properly to carry on the affairs
of the seat of government over which
spectacle for the American people. And
more unfortunately still. this claim that
the government would, through its
Congress, neglect to care for the capf-
tai, is not by any means without foun-
dation. 1t did Go it, as the hearings
clearly disclosed, before the half-and-
half system went into operation. It
has continued to do 1t, however. while
the half-and-half system has been IN
force, as I shall presently show. So
the half-and-ha1f system mas not
remedied the evil.
Financial Questions Raised.
THE question submitted to the COM
mittee by the bill which created 1t Is
also purely one of dollars and cents.
The hearing proceeded upon that the
ory. The effect Of the limitations OF
the half-and-half system on the moral
and social conditions OF the District
| and upon the means of preserving the
health of it's people received no con-
| sideration, and the neglect TO preserve
the beauty of the city of washington
the regulation of its buildings, I'M
provements of it's streets and other I'M
portant public works. very little. SO
| but little will be found in the record
of hearings on these important ques-
tions. But we are asked to give our
| reasons for the conclusions we reach
on the main question submitted to us.
and am going to give some reasons
| that have led me to the conclusion tnat
there should be no divided responsi,
bility in dealing with the socia! and
| moral welfare Of this capital, and that
| the government should assume the bur
| den and be wholly responsible for
every interest of the people in the
District and the management OF It's
some of the things that should have
been done under the half-and-half sys-
| tenn that have not been done. The proof
| of what / shall say will not be found
in the hearings, but 1t is ample and sat-
isfactory.''
improvements for National Capital.
Senator Works then proceeds to give
his views on what improvements should
be made for the National Capital. He
deals first with the slums of the city.
which he declares to be disgrace to
the National Capital Then. in order,
he takes up the red light district" the
saloons, the police stations. the engine
houses. the hospitals, the parks, the
streets. Pennsylvania avenue; Ietn
street, the municipal building. the care
of the feeble-minded and the inebriates,
the public schools, the markets. com
merce and manufacture, the question
penal institutions.
Continuing his report, Senator Works
SAYS: -. ~.
the District that should, in equity. be
borne respectively by the national gov.
ernment and the private owners OF
property in the District is the ultimate
question to be considered and reported
upon. The several matters which 1
have attempted to bring to the atten-
tion of Congress are only incidental to
this main question.
"U. s. Should Bear the Burden"
'They are incidents, however. which
in my judgment should receive careful
consideration in an endeavor to deter
mine who should bear the burden, and
if it is to be divided the proportion
to be borne by each. 1 do. not think the
burden should be divided. I think it
should bk borne by the government for
reasons that l have already stated and
for others that might be mentioned.
The whole burden of maintaining its
capital should be borne by the govern
'ment. But in consideration of this the
residents and property owners should
contribute, in taxes, a fair and reason
able amount to the government for the
protection and other benefits they re-
ceive from the maintenance of the city
at the expense of the government. 1t
was conceded at the hearing. by some
Of the advocates of the half-and-half
system, that this would be the ideal
system and as a matter of principle it
would be just and right. There were
two things that the people Of the Dis
adopted: first, that the government.
through its Congress. would not ade-
quately support its own capital by the
needed appropriations; and second, that
the people Of the District would be
overtaxed.
This view of it was very ably pre-
sented by the committee Of one hum
dred. claiming to represent most of the
There is no reason to doubt the sin
cerity of their views or of their ex-
preston of their fears of what would
result II the half-and-half system
should be abolished. 1 think 1t is fair
to say that the only foundation for the
advocacy of the continuance of the
half-and-half system was these fears.
To concede that the fears themselves
are well founded is to seriously reflect
upon Congress. There is no doubt, in
my mind. that in some respects, and
particularly respecting the matters that
1 have already pointed out. Congress
has failed in its duty to the District
and to the nation. But this failure has
occurred under the half-and-half sys-
tenn. 1 should be sorry to believe that
it would be worse IL that system were
abolished.
Congress Not Familiar Enough.
Il do not believe that Congress has
purposely or willfully neglected the
interests of the District I think there
are very few members of either house
Of Congress who have made themselves
familiar with the conditions in the Dis
trict or appreciate Its needs as they
should.
II am making this extended report
| Ia with - haf 81,
to inform Congress of some of the evils
that exist here and bring about a more
serious and broader view of the situa-
ton. I have been entirely convinced
by the evidence taken at the hearing
that the people of the District are not
undertaxed. They are, in my judg-
ment. bearing their full share Of the
burden of the expenses of the District
Just now. when times are hard and
real estate values are depressed,
think they are being taxed too high,
because the assessment Of real estate
is too high. 1t is to be hoped that