The Washington times., 1916-01-06

| Legislation necessarily makes the con
troi OF this body of land known as the
| District Of Columbia vest in the Ma
tional Government and makes ms
| highest national power the Government
| OF this Federal District.
Bitter experiences in the former I'apI-
| tails OF the United States had caused
tho trainers of our Constitution 10
| place Its central seat of government IN
| a location where the national autnor-
I, ity would be supreme. where its rec
| ords and Its representatives could DE-
safe from attack, and where, under
| Its own direction, a structural plan ror
| upbuilding and maintenance couid pc
| commenced and continued without III
terruption by any lesser or local au-
| thor1ty.
| In fixing the District of Columbia as
the National Capital and home or the
Government, the Congress did not pro-
| ceed by capture, condemnation, or any
other arbitrary method. 1t acquired
| political dominion by cession from the
| States of MARYLAND and Virginia ana
ownership OF the land b. private cos
tract. and when all of this had oeen
| done by mutual understanding snc
| definite written agreements and con-
| veyances from the proprietors of the
land, IL laid out a National CaplcaI
| and began its construction.
Everyone who has purchased property
within the District OF Columbia since
has done so with TIE knowledge and
distinct understanding that the people
Of the United States have made the
1 power OF Congress over tho territory eX-
| elusive. Everyone who has since adopt
ed the city OF Washington as his home.
has done 80 with notice that 1t was
| beyond even the power Of Congress to
| escape .he burden or evade tnI luty
! imposed by the Constitution and when
| he became a resident Of Washir2ton or
acquired property in the District of Co.
| iumbia. ne put himself voluntarily ", h.
| IN the Government reservation and sub
| tect to such control as tho conYeni"nccs
and necessities OF Congress IN admins
| tcring the National Government and
building the National Capital might rem
| der necessary.
Senator Southard of New ersev. in a
memorable report from the District
| Committee as early as February 2, 1s%j,
said:
| THE design of the Constitution and
| its founders was to create q residence
| for the Government. where they should
have absolute and unlimite dcontrol.
which should be regulated ard governed
by them without the interference of
pn -tial interests in the States. which
should be built up and sustained by
| their authority and resources. not de-
pendent upon the will or resources or
! cry State Cr local interest"
| This was the grand plan conceived by
the fathers of the Government. the wis
dom Of which grows more and more
apparent with the coming and going OF
| the years.
! Major LEnfant. who first drew the
| citN's plan. said:
! NO nation. perhaps. had ever before
| the opportunity offered them of delib-
! erateiy deciding on the spot where their
| ca pital city should be fixed or of COM
| bring every necessary consideration In
the choice of situation. and. although
the means now within the power OF the
! country are not such as to pursue the
| design to any great extent, IL Will DC
obN ious that the plan should be drawn
| on such establishment which the in.
crease Of the wealth Of the nation vii
Permit 1t to pursue at any period how
| ever remote"
The growth OF the city in utility and
in beauty has kept pace with the grow
ing strength OF the nation. Its begin
! ming was most naturally restricted be
cause of lack of funds. vet the wisdom
of the founders was such that the clear
est and broadest view prevailed as
plan for the city which was to be.
| 1t followed the development of othe,
cities except that the others had as theil
bases industrial. manufacturing. anc
commercial enterprises wherewith &c
utilities. and provide their people with
employment. while the city Of Washing
ton has always been practically with
| out manufacturing and with but little
commerce. but was the place OF govern
1t has always retained its identity as
a National Capital and has never be.
come, as other cities have, mart oi
trade or of commerce.
It has always retained the plan OF de
velopment forseen with the broades,
and clearest vision and safe-guardeC
through the years.
4 great contribution in patriotism anC
true citizenship was made by thos,
citizens, of Washington who when the
city was extending its limits through
natural growth. protested against th'
varied and indiscriminate piatuns :. .1
land by private owners and caused ,t
be prepared a plan extending to neWIo
developed territory within the Distric
OF Columbia the same plan as tha
made for the original city, which plar
was adopted so that now and for al
future time, the beautiful plans OF th'
City Of Washington are extended 70 th'
outermost limits of the entire District;
| Let IL not be imagined that th'
growth in utility ard beauty Of the CT!
Of Washington was without travail, TO
the early years Of eighteen hundret
saw it advancing slowly. slowly, bu
always surely and toward a def'nit'
At the time Of the change from tina
of town 10 city. Washington was no
the Washington OF today, but Is shoW
to be as q about the year m'l rr
) without paving. without proper Sanitar
conveniences. without proper hsntn,e.
with inadequate transportation tacn,
ties, lacking in civic convenienees AM
From ISL to 1874 through the ap
pointed agencies of the United states
q spiTited, even drastic. campaign o
Enforcement in Washington was IN
amgurated and continued which resul.
! ed in the widening, broadening. Crau
ing. Rlllng and paving OF many strec5
avenues and alleys. the making OF nsy
:: streets, avenues. parks and boulevard:
the building Of both storm and SAM
tary sewers. the planting OF man
! trees. in short. a radical renewal o
the entire city. but upon the s8ne pla
Of civic grandeur which prcsaged
beautiful capital city.
This was attended with gGat eN
pense and assessment made against IN
District Of Columbia and against TN
owners of property therein and SO or
r pressive were these imposed taxes an
! assessments that petitions OF rent"'
STRANGE against the then sovernir
boards we're flied with Congress an
{ committees were appointed to invest
3 gate and report upon charges or eN
cessive and needless expenditure an
mismanagement OF the city's afair'
r The controlling civic body under whic
= these expenditures were authorize
vas the board of public works. thl
beinr a mart OF the So-called territorif
government existing in Washington a
: that time.
In June, 1874, by authority OF Con
! gress the territorial form OF gov
. ernmcnt was abolished and DistTic
I control was placed in the hands Il
? three commissioners. practically tn
] bara tha tu-o iyi