Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-12-17

capital. This plan, under which the
nation, through Congress. fixed from
year to year the national contribution.
existed from 1900 to 1873. During this
period the national obligation was
primary, exclusive, dominating, just
as it is today. The nation. with full
liberty to measure its capital obliga-
ton in dollars and contributing what
it pleased, contributed little or moth
ing. The indefinite fuctuating plan
brought distress to the capital and
shame upon both nation and capital
Should we be eager to revive it and
return to it?
3. The plan of definite proportion
ate contribution toward the capitals
municipal expenses. which has pre-
vailed since 1878. has no tendency to
prevent the nation from spending
What II pleases on national lines for
capital development through other
appropriation bills than the District
hill If under the stimulus of pride
in and affection for the capital the
nation had at any time aspired to
emulate the example Of Brazil in re-
sne.ct to Rio and OF Argentina in re-
snect TO Buenos Aires. there was moth
ine in the half-and-half plan to re-
strain it, On the contrary, through
the operation of the organic act itself.
that national pride in the nations city
was developed which has inspired the
n.tion's affectionate consideration and
EST erinr care Of it's modern capital
c;nce the half-and-half plan has thus
"a mn tendency to check or dfscour-
-. the most liberal expenditures on
asc1usively national lines in capital
deyeIopment, the abolition OF this nlan
Vii, have no tendency to make Con-
press more patrfot1ca!iY noerai on
ether national or municipal lines.
The Helpless Districts Safeguard.
Under the system Of definite proper
.,ornte contribution every dollar of
@,xntion exacted by Congress- from
The District increases corresponding
- III. national contribution. Under
IN. proposed system of indefinite
contribution every dollar exacted from
the District decreases corresponding
~ the national contr an The
~ the helpless Dastrlct against ex-
o...ive taxation, and i'm the preven-
ton Of extravagance I'm Speeding the
Iocal tax money. Nc taxation In just
which IN Imposed from the outside by
not either directly or indirectly rep
-e.ented. or in which their interest
.. not substantially safeEuarded.
In urging that this safeguard of the
organic act be retained we 0re show.
ing NO distrust of Congress-, unless 1t
~ of the fn0Mensive kind which Con.
-ress has already shown In respect
to itself. We are asking, Congress to
continue n self-impOsed obligation
.afesuardinR the helpless. the unrep-
resented, the politically impotent.
when Congress took away the power
of Reclamation in 1873 from the local
community 1T provided n safeguard
against injustice or oppression by IT.
self of the unrepresented local tax
| Mayors. II now 1T should overthrow
the law Of 1873 and destroy this safe.
guard, 1t ought either to restore the
power OF self-ta xntiOn or substitute
some other safeguard equally efRec-
tive in place Of that withdrawn. We
trust, and do mot distrust. ConRress
We are confident that 1t will recor.
nixe and preserve by self-Hmitation.
this equity Of the unrepFesented eow-
ununfty.