Evening star., 1920-01-06

local population could not be looked
to in the future as being sumcient
either in numbers or wealth, 10 carry
founders. Nor. indeed, would 1t have
been just to impose this burden upor
them; for. upon the theory upon which
the capital was founded, all these ex-
penditures would ultimately be fol
the benefit of the whole people, ant
justice would dictate that the burden
should fall upon the whole people.
Aside, then, from all questions OF
| sentiment or patriotism or pride lr
the National Capital, your committee
are impressed with the belief that the
| federal government sustainS at least
such relation toward the citizens and
the local government as would re-
qulre 1T to contribute to municipal ex-
penses an amount bearing the relation
TO the whole amount required. which
ment here bears to the interest of the
local interest, and this they believe
| to be at least one-half'
In 1874 special joint committee OF
the two houses brought in a bill pro-
vidfng for a temporary form of gov
ernment for the District, abolishins
the legislature, governor and board OF
public works created by the act OF
February 21. 1871.
Division of Expenditures.
| This committee was composed OF
men or great ability and experience
senator Allison of Iowa was chair
man. The committee report recon-
the District of Columbia between the
government and citizens of the Dis
| trict on basis of one-half to each
| IN reporting the bill on June 16
1874, the Allison committee said:
ernn. ror the Protection of the gov
nxed. unvarying rule should be es-
taoIisned for the ascertainment OF
What the government should contrib
ute toward the expenses of this Dis
trlct. Without it an appropriations
| committee will always be likely to be
misled into improper allowances
senator Allen G. Thurman Of Ohio,
a member of the special committee,
speaking In support of the bill, June
IL, 1874, said:
81 do not say that this bill is per-
| !ect' put l do say that your commit
perhaps was never performed by any
committee of Congress, have unani-
mousiy recommended the passage of
the bill. There was not a dissent
ing voice. They did it with full
knowledge of the facts and after the
most careful consideration, and, as
their report will show. after a consid-
GRAFTON of the subject in which there
was not the slightest partisanship or
politics whatever.
I'VE have long pondered over these
dfficultfes and have arrived at the
best solution of them we could
Became Law June II, 1873.
out a roll call and remained the law
until June IL, 1878. On February 1S.
1878, the committee of the District
OF Columbia in the House reported the
Dill providing permanent form of
government for the District. This bill
became a law on June II. 1878. and
has remained on the statute books
practically unchanged to the present.
Mr.. Hendee of Vermont, who re-
ported the bill for the committee on
the District of Columbia of the House,
In discussing the bill on March 20,
1878. said:
There is another clause in the bill
which consider very WISE and per-
haps the most important provision ir
1t. 1t provides that of the expenses
or burdens of this District, the United
States government shall bear SO pei
cent and the people of the District sc
per cent. Up to the present time the
relations OF the general government
to the District have never been set
tied. Hence, I think the pro.
vision In this bill for making the bur
den Of the expenses and the debt bear
equally upon the United States and
the District is very wise and fair. Tc
settle all questions of this kind will
save the time of Congress in discuss.
ing the subject every year. as has
been done heretofore. - Hence, fol
all time. unless something new should
occur, the division of SO per cent is
wise and fair one
Controls Vast Real Estate.
Senator Bayard, May 81, 1873, said
The government owns and con.
trolls a vast portion of the real es.
the city portion and the valuable por.
ton. The city of Washington Is the
political center of the entire Union
Representatives from every state ant
territory f1nd their home here during
the sessions of Congress. The agents
executive branches find their depart.
ments of labor here, and all persons
having business throughout the
United States in connection with the
federal COVE nment must in some
way or other find their way to Wash
ington. This makes it a federal city
1t Is used for federal purposes.
"If it is to be. as 1 think it ought
to be. a federal city worthy of the
great nation. whose seat of govern
ment 1t is, then it seems to me that by
far the greater portion of the expense
must be borne by the federal govern
ment and not by the local inhabitants
Is it Just that one-half of the expense
Of these broad avenues, of these ex'
tensive improvements, of these luxu'
rious streets, is to be borne by the
local inhabitants? 1t seems to ms
that it is unreasonable
"Mr., Blackburn Of Kentucky, May Z
1878, speaking in the House In sup
port Of the half-and-half provision o.
| the bill said:
1--WE have come down now to the
naked question as to the proportion OF
| the expenses of this District which the
| federal government should bear. This
bill proposes that the proportion shall
| be so per cent, and the reasons for that
basis of calculation have been very
| lucidly stated to the House.
1.-The people of the District have the
right to demand that we fix permanently
| their relations to the federal govern
ment. 1t is the federal govern
ment on one side treating with the fed
eral city on the other. The people OF
| this District have a right to protest
against being left subject to the wfin
and caprice Of Congress with each re-
| curing session.
"'They have and can have no tangi-
BILE value to their real estate property
Among the Many Skaters al
the Tidal Basin.