Evening star., 1920-02-19
Financial and Political Equity.

Financial and Political Equity.
The speakers at the Board of Trade
meeting last night presented vigor-
ously and effectively the two basic,
vital needs of Washington, upon the
satisfaction of which its welfare de-
pends.
Representative Andrews taught
sound doctrine concerning financial
equity for Washington; concerning
maintenance of the nation and the
people of the nations city. He dem
onstrated that the nations obligation
in this regard is and has been from
the beginning primary and dominat-
ing, and that the obligation of the
people who pay their taxes here is
necessarily subordinated and inciden-
tai. The nation, which as to a large
fraction owns and exclusively controls
:. the nations city, bears the primary
burden Of responsibility for Capital
! maintenance and development; and
the local taxpayers are merely the in
cidental contributors of a sum which
is not fixed or assented to by them,
and in respect to the expenditure of
which they have no voice. He exposed
the true nature of the so-called "sur-
plus" of unexpended District taxes,
which Congress, in violation of the
letter of the law of 1878, and through
failr.e to meet the Districts urgent
an obvious needs, has permitted to
acth.snlate, and which is now utilized
Ne a reason for destroying entirely the
organic act, in disregard Of which it
has been artifcially created. He
pointed out clearly the wise, just and
lawful uses to which this se-called
Surplus" doubled in accordance with
the organic act, should at once be put
to satisfy the Capitals urgent need
of increased water supply or Of en-
slarged public school facilities, or of
half dozen other municipal require
ments which have in the war time been
confessedly and grossly neglected.
Representative Burroughs, the New
Hampshire legislative successor Of
Blair and Gallinger, taught sound,
wholesome and inspiring doctrine con
,cerning political equity for the Wash
ingtenian; concerning the grant by
constitutional amendment Of national
representation to residents Of the Dis
triet. Involving the voting rights en-
joyed by citizens of the states in Con-
gress and the electoral college.
The clear-visioned among our states
men see that this American commu-
nifty, With its claim to Q share in our
common American heritage, must be
taken into account and reckoned with;
that the District cannot forever be
treated as always unmistakably state
when national burdens arc distributed,
and never in any respsct . state when
American privileges and powers are
bestowed; that Uncle Sam cannot in
definitely blow hot and cold in the
same breath upon Waahington, now
Areating the Capital community as pa
, triotie, public-spirited, strong, rich and
intelligently benefeent when soldiers,
sailors and dollars are needed for war
and now slurring it as weak, mean and
unworthy when some American rights
to counteEbalance national burdens are
-on American principles demanded for
lit. The far seeing statesman recognizes
that the Capital eemmunity's claim is
2just and must be met in some wise
way which, while preserving national
control Of the nations city, will at the
same time nationalize and Amsrieanize
this vigorous, rapidly developing
American community, which is ready
to sacrifice much to meet the national
necessities, but cannot be expected for
ever to endure the exaction of totally
unnecessary sacrifices which isolate
and slur its people as the only COM
munity of political detectives, delin-
quents and impotents in all of conti-
mental America.
Would that all Washingtonians and
ssll of the Capitals legislators might
have heard last nights speeches!