The Washington times., 1922-08-10

trict must rally to the best
- interests of the National Cap
ital before the next session of Con-
gress disposes of the District Ap-
preparation bill for the fiscal year
beginning July /, 1928.
Congress is apparently no longer
impressed with its obligations to
generously assist in making the
Federal Capital the proudest and
most beautiful city in the proudest
and greatest nation on earth.
Obsessed with national problems
of weighty Importance, the Senate,
which stood SO long as the friend
of Washington, has in the last few
years yielded to the unfriendly at.
titude Of the House and accepted
conditions laid down by that body
as to appropriations for the main
tenance Of Washington and in
creased taxation upon the people of
this city.
For many years the Senate
strongly insisted that for every dol
lar put into the common fund for
the upkeep Of the National Capital
by local people, through taxation,
the Federal Government would ap-
propriate an equal sum, insuring
continued progress in the develop
ment Of Washington as the most
beautiful and impressive city in the
world. Behind the scenes in the
House, however, have been men
with hostile motives to the District,
unimbued with patriotic visions Of
Washington as the show place of
the people of the whole nation.
So, from once generous, broad
minded view of the National Capital,
the legislative attitude has grown
to be one of imposing upon local
people constantly increasing share
of the Districts upkeep, with utter
unconcern as to the ultimate effect.
The Districts public schools have
suffered seriously; public highways
are in condition that would be un-
believable away from Washington
extension of the park system has
been halted, and almost every prof.
ect Of past years for municipal i'm
provements has been laid aside or
killed. All this, too, in the face of
increasing burdens upon local tax
payers. .......
The District Commissioners have
made up their estimates for the
next fiscal year. These estimates
will pass through the hands of the
national budget bureau before
reaching Congress. The unfriendly
pruning knife will slash right and
left, to the detriment of Washing
ton and of the nation, which ex-
poets its Federal Capital to remain
attractive and inviting.
The Commissioners will do their
best to urge that their estimates be
accepted. They have prepared these
estimates in an honest and hon.
orable spirit, not loading them with
unnecessary requests, as is so often
done in the Government depart
ments. If the estimates are cut as
deeply as in the past five or six
years, Washington is going to suf-
fer in the most damaging manner.
Every civic and trade organiza-
tion: should get ready to back the
Commissioners and to impress the
seriousness of the situation upon
Congress. 1t would be advisable
that these organizations join in the
creation of central emergency
committee to supplement the fight
for more generous legislative treat
ment Of Washington.
One complaint by Congress has
been that District people are never
unified and that Congress really
doesn't know what we want. Has
there ever been a time when unfit
cation was more necessary or yital'
This central committee should con.
fer with the Commissioners ahead
of time and agree upon a program
of vital needs. Then push these