Evening star., 1923-02-16

cided that justice required il to pay
one-half of the Districts expenses.
Washington's Two Equities.
From these facts two equities in
favor of Washington's people and
against the nation arise: C) For the
payment OF much more than one-half
of the local community's capital-mak-
ing expeditures from 1890. based on
the nations undertaking to meet
these expenses itself at the founding
of the city: l2) for the repayment to
Washington Of whatever it's people
had paid more than the United States,
applying to the past the half-and-
half principle Of the organic act
Study of the equitable foundations
upon which proportionate contribu-
ton toward capital maintenance by
the nation is based brings the con-
Viction that no liking of that proper
ton can be just which ignores ma
tional negiects of obligations in the
past in determining the equitable
measure of proportionate contribu-
ton for the future.
While the nation up to 1878 exact
ed an excessive and oppressive con-
tribution from the local taxpayers to-
ward the upbuilding of the capital.
and since that date has required all
that could be equitably demanded. it
has failed to carry out fully its own
obligations toward the capital. hav-
ing neglected these obligations for
three-fourthS of a century and not
Offering now to reimburse payments
made on its account during the season
of neglect.
Since Justice requires that the gov
ernment should pay a certain propor-
ton of District expenses now. both
justice and consistency demand that
IT should pay the same proportion of
the expenses of the years of its indif-
ference and neglect
Obligation Follows Power.
The second obligation, that which
is coupled with and measured by the
degree to which the nation controls
Its capital. is. as I have noted, ex-
traordinarily great in washington's
case.
The teaching of these comparisons,
based on the answers to question G, is
that obligation is coupled with power:
i. e., financial obligation is coupled
with political power. If the nation
controls, it pays; and to the extent
that II controls. it pays.
Washington is the only capitaI in
the world in which, If certain pro
posed policies prevail, the nation
would do all of the controlling and
none Of the paying. Paris wants
France to pay without controlling;
some men would have the ITnited
States control without paying.
In Canberra. the new capitalize be
or Australia. as supreme national
control OF the capital may be exem-
pinned as in the case of Washington:
but if SO. this condition will result
from the fact that the nation will Sc
-rtr II
the land in the federal district and
Will simply lease to individual resi-
dents. 1t will logically couple ma
tional government ownership with
national government control in an in
teresting socialistic experiment. In
Washington. if certain theories pre-
vail, the nation will retain exclusive
and complete control of the capital
equal to that of Canberra, without ex-
tinguishing by purchase all individual
recognizing and meeting the obliga-
tions which arise from partial owner
ship and full control
The Nation Pledged.
The organic act took away terri
torial representation in Congress and
territorial self-government and self
taxation from the District and
pledged the nation to meet one-half of
the approved expenses of capital
maintenance and upbuilding on "a
scale worthy of the nations city.
The assumption and exercise Of alb
solute and exclusive Legislative power
were coupled with recognition of a
pre-existing and continuing hpanciaI
obligation. The nation cannot eQui-
tab1y repudiate its financial obIiga-
tiOn and retain or exercise it's despotic
and exclusive power to tax and to
govern.
The nation should not repudiate it's
half obligation in respect to. capital
of such action is surrender of all
power and exclusive jurisdiction in
respect to the District. of Columbia
and the destruction Of the nation
controlled capital conceived and Gre
atsd BY ths forefathers.