Evening star., 1924-03-24
Beautifying Capital
Urged i'm Boston

Washington is as much the city of
Boston. of New England, of every
American community as it is of the
men and women who make it their
residence Not only is city express
ly set aside to be the National Capi-
tai, and for no other purpose, to be
esteemed as the possession of all the
people, but all citizens wherever
resident are taxed directly for it's
support For more than forty years.
until within a few years ago, every
dollar collected of the taxpayers of
Washington for the upkeep and de-
velopment of the District of Column
bia was matched with one contribu-
ted from the general Treasury by the
federal government; and today the
same principle of a division of re-
sponSibflity is retained. except that
the proportions are now 6n40, in
stead of $3.50, the residents of the
District paying the larger share.
When the democratic administration
began to assume power in 1913 re-
peated attempts were made in Con-
gress TO force upon the taxpayers of
the District the sole burden of main
tanning the National Capital. but all
failed, because of the intelligent
Peoples City" and common fairness
dictated that the whole country
should bear a reasonable share of the
expenses OF maintaining it.
However, 1t is upon no sordid basis
of financial interest that the country
is organizing today to secure an
artistic development of the physical
Washington thatNshall realize meas
ufably the dreams OF civic beauty
which inspired its founders. The
BEnfant plan has been followed only
in its general outlines, and 1t re-
quired the herculean zeal and fore
sight of Boss Shepherd to save
even that from almost utter neglect
The plans OF the Burnham or Nc
MILAN Park Commission of gen
Grafton ago provided a guide and in
spiration which have achieved some
thing, although they also have too
often been ignored in the institution
of public improvements; and the cre-
alton of the Commission of Fine Arts
as an advisory body in city planning
a few years ago, partly through the
insistence of the late Samuel w. Nc
Call of Massachusetts, was a belated
recognition of the Importance of di-
recting the growth of Washington
as far as possible along artistic lines.
Within the last few years the Ameri-
can Civic Association has employed
much of it's time and energy in a
successful effort to enlist. the inter-
est of forward-looking people every
where in the task Of substituting z
system 1OT CH6nCe In, the Suita bl e
development of the National Capital,
To-day no less than fffty of the lead
ing American cities, including Bos-
ton, Springfiel Worcester and Provi-
dence, in New England, have formed
special committees to Cooperate
with the association and with Com
gress in the drive to unite science
and beauty in the scheme. of Capital
development.
These fifty committees on the fed
eral city have been ask ed to send
representatives to Washington on
April 8. when, Incidentally, the Amer
lean Civic Association will COM
inemorate its twentieth anniversary,
and it will celebrate the day in pro.
noting national interest In its pnr-
pose of carrying to fruition with ali
the modern improvements) the EEn-
FAINT plan, inspired and directed by
Washington and Jefferson. which
aims to make the Capital of the
United States the most beautiful city
in the world.7 No project Of its kind,
1t would seem. could stimulate d
broader interest or promise results
more closely touching the lives and
pleasure rof all the people.-Bost
Isrranscript. ~ s