Evening star., 1924-06-08
A Session of Inequity.

sion Of six months. 1t has not been a
satisfactory session, from either the
local or the national point of view.
Washington, to whom the national
legislature stands as the law making
and appropriating body, has particu
ar reason to feel that the six months
ave been i'll spent. The National
sapital has been treated with an ut
n disregard for the equities, with in
ifference to the principles Of repre-
,ntative rights which should be
'rupulously observed by the law.
/. aking body.
A community denied participation
n any degree in the making of its
ws, in the raising and spending of
taxes, should be protected by its
{. gislature from injustice. Washing
has not been so protected. 1t has
en- denied voice in its own defense.
! has been subjected to ruthless puni-
re treatment, with small under
landing Of its requirements and it's
= ,tential resources and its actual con-
t buttons to it's own maintenance.
When in 1878 Congress undertook to
tablish the affairs of the District on
:; basis Of equity. providing a new
J rm of government and a means of
''eeting expenses, it did equity for the
ipital community. In consideration
e., the fact that the city's plan en-
lied a larger measure Of outlay than
Lnt ,tt thnt = t,o
me the seat of great industrial es-
{; blishments, with concentrated val
S, and giving employment to large
= lmbers of people, and also in view of
t'e fact that the government itself,
cupying a large part of the local
: ga and prospectively owner of an
creasing share of the territory with.
It taxation, adopted a plan of ex-
nse-sharing which was fair to both
the National Capital partners. That
:: IN was maintained for many years.
Washington, as a result, grew
o a city of which the American peo-
were proud as their city as well
the city of the Washingtonians..
Vt no time since the organic act of
g was adopted have the people of
ashington failed to pay just meas.
lie of taxation. They have uncom-
iningly met increases of this bur.
n, have been willing, indeed, to in
case it beyond the point permitted
tardy and grudging developments
thorized by Congress. Nevertheless,
disposition has developed, and of
e years has prevailed persistently
j. the face of repeated disproof, to
te the people Of Washington as tax
dgers. as unworthy beneficiaries of
leral bounty, as fatteners off the ma
nal purse.
The result of this feeling, wholly
warranted and defiant of unassail-
lie demonstrations that Washington
Is been normally and adequately
xed for its own support, has been
accession of assaults upon the basic
,inciple of the act of 1878, first in
,semption, item by item, of particular
'>atures of municipal activity from
he cost-sharing range, then in reduc-
on of the percentage Of total cost to
epaid by the government, and finally
he definite abandonment of the ratio
,rinciple which has been the safe
uard Of Washington against exces-
i've taxation through unchecked and
xtravagant measures of public i'm
rovement.
Now it is estimated that as a result
4 this latest action, despite the grant
4 considerable, but yet inadequate,
ump sum of federal funds, the Dis
rict tax rate upon the basis of full
aluation-a basis that rarely is to be
ound elsewhere-would be increased
tor the next fiscal year by about 33
Der. cent. Washington has had no
Toice in this. 1t has been, in fact,
lenied a hearing. This new measure
has been adopted arbitrarily, without
egard for the equities, and with no
possibility of appeal by the District
.or immediate reconsideration.
In this situation Washington's de-
mand for the right of national repre-
sentation, for the right to participate
IN the making Of it's own laws and the
disposal Of its own money, the right
Of American citizenship guaranteed
in the fundamental law Of the nation
is strengthened in reason as it will be
strengthened in insistence and force.