Evening star., 1925-03-19
CONGRESS ADVANCES CAPITAL
LONG W4Y TOWARD ITS DREAMS
Representative Moore in
Radio Talk. .Shous
Beneficial Acts.
Prospects of Additional
Fau0rs Declared to Be
Exceptional.

Legislation passed for the District
by the last session of Congress, with
forecast OF Important measures for
the development of the National Capt.
tai and Its environs that will be
favorably acted upon by Congress at
an early date, was summarized by
Representative R Walton Moore Of
Virginia in a radio talk last night to
countless thousands of those who will
be directly benefited.
Representative Moore, who lives
nearest to the Capital of all the <35
members. and who. during his life, has
been in close touch with District af-
fairs, voiced the encouraging opinion
that Congress now looks upon devel-
opment of the Capital with warm
favor. He said. in part:
II believe that to President Monroe
whose hoI'e was in the district l now
represent, is due the credit of having
first definitely presented in a message
to Congress the idea that Washington
as Capital City should he the center
OF national interest. appealing to the
pride and entitled to the support of
all the people. That this is the grow
ing opinion OF Congress is illustrated d
by legislation enacted at the last ses-
sion.
Some Passing Disa appointments.
There were disappointments IN the
record of the last Congress. There is
disappointment at the failure OF the
bill providing s15o.o0o, 900 for the con-
struction. of public buildings: at the
unsuccessful effort to make certain
the long-deferred development of
water power at the Great Falls and
at the postponement of the Washing
ton Mount Vernon Boulevard bill. This
does not, however. import inal de-
feat, for there was no adverse vote
upon any of these measures
Let mo stress the fact that after
several years OF agitation it was rec
osnized by statute that there is lying
IN the Federal Treasury a balance of
between 100000 and $5.oo0.000 due
the District. which Is now allowed TO
be expended for certain essential pur-
poses.
THE law making appropriations
for the District for the fiscal year
beginning July 1, next, carries a
larger total than any similar previous
act. It insures the timely completion
increased and safe water supply.
Coupled with the nve-year school
building program, covered by another
act, il means much for the advance
ment OF education. II means the
substantial improvement OF the
streets, sewers and lighting system
1t means the strengthening OF the
Fire and Police Departments.
other Important Acts.
There are other enactments OF no
small consequence. One of them pro-
vides for the regulation of motor
vehicle traffic, and increases the num-
Der OF judges OF the Police Court.
Another vests in the health officer
fuller authority to guard the purity
OF dairy products used in the Dis
trict, a step not only welcomed here,
but by the dairymen Of adjacent
States.
1T will perhaps be said that the
ordinary annual appropriations will
not take care of a large number of
permanent improvements which are
demanded. the total cost OF which will
approximate nearly $4,000, 900. These
improvements, recently listed by a
responsible official OF the District, In
clude among other things the en-
largement OF hospitals, the elimina-
ton OF grade crossings and the con-
struction OF several bridges. one of
them the Chain Bridge, which cannot
be dispensed with, and which should
now be rebuilt. Should the new
policy be continued, in substitution
for the former percentage or ratio
basis, which has always been the
subject of controversy, such expendi
lures, in case they canot be met by
taxation, must be met by the pro-
ceeds of a bond issue. The thought
Of this should cause no apprehension.
Almost without exception, i'm
provements that are to be enjoyed
by those who are to come as well
as those now on the scene are made
by cities issuing long-term bonds. At
this moment there are but two cities
In the United States, having a popula-
ton of over 10000, which are free
from bonded indebtedness. and one of
these is Washington, the other is
Fort Smith, Ark. In this connection
Washington and Fort Smith are in
class by themselves.
For a long time there has been