Evening star., 1925-01-25
Fifty Years Ago
In The Star

The political legal situation in the
District fifty years ago was one of
embarrassment n d
District and difficulty. The terri
o torial government had
congress. been abolished and
temporary commissionership form had
been established. While waiting for
Congress to decide upon a permanent
organization for the Capital COM
munity Washington's needs were
neglected and its prospect was dubi-
Gus. In The Star of January 1S,
1875, is the following editorial on
the subject:
There is great danger of the
| failure of Congress to pass any BILL
| this season to remedy our District
difficulties. The session is already
| half through and the national busf-
ness now pressing will so occupy the
attention of Congress for the re-
mainder that there will be little time
/ TO give to District matters. And yet
| it is imperative that some action
/ should be taken by Congress this
Winter, settling definitely the finan-
| cial relations of the Government with
| the District. The case is so serious
| for our taxpayers and business men
that it may be said to be almost one
of life and death to them.
Should Congress adjourn without
| such action the shrinkage of values
and the utter stagnation that would
| fall upon all business operations
would be something appalling. And
vet in the face of this fact we find
| the class of our citizens who have
/ the most at stake resting supin ely,
/ either from hopelessness or because
they are deluded by the utterly mis-
taken idea that matters will come
right without any e1ertion on their
part. In fact, all the action taken
| by our citizens, apparently, is by
| those interested in opposing partic-
uIar features Of the District bills now
before Congress. and thus the force
exercised is altogether in the way of
| obstruction.
| Under the circumstances it is not
| strange that Congress, however kind
Iv disposed toward us. should feel
| at a loss how to proceed. 1t Is now
4 time that the responsible citizens of
| the District should take some united
! effort to secure some congressional
action establishing the proportions
that the General Government and the
people of the District shall pay of
| the District expenses. This principle
| is established both by the Morrill, bill
and the Sargent bill. In the latter
the per cent of the tax the Govern =
ment shall pay on its property Is
given in figures; in the Morrill, bill
the exact amount is not defined, be-
cause, in Mr.. MorrilTs opinion. the
proportions might vary from year to
wear. and If. for instance, Congress
should see At to appropriate $4,000
i 900 in a single year for District I'M
provements, it would not be fair TO
renuire the people of the District to
pay an equivalent sum-
"Our oninion is that it would be
more satisfactory all around TO nave
Congress establish the exact proper
ton it will pay, as in the SsrS GENT
bill but as we understand that MI.
Morrill, is not tenacious OF particular
noints Of his bill of this character. so
that the general framework is main
tanned. it is probable that he would
| readilv accept any amendment that
1 would make It fair and just TO our
| taxpayers 1t is said that the Morrlll
| hill. or some bill indorsed by the
| Joint special committee, Will nnd
| better chance. of securing the atten-
tion of Congress than any new Dill.
We know not how this may be, but
there can be no question that the
point is to concentrate all the
strength available upon whatever
bill. embodyihg the principle of Gov
! ernment paving it's fair proportion
of District expenses has the best
chance of passing this session.
| .It will never do to have the mat
ter go over to the next Congress, and
| to a. House in which States rights op-
position to building up great Ma
| tional Capital will doubtless come in
! play to the disadvantage of this Dis
| trict. And 1t must be remembered,
also. that the next House will be,
with the exception of 80 or 40 mem
bers. utter strangers here, and entire
/ ly unfamiliar with the wants and ne
| cessities of the people Of the District,
| and of the nature of the obligations
of the General Government to the Dis
| trict.
TT is imperative, We say, that there
| should be action this session upon the
| vital point of finance. The question
whether we shall or shall not save
the principle of suffrage by electing
one or more officers who have no real
powers is a trivial one in comparison,
and can be wrangled over at leisure
after we have secured the great desi-
ideratum OF Government recognition of