The Washington times., 1925-05-22
A Beautiful Water Front for
Washington
By BILL PRICE.

Magnificent DEVELOPMENT
river areas including broad rcreaona parks along the river
shores is to begin within the next year two say army
engineers and park experts.
Further along in the interesting news story carried
In this newspaper is this: The United states owns Prac
cav the entire water front within the District with the
information also that two independent surveys being made
one for Congress- and one chief of engineers of the
War Department.
Nowhere is there mention the people of the District
of Columbia pay under present methods Of
THREEFOURTHS more, of the cost OF this proposed
Identification Of front owned by the United States
Government Officials District are taking
part in the surveys They are not even consulted snee
improvements made from taxes PAID Dy
District taxpayers the District OF Columbia Will not even De
consulted how the money shall be paid out or TO wno
it shall be paid The whole thing will be in the hands OF
army engineers the office of public buildings and grounds
with the War Department and presided over by
The upeep and maintenance Creek Park Potomac
Park and the Anaco parkway along the eastern branch OF
Potomac the expense Of taxpayers of the District
with exception of the small proportion contributed by
the United States Government Yet the District government
supposed represent the people Of this city doesn't even
supervise expenditures Of the appropriations make any
plans anything say about the matter District
people allowed visit these parks under regulations made
by an army officer enforced by park policemen who
conTolled by the army officer.
There might be added to this singular situation the golf
Potomac Park and Rock Greek Park regulated and
managed by officials of the United States Government and
other important projects included being construction
supply system wholly under the War Depart
men but paid for out of taxes collected from citizens of this
District.
There may nothing particularly this to some
Washington people, but there going to be many thousands
who will have forcby brought close home to them the
TAX RATE OF THIS CITY MOUNTS YEARLY TO RAISE
FUNDS, MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF WHICH ARE NOT
EVEN UNDER CONTROL OR SUPERVISION OF DISTRICT
OFFICIALS.
The District bear in mind owns none of this
water front that proposed beauy out Of the pockets
say about than would the dogeang Igorrotes of the
Philippines They should Of course be highly pleased that
army officers and others making extensive plans to de-
velop portions of the city for their enjoyment when they visit
that section Army engineers know how to draw beautiful
plans and to spend money freely carrying out those plans
from
is the truth to admit that these army engineers do their
work well and that like other people, they admire improve
ments that beautify
And right get the question of whether Congress
going set back and enjoy these pretty and needed i'm
provemen together with others that being constantly
suggested and continue to let District people bear three
fouhs of the cost? And Congress is to do this as
has often been indicated where will the tax rate Of the Dis
trict be in another few years?
In the last three there has been jump in the total
appropriations by Congress Of $2oOOoOo
appropriations for the fiscal year beginning July about
$6000000 greater than for the fiscal year which will end
So The tax rate for the year will be in the
negborhood of 0 per $00 of properties assessed at face
value with series of special and other and assessments
that something What the will be the succeed
ing will depend how literally Congress appropraes
District collections and how little it fit to
these collections from Treasury funds
The 90 gre to stand pat on yearly lump
of all taxes special assessments, by the United States
means that within the few years. rapid rate we are
spending money for the District this sum will be about one
fifth of the total will need the citizens Washington
trbung the other fourfths It is almost bad now
everything considered.
be that local Republican leaders, expect
to name the next District Commissioner to succeed the late
Captain OYSTER will fit to tell President COOLIDGE
about the inequabe fiscal relations existing between
District and Uncle Sam and urge the President
against the further imposition upon District financial
burdens that should be divided equally particularly in
view of the fact that good portion of go
Identification of FEDERAL CITY strictly Federal
properties.
Our local Republican machine has influence at the White
House Surely the question of JUSTICE TO DISTRICT
PEOPLE far bigger and greater thing than getting
certain for Commissioner.
We should have continued Identification Of Washington
including the water fronts but the line will have drawn
some time if Congress will not bulge from the $900000O
lump scheme That proportion farcca and maciousy
unfair in view of the huge yearly increases in the public
of the District.