Evening star., 1928-05-06
So Much 70 Do.

On the same day that the New York
Times printed an editorial describing
the growth in beauty of a great
Capital, there came through the mail
q pamphlet from the American Civic
Association outlining some suggested
Improvements for the Capital and ways
ano means of getting them For in
stance. the American Civic Association
says that Congress should be asked to
authorize the Sl2s.000 appropriation,
already allowed by the Senate in the
District appropriation bill. for adequate
appropriations for planting and care of
street trees; for adequate appropriations
10 replace trees removed from parks:
for adequate appropriations for the Ma
tsonal Capital Park and Planning Com
mission for the purchase of parks for
authorization OF the Great Falls park
purchase. Other suggestions are that
the District Commissioners concentrate
more On the problem of combining
street expansion ana public utility in
stallatlon with the necessity of giving
trees more room to grow: that the Ma
tional Capital Park and Planning Com
mission bring about desirable changes
IN mapped streets 10 conform to natural
conditions. study plats for subdivisions
TO take advantage of topography. study
the downtown area to provide parking
space for automobiles that viii give the
trees q chance. and investigate the re-
lation between bulk and height of
buildings TO street trees.
This is not al. The cooperation of
the Virginia and Maryland and National
Capital Park and Planning Commits
sions is asked toward the establishment
OF regional parks; the planning Of
arterial highway connections: the plant
ing Of trees along new highways; the
prevention Of unsightly shacks and bill
boards along scenic highways leading
70 the Federal City.
Our friends sometimes oyerwheim u.s.
There. is not a single suggestion from
the excellent American Civic Associa-
ton that is not worthy of close consid-
Grafton and adoption. None of them is
foolish or impractical All of them sre
thoroughly worth while But alaSl
they al require time and labor. and
time and labor cost money. And where
Is the money coming from? The Amer
tcan Civic Associations suggestions are
only small part Of all those now be-
fore Congress and before the ConmiE-
Esonsrs and before the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission. All of
them are intended 10 improve the Ma
tional Capital But improvement Of the
National Capital is not 10 be brought
about by brave words or helpful sug-
geStions. II depends altogether on the
amount Of hard. cold cash available
Why does the New York Times print
editorials about the development Of
Washington? Why does the American
Civic Association broadcast through the
country a suggested program for the
development Of Washington? The
answer Of course. Is simple. Washing
ton is the American Capital Cannot
that tact be understood and accepted
by Congress? Can it not be made the
predominant thought in considering the
c3ty's extensive and unique needs:
Does 1t not explain why Washington's S
needs are greater than its ability 70
pay? Does it not in itself contain the
meat OF the whole argument for a
guaranteed program Of Federal partici-
patton in the maintenance and develop
ment Of Washington
Until the conception Of Washington
as the American Capital displaces the
conception, In some minds, of Washing
ton as the home Of tax eodging AID
grasping n1endicants, al the fine pro-
grams IN the world for It's beaItlilca-
ton and improvement viii come 10
nothing.