Evening star., 1928-12-27
CAPITAL PARK BILL
WILL Be PRESSED
cramton Says It Proposes
No Increase in Taxes
for District.

operation of the States of Maryland anc
Virginia with the District of Columbis
and the Federal Government in CO.
ordinated, comprehensive program oi
park development and conservation
Representative Cramton. Republican, OF
Michigan. intends to press his bill fol
early action in Congress.
Representative Cramton recognizes
that the difficulty centers in the ques-
ton of financing and says: The Nation
and the District should share the eX-
pense." He argues that his bill pro
poses no increase of financial burden
for the District taxpayer"
In discussing his bill, Mr.. Cramton
says:
Il regard my Capital park and park
way bill as an emergency measure, to
meet very serious and pressing emer-
gency It is not so much bill to
beautify the National Capital as 1t is
to save and preserve its existing natur-
al beauties. When those beauties have
been destroyed by encroachment OF
construction and industry, they cannot
be restored and no works of man can
fittingly replace them. This work OF
destruction is now going on rapidly.
Cutting of wooded areas. filling OF scenic
ravines, building up vacant sites needed
for park and playground purposes, de-
velopment of Maryland areas that
threaten the existence of Rock Creek,
blasting of the palisades of the Potomac
ali this is under way today. We have
lost much In the last five years; we
NAV well be alarmed at what will hap
pen to these invaluable scenic assets
Of the National Capital within the next
FIVE years if we do not act now.
Gratifed by Approval.
"The cordial approval given the
comprehensive program set forth IN my
bill is very gratifying. In the drafting
of that bill, the recommendations Of
the National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission have been given great
weight because of the coutstanding tall
ent and efficiency of its members who
have given so much time and study to
these problems.
THE bill provides for a great park
way as memorial to George Wash
ington on both sides of the Potomac
from Mount Vernon. where he lived,
through Washington which he found
ed, to Great Falls, where he wrought
industrially. This parkway has un-
limited recreational as well as scenic
possibilities. The bill provides also for
protection of Rock Greek and extern
adjacent areas in Maryland and for
the acquisition Of needed areas for
park and playground purposes in the
District.
"The only criticism that the bill
seems to have attracted has to do with
its financing provisions. At the Cap
itol it has been suggested to me that
the bill is to generous in its treatment
of the District, while in the city it has
been urged as to onerous in its terms
toward the District. The difficulty OF
enacting into law such program nat
uraIly centers in this question of A.
nancing. All agree the thing ought to
be done, that 1t will be a calamity If
Il is not done. but disagreement over
terms has heretofore prevented action
and may continue to do so. It has been
my desire and my effort in this bill to
work out financing plan that would
be fair and fully conSiderate OF the
interests of the Federal Treasury and
the District, as well as Maryland and
Virginia, and the program presented is
one on which all may very reasonably
unite. BY such concurrence, the sit
uation can be saved, while by undue
insistence on exact accomplishment OF
personal views a stalemate may result
and all be lost.
Says Cost Should Be Divided.
"The Nation Is interested in the
beauties of its Capital. The District
benefits from its beauties and the
recreational opportunities here and In
adjacent areas. The Nation and the
District should share the expense. The
pending bill places no burden on the
District that is not placed there by
existing law. while 1t does relieve the
~
existing law and assures the Distrlct
of other very material advantages.
1.-THE existing law authorizes for the
program Of the Planning Commission
now under way an annual approprla-
ton of about 81 100000, Of which about
S600000 is actually appropriated eacn
wear. This amount is inadequate Tor
any comprehensive program, with the
result that areas desired are either los.
ing their scenic beauties or are going
up In price at rate greater than the
annual appropriation. The District does
not now get the use Of the areas desires
for park and playground purposes until
they are purchased, and as to many
areas desired, that will be nearly 20
years. and as to many others, they will
be DESTROYED and never secured. Under
the pending BILL $16,000,000, the esti-
mated cost of the District program, will
be advanced the District from the Fed
eral Treasury to be expended in 1881
and succeeding years as needed to carry
on the program expeditiously, probably
In 1881, 1882 and 1898. This is repaid
at 81, 900 900 a year without interest.
Under the pending bill, therefore, the
District pays annually less than the ex-
listing law authorizes for the Planning
Commission, pays no interest, saves the
Iof W
ing now and buying in complete sec
tions instead Of piecemeal, secures de-
sirable areas available now, but not
likely to be long available. and has the
use of these lands for recreational pur-
poses 10 to 20 years before 1t would
otherwise and many years before it pays
for them.
Whether these lands are bought un-
der the terms of the present law or un-
der the pending bill, the payment Is
from District revenues and the Federal
Treasury the same as other expenses CT
the District, whether the Federal con-
tribution for the particular year be on
lump sum or percentage basis.
Makes Important Change.
GAS to the acquisition of lands in
Maryland and Virginia, the pending
bill does make an important change
atectlng District expenditures, as II
asks no contribution for these from
the District, while the existing law
places this burden on the District
treasury. These proposed parks and
parkways in the environs of Washing
ton will mean much to the people of
Washington, but my pending bill does
not provide for any contribution from
the District for their acquisition.
The pending bill. therefore, propos-
ing no increase of financial burden for
the District taxpayer, but quite the
contrary, ought to be acquitted of any
charge Of unfairnesS to the District
To make ii more liberal to the District
would, I fear. greatly endanger the
chances for favorable action upon 1t by
the Congress