Evening star., 1928-03-08
Two National Projects.

Two National Projects.
Proponents Of fIood-control legislation
for the Mississippi-and every good cit
teen must be counted among them
will And no great difficulty in agreeing
upon an engineering plan or upon the
method of administering the funds
made available for carrying it out. The
chief obstacle in the way Of an imme-
diste agreement seems to lie in the
question of what proportion the Fed
eral Government should contribute.
The Reid bill, reported in the House
would have the Government bear all
the cost Of construction. without local
contribution" The Jsdwin plan. from
the Chief of Engineers Of the Army.
suggests twenty per cent contribution
from the States affected. The Jones
bill, introduced In the Senate starts
with Federal contribution of $685.
ooo, 1000 for construction costs, leaving
to q commission the decision OF how
much should be paid by the cormuni-
ties affected. There is unanimous be-
lief that the Federal Government will
bear. under any plan. the lions share
Of the cost. And why? Because the
Mississippi River. while 1t contributes
TO the wealth and resources of the
States which border upon its banks, Is
regarded in the broader light OF great
national possession from which the
country as a whole derives benefit.
II the Reid plan is adopted. the tax
payers of the District of Columbia
would contribute more In Federal taxes
than the people OF Louisiana, or Mis-
stssippi or Arkansas. or Tennessee, or
Iowa-au of which States exact tribute
from the Father of waters-to assure
the continued welfare and prosperity
Of these States. The people Of the
State Of Maine would pay more in Fed
eral taxes toward food control than
the people Of Mississippi and Arkansas
combined. The taxpayers Of California
would contribute more in national taxes
toward food control than the taxpayers
Of Louisiana. Mississippi, Arkansas.
Tennessee, kentucky. Iowa and Wis
consin. With q twenty per cent con-
tribution from the communities affect
ed. sections Of the country far removed
from the Mississippi. including the Dis
trtct Of Columbia, would pay more IN
actual tax contributions than some OF
the communities which owe their ad-
yaneement in the past and their hope
for the future to their proximity to the
river. This is the correct principle
There Is nothing wrong about It, The
Mississippi River is national posses
SION. 1t should be treated as such.
The National Capital is another ma
ttonai possession. When Congress woke
up TO that fact some forty years ago 1t
matched, dollar for dollar. contribu-
tons from the taxpayers OF the District
70 build up and maintain the Nations
Capital. II later changed this ratio.
and for every sixty cents taken from
the taxpayers Of the local community
It added forty cents. And nov. after
deciding that lump sum OF $4,000, 900
was the corTec. Federal contribution
for the 1928 tYdget Of $4,000. 900. the
House concludes, by some obscure
process Of Yeasoning that 1t continues
TO be the correct Federal contribution
TO budget OF nearly $40 .oo0.o 900. While
legislation creating the National Cap
2 ttal Park and Planning Commission
specifically regarded formation Of that
body and the work IT should do as ma
tie11d projects, the money appropriated
therefor is included in q purely local
supply measure. Nor lis that the only
instance Of such practice. There is D
growing disposition In the House 10 look
upon the District SIS an area set aside
! for the selfish benefit Of those who
happen 10 live here, for the support o,
which the Federal Government must
grud2ingiy give something. The hn>
conception Of Washington, the National
Capital. the pride and property of the
Nation, becomes obscured in a wordy
fog.
A. Congressman asks, Why should
the people Of my district pay for your
parks here In Washington" But no
Congressman rises 70 demand. why
should the people Of the District pay
for controlling the Mississippi fioods2'
Here We have no votes, Here Te have
nothing 10 say regarding either tht
Mississippi food control Or the main
tenance Of the Federal Capital. But ~
American citizens the people OF tht
District are proud 10 bear their part ol
ire expense of protecting and enhane-
;ng the value ot great national asset
the Mississippi. Are they right, or are
they wrong. in believing that Other
Americans share y reciprocal pride. ~
psrt owners, !n the National capitsi7
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