Evening star., 1928-04-01

OF the one million ninety-two thou
sand dollars added to the District ap-
preparation bin by the Senate. some
thing over half million dollars is for
park development, The Senate in
creased to one million dollars the six
hundred thousand dollars approved by
the House Tor the work Of the National
Capital Park and Planning Commission
In purchasing and developing park
lands for the District and its environs:
made available one hundred thousand
dollars for continuing work on the
Meridian Hill Park and increased by
thirty-two thousand dollars the House
allotment for work on the Rock Creek
Potomac connecting parkway. All Of
these additional sums are necessary and,
from the Districts point Of view. highly
cssirabie-provided: That the one
million dollars for the Park and Plan
ming Commission be appropriated on
the basis Of the legislation creating
that body: that the expense Of work
on the Meridian Hin Park be shared IN
the ratio Of sixty-forty between the
District and the Federal Government
and that the work on the Rock Creek
Potomac parkway be pursued by q SINH
lar division Of cost.
The National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission was conceived and
brought into being as q national body
With a national. or sen,i-national, task
in hand At Its disposal there was to
be placed an annual amount not ex-
ceeding one cent for every man. woman
and child In the United States, and the
desirable appropriation was set ct one
million dollars annually. to be taken
from the general funds Of the Treasury.
FOR the fiscal year 1876 the Park and
Planning Commission received six hum
dred thousand dollars: for the fiscal
year 1877 q similar amount: for the
fiscal year 1923 nine hundred thousand
dollars, and the Senate has increased
the appropriation for the fiscal year
1879 10 one million dollars. But In the
three preceding fiscal years the funds
have been drawn almost wholly from
District revenues. The conception Of
the commissions work as national.
or serli-nstionsl. project has been lost.
Money given 70 the commission has be-
come as much Of local fund as are
the appropriations for the local Police
Department and Fire Department. The
Senate now increases the fund to one
million dollars. which. after three years,
brings the annual appropriation up to
the amount tentatively set In the frst
place.
But this arrangement cannot be ac-
ceptable to the District unless the ap-
preparation is made as the Park and
Planning Commission legislation In
tended that IL should be made.
II the four hundred thousand dollars
added by the Senate Is. when the
District bin takes final shape. to be
drawn from local revenues. as the pre-
ccding appropriations have been drawn.
the Senate unwittingiy win have added
70 injuries already suffered by the Dis
tgtct- Residents OF the District know,
rs ether intelligent Americans are be-
ginning 70 realize. that the National
Capital Park and Planning Commits
sioa's work has suffered through fail
nre 70 secure adequate appropriations
At the same time the residents Of the
District. who have no voice and no re-
sponsiblity In the matter, viii not
willingly submit TO an extortionate proc
ess Of taxation In behalf Of plan that
Congress has already recorded as ma
tionAI In its conception. The District
would like 70 see one million dollars
annually spent on the park system and
regional Development Of the National
Capital and It's enyirons. But the Dis
tr1et cannot afford. nor can ii be justly
expected. 10 pay this amount from its
current tax money.
Meridian Hill Park should be devel-
Oped ~ other parks Of the Capital were
developed. under the principle Of the
fixed ratio which the Senate appfopria-
tons committee again indOrses and
demands. The Rock Creek-Potomac
parkway should be similarly developed
Land for tits latter project, now In the
process Of condemnation. Is being sc'
CURED almost wholly and altogether
wyongfuIiy from District funds repre-
sented ia the accumulated surplus oi
Snexpended local revenue. The Dis
xfct might hope, bat unfortunately
cannot eKpect, that this wrong VIII b.
raghted. II can stilI demand that th'
Development of the Rack Greek park
way ard other parks he carried out oT
the fair principle Of equitsoiy oistribut'
ing tloe oost.
The District has found that park de-
yeEopment of the Capital and metro
poiitsD area Is q threatening curse
Unless the curse ig removed by con
gTessb0nsl recognition VI the principle
II has Legally laid down, the DistTic
can only greet with alarm sdditi0na
funds tor park development. Increase
surely. the National capitsl Park an
Planning Commissions appropriation
but allow the people III America y
snare Ia tlae burden, either by remoyinl
this item from the Districts reyenn
bIi or by proDortioDsl<ly increasing IN
Federal contribution ard retaining tfl
item Ia tie District nil