Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-13
Mr.. Cramton's Warning.

| Representative Louis G. Cramton OF
Michigan. who is taking commenda-
tory and helpful interest in park de-
velopment for the National Capital and
its environs, pointed out 70 the Board
of Trade last night the danger that
confronts the city through commercial
expansion and the resulting destruc-
ton of Washington's naturally beauti-
full areas which should be set aside
now and preserved for all time. He
mentioned the fact that while Con-
gress has authorized the expenditure
of more than one hundred and sixteen
million dollars for Federal buildings and
| improvement in the Capital, little has
been done to preserve the natural
beauties. and that opportunity to &C
quire park lands will not last for long
Mr. Cramton must have had an APP
preciative audience, for the Washington
Board OF Trade has been singing his
song and sounding this same warning
for many long years. When the rail-
roads had seized the Mall and had Sc
cured the permission Of Congress to
hold what they wanted for their tracks
and paraphernalia, 1t was the Board OF
Trade which took leading part in ef-
forts to drive them off, and 1t was the
Board of Trade. helped by providentially
placed geological conditions, that kept
the new Union Station from becoming
a permanent DETACHMENT to the Mall
area, When Potomac Park was
marsh. and Rock Greek Park tangled
wilderness. it was the Board OF Trade
which led in the movement which even
tually reclaimed the one and developed,
with roadways and footpaths. the other,
to form the beautiful parks that exist
today. When an old century Of con-
gressional neglect of the Capital was
fading, and a new century of hope and
promise for the Capital was dawning.
it was the Board of Trade which pointed
out what the Nation should do for Its
Capital City, and which took leading
part in representing, to Congress. the
wish and willingness of this politically
impotent community to participate.
Mr.. Cramton's interesting address
was delivered to a sympathetic audience.
It was an audience that has long main
tanned that proper development Of the
Capital of the United States rests with
Congress, and that while the local COM
munity should bear just proportion OF
the burden, its lack of voice or the
smallest part in the counsels of the
Nation should be partially offset by
binding guarantee from Congress that
this burden will never be disproportion-
ate or unjust. Mr.. Cramton is best
known in Washington for his espousal
of the so-called lump-sum theory OF
appropriations theory that removes
these safeguards and guarantees given
by Congress when it adopted, at the
beginning Of the era of Capital develop
ment. the fifty-fifty and later the sixty
forty plan of apportioning expenses be-
tween the Federal Government and the
local community.
Continued failure on the part Of Con-
gress to recognize this lawful and just
system has retarded park development
in the past and will stand In the way
of such future development. Parks and
park lands have to be paid for. Their
advocacy is meaningless. unless, coupled
with such advocacy. there Is rational
plan for financing their acquisition.
When our friends in Congress correct
the present unsystematic and unsats-
factory system Of financing Capital de-
velopment, such measures as Mr.. Cram
tons far-seeing park bill will receive
the Capitals enthusiastic Endorsement
and support, And the danger OF letting
parks and parkways 90 by the board
until too late will be materially lessened.