Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-05
The Burden Of Private Property.

Mr. Simmons of Nebraska and Mr.
Cranltcn of Michigan have pointed out
the tragic mistake of the founding
fathers in laying out and otherwise
planning the Capital of the United
States. The nature of this mistake is
intimated by Mr.. Simmons in his re-
quest that the committee take into con-
sideration the fact that property values
are high here because it is the Nations
Capital and his conclusion that 'the
presence of private property in the Dis
trict does net add one dollar for
unitarian purposes to the Federal Gov
eminent" Mr.. Cramton likewise points
out that private property in the Dis
trict has increased in such marked
degree that it has placed an additional
burden on the Federal Government. due
chiefly to the necessary increase In
police and fire protection:
One might take issue with the speak
ers by pointing out that increasing
value of private property is reflected in
increased taxes: that the millions of
dollars paid in Federal and local taxes
by this private property have hereto
fore been considered most utilitarian
by the Federal Government and its
agent. the municipal government, in
the development of Washington; that
the growth in extent and value of pri-
vate property, instead of increasing the
burden of the Federal Government, has
very naturally decreased the burden, as
in the case Of the water system, now
supported entirely by private property
and used without cost by the Federal
Government: the streets, which are be-
ing built and rebuilt almost wholly by
private property, and the police and
fire departments, seventy-five to eighty
per cent of the cost of which is borne
by private property in the District of
Columbia.
But the fundamental mistake on the
part of the Federal Government was
10 permit any private property in the
District of Columbia, for, according to
the theories outlined to the committee,
1t Is not unitarian as far as the Fed
eral Government is concerned, and it
merely adds to the burdens of the Fed
eral Government. The Federal Govern
ment, instead of planning Washington
on q grand scale in the beginning, sell
ing lots on the strength of false repre-
sensations concerning the intentions of
the Federal Government or otherwise
jenticing good people to come and settle
on the erstwhile marshy banks of the Po-
tomac, should have erected barracks to
house the Federal employees, commits
saries and mess halls to clothe and
feed them and prevented all encroach-
nnents of private property by barbed
wire entanglements and a detail of SOL
diers. who when otherwise not engaged,
could have fulfilled the functions of
firemen. Thus the controversy over the
burdens to the Federal Government re-
sulting from private property in the
District could have been prevented at
the outset
Private property, however, is here,
and obviously the committee will not
deport it or ban it. 1t is already pay
ing through Federal taxes more to sup
port the Federal Government than any
one of more than half the States and
through local taxes is bearing by far
the major cost Of maintaining the fed
orally controlled United States Capital.
Whether this is unitarian depends upon
q point of view that is unnecessary TO
discuss here because it is a fact. and
the committee Is dealing with facts.
The issue for it to settle is whether
the Federal Government, in its exclu-
sive responsibility of developing the
American Capital, is paying a share
that is representative of this RESPONSE
bility or designed for adequate upkecp
and development of its own Capital.
The relative extent Of the burden it
imposes upon private property III the
District will be discussed, and the Dis
trict will be found to be paying its
what other cities who control their own
affairs pay. or in support Of the Capital
City In which it has no representa-
tive voice.
Several formulate for settling this is
sue have been suggested. These will no
doubt be studied thoroughly without the
necessity Of pursuing such fanciful the
cries as the extent of the burden" i'm
posed upon the struggling Federal Gov
eminent by private property in the Dis
trict Of Columbia.