Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-13

The following IS from The Star OF
April II, 1928, the matter being an
excerpt from the argument of Theo-
dore w. Noyes before the joint select
committee of Congress in 1915.
There is q special equitable obliga-
ton upon the Nation to maintain and
develop the Capital This peculiar ma
tional obligation is a double obligation,
extraordinarily heavy in relation to
Washington under each head: Q) That
arising from the circumstances Of the
creation Of the Capital. and ca that
which is coupled with and measured
by the Nations absolute control Of
the Nations city. The Nations OBJ
legation to Washington under the first
head is not duplicated in the case Of
any other OF the worlds capitals, ex-
cept Canberra, the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
of Australia, which recently began to
exist as seat of government. In respect
to q few other capitals (Mexico, Paris,
Rio, Buenos Aires, Athens, Romeo a
national obligation Of the second kind
is recognized, measured by the degree
of peculiar control exercised over them
in each case by the nation. This equi-
table obligation is substantial In the
case of Mexico and of Paris and much
slighter in the case Of Rio. Buenos
Aires, Athens and Rome. But even
| Mexico and Paris fall far behind Wash
ington in the height and breadth Of
| this obligation.
The true basis Of this Nations OBJ
| legation Of proportionate contribution
| toward the maintenance and develop
ment Of the Capital Is not solely or
| primarily untaxed ownership Of Dis
| trict real estate, though a substantial
| and continuous obligation does arise
In connection with such ownership.
The strongest obligations resting upon
the Nation are equitable In their ma
ture and based primarily on the cir
cumstances Of the Capitals creation
and the treatment Of the Capital by
the Nation ever since the birth Of the
Nations city.
BY this special obligation mean an
obligation over and above that which
is imposed solely by the fact that q
city is q capital.
The Nations Intention.
The general Government, by the fact
of planning q magnificent Capital,
covering q large area and character
lied by broad streets, avenues and
reservations to an extent unsuitable
for a self-supporting commercial city.
| and by founding the Capital in a
place comparatively uninhabited, as
well as by the terms of the bargain
| with the owners of the soil, and by
| the declarations of its representatives
| ct the founding Of the city and after
ward, showed an intention to build up
National city, at the Nations ex-
pense, on grand scale, irrespective OF
| the future population of the District.
The Capital was to be primarily q CEN
| ter of Federal action, and the occupa-
| ton OF the ground by settlers was
merely incidental to this great purpose.
It was to be a meeting place for the
| use, convenience and entertainment Of
the people of the entire Union, and the
expense Of its support and adornment
| was not to be limited by the scanty
resources Of what permanent popula-
| ton 1t might acquire. ~
The original owners OF Washington
donated five-sevenths of the city's soil
and yielded the right Of sef-govern-
ment to the Nation on the understand
| ing and implied agreement that the
Nation was to build up here q mag
nificent Capital at its own expense, re-
imbursing itself from the proceeds Of
the sale of donated lots. A preten-
tious city was planned and lots were
sold by the Government on the
strength Of this understanding. For
three-fourths of a century the Nation
violated or neglected the obligations
which 1t had thus incurred. In 1878
the Government, which had in the be-
ginning implicitly undertaken to meet
all the expenses of capital making and
then shifted that burden, in the main
upon private citizens, decided that JUS
tice required 1t to pay one-haf Of the
Districts expenses.
Washington's Equities.
Study Of the equitable foundations
upon which proportionate contribu-
ton toward capital maintenance by
the Nation is based brings the convic-
ton that no fixing Of that proportion
can be Just which ignores national
neglects Of obligations in the past In
determining the equitable measure OF
proportionate contribution for the
future.
As an annual contributor to mu-
nicipal maintenance in a definite and
liberal amount the Nation has since
1878, under the wise and fair legisla-
ton of that year, surpassed other ma
lions in this form Of patriotic expend1-
ture. The result has been to restore
the Nations self-respect as fulfiller
Of Capital obligations, and to build mp
the Capital Of today, In which every
American has = proprietary interest
and in respect to which every American
now feels proprietary pride.