Evening star., 1931-12-16

1t was observed in the 1885 report
that, while the city was net bound to
spend the money of its inhabitants on
the streets, which the Nation claimed
and controlled, that committee believed
the narrowest measure Of justice would
have required, and does now require,
that the Government, having in its pri-
vate building lots and public resefva-
tions at least an equal interest in the
improvement Of the streets, should pay
at least one-half OF the expenses OF
those streets, and that one half of the
money expended by the city for this
purpose ought now to be refunded to
it, being $2l4,965"
These more lengthy quotations from
the Southerd report serve to show some
OF the reasons why the city was not
very successful when left to its own
devices"
Finance System Delayed.
Despite the principles of equity set
forth in that report of 1885, approx
mately 40 years elapsed before a def
mite basis OF handling the expenses of
the National Capital was established in
the passage Of the half-and-half plan
in the organic act of 1878.
Again, the Mapes report quotes briefly
from the record Of 1874, when Repre-
sentative Poland submitted a report on
fiscal relations from the House Judici-
ary Committee. The Mapes committee
points out that the Poland report, re-
ferring to the question whether some
accurately defined basis of expenditure
cannot be prescribed and maintained by
law" declared:
There never has been since the
location of the Capital at this place
any consistency, or even intelli-
gence, in the adjustment of these
expenditures.
But three may also be found in that
Poland report reference to a Treasury
statement of expenditures by the Gov
ernment up to 1871, showing, for ex-
ample, that while in 1869 the Govern
ment expended something over $780,
000 the next year the amount was
ing that, $4,000.
Poland Report Outlined.
The Poland report, like the Southard
document also called attention to the
national character of the plan on which
the city was being developed, and what
1t stated with regard to the equities
| accompanying such plan must be read
also In order to give a fair picture Of
the findings OF that committee. Refer
ring to the scope of the plan for the
National Capital, the Poland report de-
clared:
TT was a plan having reference pc
culiarly to the wants of the Govern
ment, and not to those of It's inhabit-
ants; its streets and avenues, in num-
Der, length and width, are upon scale
that was appropriate for a National
Capital, but was entirely inappropriate
to the demands Of a sparse population
not engaged in manufacturing or COM
merce, and when manufactures and
commerce were not encouraged to
come"
| Commenting on the evident intention
Of the founders that everything about
the city should conform to its national
character, that report went on:
Motives Interpreted.
Viewing the Capital City in this ma
tional aspect, We may we'll understand
the motives which governed its founders
in imposing upon all who were to come
after them such duties and responsible
ties toward it as would be peculiar to
the Capital City alone, and which would
fully justify a liberal, If not munifi-
cent, policy in expenditures:
AS to the mutual obligations of the
Federal Government and the citizens to
defray these expenses. the committee
find little difficulty. 1t is clear if this
National Capital was founded for the
use Of the United States, and was placed
under its exclusive government and
control, and upon scale of magnifi-
cence appropriate only for a national
capital, it never could have been con-
templated that the burden of expendi-
lures should fall upon those citizens of
the United States who might tempo
rarily or permanently take up resi-
dence at the Capital
Originally we know there was no
population here to which the Govern
ment could look for contributors to-
ward these expenditures; and as the
city was not to become one of trade and
commerce and manufactures, the local
population could not be looked to in the
future as being sufficient, either in
numbers or wealth. to carry out the
magnificent intentions of the founders.
Nor, indeed, would it have been just to
impose this burden upon them; for,
upon the theory upon which the Capital
was founded, all these expenditures
would ultimately be for the benefit of
the whole people and justice would die
tate that the burden should fall upon
the whole people
Committee Appointed.
When it provided for the temporary
commission form Of government in that
same year. 1874, Congress also created
a Joint Select Senate and House Com
mittee to study further the frame of
government and apportionment of ex-
penses for the District.
The Mapes Committee took other brief
Axyra ~ a. l{,.orr Nf hi Tofy,
Committee of 1874, which do not tell
the whole story of that Joint Commit
tees views. In the Mapes report Is
found the following observations:
"The Morrill, Joint Select Com
mittee of 1874 reported that the
District may properly be required to
make that just contribution to the
current annual expenses, the inter-
est of the public debt and its ulti-
mate payment, which people so
situated as compared with other
communities may be required to pay
for like protection, privileges and
immunities."
Joint Committee Report.
That Joint Committee report of 1874,
however. goes on with the following
further comment:
THE streets, avenues, squares and
general plan of the Capital City bear
the impress of paramount and exclusive
nationality; Spacious and grand in de-
sign, dedicated to the sacred uses OF
National Capital onerous and even in
tolerable as charge upon private prop
erty, the provision for supervision of all
suitable improvements and decorations
obviously, properly and imperatively de-
wolves upon Congress, and 1t will as 1t
respects the character Of its jurisdic-
ton and the dignity Of its trust, exercise
q jealous care over it,"
The Mapes report contains one other
quotation from the Morrill, report, but
1t Is one relating entirely to the ques-
ton Of form Of government as distin-
guished from financial responsibility.
In the course Of its argument in sup
port OF the lump sum method OF Fed
eral contribution the Names Commit.