Evening star., 1932-05-19
A TWo-Sided Symbol.

preparation for a $22 900 900 Municipal
Center that will not be built for many
years to come. as evidence in support
Of the theory that one reason Tor the
Districts present low financial state is
that Congress has been spending local
revenues like a drunken sailor during
the recent past, and is now confronted
with the grim realities OF the morning
after the night before.
For in these days of penny pinching
there is striking incongruity in the
large outlays for this land and for the
razing OF the buildings that stood
thereon. With the largest tax delin-
ouent list in the city's history and with
tax revenues steadily declining. there is
a certain irony in the fact that this
site for the Municipal Center has been
transferred to the tax-exempt property
list. only to lie idle and unused for an
indefinite number of years to come.
It would be grossly unfair. however,
TO criticize Congress for the Municipal
Center plans and for the money so far
spent to realize them, merely because the
depression has for the time being
knocked those plans galley west. Con-
gress was no more unwise in making
the plans than millions Of men the
world over whose schemes have gone
agley.
The moral taught by expenditures
thus far on the Municipal Center and
by the future expenditures to which the
District has been obligated is not that
the District suffers because Of the grand
plans that are made for development OF
great American Capital. The moral
is that such plans cannot be realized
without burdensome injustice to local
taxpayers. unless the Congress is willing
to couple with its omnipotent power to
make such plans proper and equitable
conception of Federal financial respon-
sibility In Capital development. The
Municipal Center has come to SYM
bolize, on the one hand, the broad vision
and idealism of those legislators who
wish to make Washington the fitting
Capital of a great Nation, and, on the
other hand, the harsh attitude toward
the unrepresented local taxpayer Of
those legislators who regard the Federal
contribution to the District as dole,
prompted by empty altruism. and seek
to deny any Federal moral or legal
obligation to share in Capital expenses.
When the Federal triangle develop
ment' was first discussed the Commits
sioners suggested that the square i'm
mediately in rear of the Municipal
Building be purchased to allow for
necessary expansion of the local gov
eminent. This scheme, not conforming
to Federal plans. was turned down. The
Commissioners then sought to buy the
old Southern Railway Building fol
municipal government use That was
not In conformity with Federal plans
The Commissioners then proposed tc
the Budget Bureau that the District
buy the land between Sixth and Third
/ streets, Louisiana avenue, Indiana ave-
| nue. and C streets and build new
| municipal buildings, the cost to be
shared $3.50 between the United States
and the District. The Budget Bureau
eliminated the $3.50 proposal, substi-
tuting a plan wherein the United
! States would share in the undertaking
through the $4,000 600 lump sum. The
| ultimate cost of land and buildings was
estimated to be s12,100,000 With a
surplus Of local revenues then existing
amounting to s6,50o,o00 and an addi-
tionsl S5,0o0,o0 that, 1t was under
J stood, the Federal Government would
pay the District for the old Municipa,
Building, this project could have beer
financed by using only $500, 900 Of cur
rent revenue. But this plan did not wiz
approval in Congress. Such a develop
ment would not suitably conform with
the Federal building plan for the ares
south of Pennsylvania avenue. Con-
gress changed 1t, therefore, by providing
for the purchase of much more land
J and for the erection thereon of build.
ings Of monumental type that vii
make the completed project cost, ac
cording to present estimates, abou
S21, 100000
With adoption of these new plans
Congress has appropriated a total o
$500, ,000-most Of this money repre-
! c1Iry1Ityr
chase Of land. grading, preparation o
plans and beginning construction.
bill by Mr.. Simmons Of Nebraska, pro
vidmg for appraisal of the value Of tn
present Municipal Building and trans
fer of that amount to the District as
credit toward Municipal Center build
ing, is either dead or has been lost il
the shuttle. An understanding" tina
the Treasury Department could "buy
the District Building from the munici
pality without legislative authority ha
apparently been found to be erroneous
And now the District facing a defci
and loss of local tax revenues and
loss of Federal revenue, is nevertheless
committed to the construction of
S22 900, 600 city hall and, with con
struction work postponed for at leas
another year, can witness as the fruit
of its surplus revenues of fat years no'
gone the $4,000 900 worth of idle, non
revenue producing lano. At the sam
time necessary, normal improvement
must be shelved, as there is no none
, to pay for them.
Anti prohibition advocates are agai
| recllired IN asellr1e the faint disOiIisr