Evening star., 1933-02-21

forms of borrowing are INDUCED in
which involve interest.
TTlo -cderations contention summar-
lied is that the District coud not get
a loan even If granted the privilege
ard that If by any chance a loan were
obtained such loan would involve
"wasteful" extravaganza, a criminal
offense.
Whether borrowing is wise or unwise
depends upon the circumstances, the
use made of borrowed money and the
capacity to repay There is no remote
connection between the waste and ex-
travagance sometimes associated with
municipal bond issues and the right of
the District to borrow in limited
amount from funds set aside for the
purpose by Congress, when such funds
are necessary to prevent starvation and
distress and when such borrowing
would be securing in advance the
money which would eventually have
to be appropriated anyhow, out of the
surplus, If any, or future revenues.
8. The federation report sees no justi-
fication in the assumption that Congress
may not do certain things. 1t is not
matter Of assuming what Congress will
or will not do. but inability to foresee
future congressional intent and the ma
ture of the future relief problems that
actuate the proponents Of q precau-
tionary safeguarding loan provision.
4. Washingtonians, assuredly, have
done and will do their share in reliev-
ing distress through their private con-
tributions. 1t is feared by competent
and informed observers that should
they do even more than their share,
through private giving, it will not be
s. Should Congress reinsert every
construction item eliminated by the
House from the pending District bill,
the resulting employment would do
little or nothing to decrease in number
the more than 5000 dependent families
now relying upon their weekly s365
from public funds for food.
In its seventh and final point the
federation report, after having said that
the loan would not be granted anyhow.
complains that the bill would give the
Commissioners "a range of power not
heretofore considered proper to dele
gate to any government or municipal
agency under our system of govern
ment." AS the bill would merely give
to the municipal government the same
privileges now enjoyed by the govern
ments of all the States and Territories,
the point is not clear.
The power to be granted the COM
missioners by the substitute legislative
Of the Federation Is subject
to less safeguarding restriction than
that given by the loan bill.
AS far as concerns the federation
reports fear that the loan would de-
stroy the future prospects Of private
charity, making impossible "the sue
cessful launching" of another Com
munity Chest drive, the fact is ignored
that no money can be borrowed from
the r. F. c. until private charity-full
support Of which the report previously
would be given by Wash
lngtonians-has done its part.
Are those who are on the front line
battling to relieve the distress of the
unfortunate, to be denied the safe
guard that lies in the assurance that If
public and private funds fall short, re-
enforcement is to be available?
Are they to be threatened by the
fear that should their desperate efforts
for full relief of the starving be un-
aVailing, they are to face the hurnilia-
ton of failure coupled with the sight
of unrelieved distress?