Evening star., 1934-06-05

Howard University Is q national
Negro university established and
maintained by the National Govern
ment for its colored citizens of all
the States, and the local students at
Howard are given no preferred treat
ment over the students from the
States. The same thing can be said
of the national hospitals which are
located in Washington, including the
Government Hospital for the Insane
and various service hospitals. What
criticism Mr.. BIanton implies by
other statements relating TO tourists
who come to see their Representatives
in action Is not clear, but Mr.. Blan-
ton himself indicates that conditions
are not likely TO change in any re-
Spect when the people of the United
States learn the locat ton of their
National Capital. for. he says:
This 10 miles square has been
dedicated to the Government busi-
ness. And il is going to remain SO
and Congress Is going to continue TO
control it,"
Census figures show that over $780,
900 of District residents were born
in the District. Does Mr.. Blanton
venture to say to these red biooded
fellow Americans who are denied rep
rese ntation in the Government which
makes all laws for them, taxes them
and sends them to war: 'If you cam
not submit without complaining to
our autocratic, un-American Govern
ment aba andon your homes and your
native city and 20 elsewhere; either
supplicate or evacuate; either pros
trate yourselves and beg humbIy and
abjectIy or get OUT"
Representative Blanton's state
ment: "A few years ago, when the
expenses Of this District got up
to $40. 900 600, everybody thought
it was outrageous. For the pres
ent fiscal year this Congress last
session gave to the District gov
eminent for the fiscal expenses OF
the District $30,375 900. Congress
adjourned after giving them that
money"
Congress did not give" TO the Dis
trict S30,375, 900 for the current fiscal
year or for any other fiscal year.
Congress appropriated money raised
from local taxation. none Of which
came from the National Treasury.
plus the Federal contribution to the
National Capital of S5.7O0.000 to
which the people Of the District, like
people of other cities, contribute in
Federal taxes.
Representative Blanton'S state
ment: Just as soon as members
of Congress went home, the Com
miSsioners went down to the P.
w. A. and the C. w A. and alto
gether got gifts aggregating the
huge sum OF about $ll,00000
more-a pure gift Your district or
mine did not get that. Your State
did not get that. When l say
$1,000 600 from the P. w. A and
the C. w. A. that means nothing
but public tax money out Of the
Treasury of the United States.
That means the taxpayers money.
for it all comes out of the tax
payers pocket"
The District has received from the
P. w. A. for municipal purposes the
following amounts:
For highway projects. S1.91S.469.
For sewer works. S1,s59,500.
The highway money was the Dis
trict's share of the S400. .000.0 900 made
available TO the States and Territories
on the basis Of population, area and
SO forth. The Commissioners, OF
course. had nothing to do with any
requests for this money. which was
made avaiia BILE through national iegis-
lation.
The sewer money was allotted TO the
District by the Public Works Admins
tration and accepted by the Commits
sioners as a grant. Congress since
construed the money as loan and
20 per cent Of the money spent must
be repaid.
The sewer and highway funds were
the only allotments from the p. w. A.
TO the District for municipal purposes
although the p. w. A. allotted money
to practically all Of the Government
departments to carry out Federal
projects in the District of Columbia
as well as in the States. Included in
such aliotments was money for ma
tional parks in the District.
The District of Columbia was allotted
S4.I76,050 from the c. w. A., of which
sI.380,775 was spent on Federal
projects, and S2.795,275 on District OF
Columbia projects. The District Conn.,
missioners had nothing to do with the
Inauguration Of the c. w. A. They
were ordered by the Federal officials
the number of jobs that could be filled
in carrying out the administration S
purpose of taking men off the relief
rolls and putting them on the pay
rolls"
The money received by the District
under p. w. A. and c. w. A. may be
compared with $30.645,234 c. w. A.
funds received by the State Of Texas
between November and May last. as
its share of the S734.764. .290 thus dis
tributed among the States; with the
s79,SSS,943 received by the State OF
Texas for Federal and Federal
projects from the p w. A. as its share
Of the billions distributed for work
creating projects among the States.
Representative Blanton's state
ment: "In addition to that SILL
100000 gifts. Secretary Ickes said,
you want 100000 more for i'm
provements. you say. When We
let the money out to the States
and the municipalities. the Gov
ernment gives them 80 per cent
of it and they have to pay back
10 per cent. We will let you have
the $4,000, 900 more but you will
have to pay 10 per cent of it back
Such a notation of having to pay
back 70 per cent Of the $4,000, 900
was entered by P. w. A. The P.
w. A. expected the Commission
ers to Ak it up so that Congress
would deduct it from the Federal
contribution because they cannot
give bonds.
Back in 1878 Congress wisely
provided by statute that the Dis
trict of Columbia could not bor-
row money. because the District
had gotten badly in debt. 1t was
an outrageous debt which they got