Evening star., 1934-05-06

oVV'Voos 0u0cSAdShoAy. tAiC DAotA NV q
revenues so increased that by the
fiscal year 1915 the entire indebted
ness, including the interest, had been
paid and there remained q cash sur
plus in the Treasury to the credit OF
the District.
These advances Of over four millions
represent eight millions of cash spent
on ID millions of extraordinary i'm
provements during a period of about
nine years. The remainder Of the IL
millions came from the current rev.
enues, in part equitably and in part
by unfairly draining these revenues
and crippling the city's ability to meet
properly current needs. Thus to
the extent Of 100000 these ad-
vances blessed the city with urgently
needed permanent improvements
which could be economically provided
only as whole and not by piecemeal,
and which without this debt could not
have been secured. Among these
permanent works were the sewage dis
posal system, the filtration plant, the
District Building, new railway term
inals, involving reclamation of the
Mall and the elimination of all grade
crossings within the city, the Highway
Bridge and the Connecticut avenue,
Massachusetts, avenue. Anacostia and
Piney Branch bridges.
This was an economical and profit
able debt. The money was needed
for immediate use in larger lump
sums than could possibly be spared
from current revenues. The public
works accomplished through the loan
justified both themselves and the debt
The interest was low, the profit great
and the creditor lenient.
A broadening interest in the Ma
tional Capital resulted in the creation
of the National Capital Park and
Planning Commission charged with
planning for the orderly development
and adornment of the Capital and
its environs. The original suggestion
advanced in connection with this
legislation was that the project was SO
thoroughly national that its cost.
when met from the National Treasury
would in effect impose an annual tax
of only one cent on each inhabitant
of the United States The national
PlOSl dIll. llOhCNCI, Was llUl
followed but appropriations were
made out of the District of Columbia
revenues with a small and diminish
ing contribution by the United States.
Losses From Delay.
Congress had recognized that If the
elaborate program of the National
Capital Park and Planning Commits
siSn was to be realized it must move
| forward without delay. Picturesque
land required was in danger of ruin
through steam-shovel development
Land prices were advancing and many
available, needed sites were liable to
be lost through erection of private
buildings. 1t was further recognized
that these plans covered projects
which not only should not be under
taken piecemeal, but which were be-
| yond the immediate financing from
current revenues.
| To meet the situation the Capper-
! Cramton act of May 20, 1880. was
| passed. Under this act there was au-
/ thorized an appropriation for the ac-
QUESTION and development of certain
parks. parkways. recreation centers
| and Fairgrounds within the District
of Columbia and nearby Maryland
and Virginia. The amount so author
lied is to be expended $l6,00O,0O0 in
the District Of Columbia. $7,5OO,O ,O0C
| for the George Washington Memorial
Parkway in Maryland, from Great
Falls to Fort Washington and in Vir.
ginia from Great Falls to Mount Yer
non. and sl,500,00O in Maryland fol
the Rock Creek, Anacostia, Sligo ano
Cabin John Valleys. So far. only
about $4,000 900 of the $4,000 900 has
been appropriated.
These advances to the District are
to be paid back to the Treasury with.
out interest at the rate of $1,000 OOC
/ per year. The terms granted by the
act to Maryland and Virginia are
much more liberal than to the Dis
/ trict- The District is required to re-
/ pay all the money advanced. In the
case OF the expenditures in Maryland
and Virginia for the George Wash
lngton Memorial Parkway the United
States and these States share the cost
on a $3.50 basis and In addition the
Government is authorized to loan tc
these States on proper collateral the
amount of the States share.
In the development of the several
valleys in Maryland the United States
makes contribution of one-thi-d OF
the cost and lends the State or coun.
ty its own two-thirds.
p. w. A. Funds Sought.
The foregoing brief sketch of tn.
Districts past experience with in.
debtedness and some Of the condi
tions which compelled going into
debt is of interest in connection with
the current proposal that Congress.
authorize an advance to the Distric
from Public Works Administration
funds for necessary public improve
mentS which cannot be made out o,
the present current revenues. MANY
of the conditions prevailing at thu
time OF previous borrowings are dup.
Heated now. There has been a period
OF neglect on the part of the Federal
Government to develop wisely its Cap
ital City. The pressing necessary
permanent public Improvements rep.
resent an accumulation of years as
has been the case at different earlier
periods.
Some Of the projects to be included
in the proposed new Indebtedness
duplicate those in the accumulations
Of other days which were financed by
earlier borrowings. Sewage disposa,
plant, hospitals and municipal build
ings are necessary permanent i'm
provements for the present day and
for many years to come and duplicate
similar needs of another day which
were met through systems of indebt-
edness.
while not so liberal, either as to
interest or Government contribution as
in the case of the Treasury advances
between 1900 and 1920 in the time
of the Union Station, filtration
plants, original sewage disposal plant
and other projects, the terms so
far as Federal participation is con-
cerned are more liberal than the ad-
vances under the Capper- -Cramton act
The District will profit by these pro-
posed advances in the first place
| - - d.