Evening star., 1934-04-23
ARTICLE NO. /.

ARTICLE NO. /.
When the infant American Nation
created the national seat of govern
ment it planned magnificent Capital
under its exclusive control, covering
large area and characterized by
broad streets, avenues and reserva-
tions to an extent unsuitable for
commercial city. 1t
founded this Capital in an area COM
paratively uninhabited, thus empha-
sizing the suggestion that it relied
upon itself and not upon the city's
scanty population for the Capitals
maintenance and development. 1t
took to itself in streets, reservations
and it's share of building lots five
sevenths of the city's surface. 1t re-
tanned one-half of the fraction of the
city which was divided into lots. 1t
sold these lots with the undertaking
that the proceeds should complete the
public buildings and leave surplus
which should revert to Washington as
"residuary legatee' to develop the city,
opening and paving streets and max
ing other municipal improvements
without cost to the purchasers of lots.
For three-fourths of century the
Nation neglected to meet its obliga-
ton of National Capital development,
which was coupled with its exclusive
power of control. The Capital, with
its upbuilding left largely to the small
and scattered resident population,
with scanty resources, developed slowly
and discreditably. AS the city Of
distances, great preten-
sions and unrealized expectations, it
became the laughing stock of the
world, a national disgrace, subjecting
the Nation to the humiliating taunts
of distinguished visitors like Charles
Dickens, Tom Moore and Anthony
Trollope.
Amends for Past Hurtful Neglect.
In 1875 a repentant Nation reaf-
firmed its primary responsibility for
the development of the Nations city.
in effect confessed its long neglect of
this obligation, and in the Districts
organic act made wise and just
amends for this past hurtful neglect.
AS guarantor it in effect undertook
to pay one-half of the Districts &C
cumulated debt of the past, created
mainly in local unsuccessful efforts
to perform unaided the Nations task
of Capital upbuilding, and it under
took in effect to pay one-half Of
approved expenditures in the main
tenance and development Of the
Nations city in the future.
Emphasizing the completeness of
its exercise of constitutional exclusive
control of the Capital, it even de-
prived the local resident community
of the municipal government, which
had for more than seventy years been
permitted to exist.
In 1922 Congress reafhrmed the
principle of the definite related con-
tribution plan of financing the Capt.
tai, but increased the local percentage
of contribution from fifty to sixty
per cent, and reduced the national
contribution from fifty per cent to
forty per cent.
This provision Of the act of 1922
is the substantive law today, though
two unsuccessful efforts have been
made to secure its repeal, and though
by abuse of the Holman rule in the
House Congress has in appropriation
bills permitted the national contri-
button to be reduced annually far
below the forty per cent requirement
by substituting temporarily a fiuctu-
ating lump sum payment in lieu of
the definite percentage proportion
contribution directed by the substan-
tive law.
One of the vital issues of the day is
whether the definite proportion plan
shall be restored in appropriation
practice or whether it shall be dis