Evening star., 1935-12-15


Washington is the only Capital in
the world In which II certain policies
prevail the Nation win do all Of the
controlling and none OF the paying.
Patriotic Pride in Capital.
3. Obligation springing from de-
mands Of patriotic pride in the Capital.
From the report Of the Joint Con-
gressional Committee Of 1918:
The national city, the Nations
home, should be a district where the
national authority is not only su-
preme, but a district where the just
pride of great people should insist
upon its maintenance in manner
most fitting to the dignity of the cit
izens whose manifestation Of GEN.
tral government 1t is. '' B
Nothing Is clearer TO us than II
never was the intent that this District
should bear all the extraordinary bur-
den Of expense incident to its plan
and occupancy as q national city, and
any such proposed burden would be
most inequitabIe and unjust now"
The thought that the constitutional
power of exclusive legislation con-
ferred upon Congress imposed a spe-
cial and a peculiar obligation Is ex-
pressed in varying forms of words by
many Presidents. Hayes and Benja-
min Harrison combined with their
pleas for recognition of the obliga-
tion based on power. suggestions of
another obligation springing from the
national sentiment and from national
pride. Monroe was especially pointed
in his appeal to national pride in
behalf of the Nations city.
Said Calvin Coolidge: IF our coun-
try wishes to compete with others, let
it not be in the support of ornaments,
but in the making Of beautiful Cap
ital City.
LET it express the soul Of America" !"
Said Herbert Hoover: Washington
is not only the Nations Capital; it is
the symbol of America. BY its dig
nifty and architectural inspiration we
stimulate pride in our country. We
encourage that elevation Of thought
and character which comes from great
architecture"
The Capital was built on broad ma
tional lines on a plan of which we
have begun to see the wisdom, but
neglect Of which for years made the
Capital a national disgrace During
the period when the national obliga-
tion, tardily recognized by the organic
act of 1873, was neglected the Capital
was a national shame, by-word and
reproach. Since the Nation has re-
turned even part way to its original
obligation the Capital has become an
object of national affection. in whose
attractiveness the whole American peo-
pie take pride. 81
Heavy National Tax Payments.
4. Obligation based upon heavy ma
tional (internal revenue) taxes paid
by people of the Capital compared
with corresponding payments by the
| States. The District contributes to
4 the national taxes from which the
national contribution toward Capital
upbuiIding Is derived more than any
one of half of the States, more than
nine States combined, and more per
capita than 40 States. (See 1884,
internal revenue report.)
The District not only contributes
more than one-hah of the States to
the maintenance and upbuilding Of
/ the National Capital. but pays more
than one half of the States to national
expenditures in the States, including
salaries of Representatives, Senators
and President.
Washington's heavy burden. ex-
ceeding that of half OF the States, Is
coupled with denial to Washington of
participation in fixing, collecting and
spending this tax money.
[Note.-The internal revenue figures
for 1e34-5. the latest available, differ
only slightly from those Of 1884,
which form the basis of comment in
this address. The l934-5 figures show
that the District paid In internal rev.
enue taxes more than % of the States,
more than nine combined and more
per capita than 38 States.]
Grants, Bounties and Subsidies Dis
tributed to States.
s. Equitable obligation to pay for
Capital upbuilding in lieu Of hun
dreds of millions Of grants, bOunties,
subsidies paid by the Nation to the
States in q distribution from which
the Capital has [until recently been
barred. Figures in detail, both of
amounts paid into the Treasury
as national taxes and drawn from
the Treasury in grants, bounties
| and subsidies by the District and
by the several States are present.
| ed in statistical tables in the book