Evening star., 1936-06-03
Failure by the District?


the District should conduct an active
lobby" at the Capitol in the interests of
equitable fiscal relations and other local
measures may be a good one. Other
lobbies have been rather successful in
the past. And Mrs. Nortons proposal
that citizens organizations and munic-
ipal ofhcials should adopt a more vigor-
Gus attitude in presenting District needs
is always welcome.
But let us briefly review some of the
events Of the present session of Congress
in relation to the activities of local off,
cials and citizens in their dealings with
Congress on locally important matters
before we blame them for lack of public
spirit.
The Commissioners in the first place,
strongly urged Federal contribution of
more than So 900 900 in presenting local
needs to the Budget Bureau. They were
turned down there without explanation,
and Budget Bureau regulation forbids
their further advocacy Of anything
turned down by the bureau.
The health oficer, DR.. Rutland, made
several addresses during the Summer TO
citizens associations on the need for
greater health appropriations. He was
permitted a short appearance before
the Budget Bureau in defense of his
recommendations. He got nowhere with
the Budget Bureau and when he ap-
peared before the House Subcommittee
on District Appropriations he was vigor-
ously denounced for appearing before
the citizens associations. Not only that,
but he was ridiculed for his assertions
regarding health conditions in Wash
ington.
The District Medical Society held
mass meeting to lay plans for what Mrs.
Norton might call a lobby for larger
health appropriations, The doctors were
verbally assaulted in the House for try
ing to deprive the Congress of its con-
stitutional prerogatives in connection
with legislation for the District; they
were labeled damn doctors" and denied
a further hearing before the House
subcommittee
AS partial retribution against the
medical profession, a legislative rider
was attached to the District bill forbid
ding doctors in the District service to
engage in any outside practice. although
nothing was shown to indicate any
neglect by part-time physicians of their
services TO the District. The same sort
of punishment was inflicted on justices
Of the District Supreme Court, guilty of
appointing members of the Board OF
Education.
The superintendent Of schools and the
Board of Education took a prominent
part in denying the efficacy of the So
called red rider and were in turn sub
jected to that peculiarly vicious form Of
character assassination possible only TO
those who enjoy the protection of con-
gressional immunity and do not have
to prove their assertions in a court of
law.
A recognized expert on tax matters
long enjoying the confidence of members
Of Congress, was with the permission Of
his superiors employed by the Board of
Trade during the Summer to draw up q
factual survey on the Districts tax bur-
den. Not one single error of fact in that
report has been discovered. Yet the
author of the fact-finding survey is sub
jected to abusive questioning designed
to discredit him and the Board OF Trade,
representing organized Washington citi-
zens.
Former Assessor Richards, q capable,
efficient public servant who on more
than one occasion has received the
encomiumS Of members OF Congress, pre-
sented not theories, but facts Of record
relating to local assessments and in turn
was charged with having sold himself
to the Board Of Trade and with having
repudiated his former policies and state
ments, when, as a matter Of fact, he has
never been employed by the Board of
Trade; has transferred his residence to
his native State of Delaware, there TO
enjoy his earned retirement, and has said
nothing to the committees of Congress
that he has not said all along.
That is the sort of punishment await
ing municipal officials and citizens of
Washington who dare run counter in
their expressed opinions, or even their
statements Of fact, to the views of the
single member Of the House whom cir
cumstance and congressional apathy
have clothed with brief authority in mat
ters relating to the politically helpless
District of Columbia.
Fully conscious of the debt the Dis
trict owes to Mrs. Norton and a few
others who, like her, have stood by the
District, The Star is unwilling to con-
cede that the present deplorable Situa-
tion-which permits even a member of
the Senate to be covered with insulting
abuse when he so much as raises his
voice In behalf Of the District-results
from lack of vigor or interest on the part
of residents of the District. The condi-
ton is direct reproach to the House
Of Representatives, which will remedy
it in its own good time, as most injus-