Evening star., 1936-03-15
Editorial Correspondence of The Star.
THEODORE w. MOVES.

TINE Washingtonian, powerless to
participate effectively in his
own taxation and government
u and impotent to Withstand
those individual legislators who, he
believes, have abused their power to
tax and govern him, has in particular
instances exercised too freely and
extensively the privilege Of the hope
lessly defeated litigant of ''cussing the
court" And also in individual in
stances the Districts legislators, with
all powers in their hands to wound and
even destroy. have taker too great
offense at the verbal sputterings Of
the aggrieved and helpless and have
too vigorously retaliated.
Too many of Washington's legisla-
tors have come to view their con-
stituents as uappreciative, ungrateful,
greedy, selfish and censoriouS. and too
many of these constituents, also gen.
eralizing too broadly, have come to
view the legislators. selected for them
by the Constitution, as carelessly
ignorant Of their needs, as contempt
uously Indifferent to and neglectful Of
their welfare or as actively hostile.
The crying need of the hour is
change of thought. change OF heart.
new policy under which each of the
Capital building partners shall heed
the injunction. Put yourself in his
place!" with the result of substituting
mutual appreciation for recrimination.
Fair play and mutual regard are
watchwords of the new policy.
Fair Play for Congress.
The Washingtonian In accordance
with it will render deserved and be-
lated tribute of grateful appreciation
to the long line of Senators and Rep
resentatives who have faithfully per-
formed the unselfish, difficult and
almost thankless task of dealing as
considerably and justly with their
Capital constituency as with their
home constituents. Washington knows
and honors these men-its loyal. help
full friends, public spirited workers In
the task Of Capital building, though
it may not have put this appreciation
and honor into words as promptly and
adequately as it ought.
When Washington puts itself in the
place OF Congress and recognizes the
difficulties and embarrassments under
which Congressman labor as District
legislators it will be easier for the
city to substitute at times appreciation
for fault-finding. The Capital may
then even feel a pride in having as
its local legislature the greatest legis-
lative body in the world; legislature
which, though neglectful and some
times threatening in District legisls-
ton. has ever in the great crises OF
the Capitals history acted justly and
wisely and sympathetically. Though
the Nation from the beginning neg
lected its obligations toward the Ma
tionis city, it frankly confessed its
fault and came to the city's relief
in 1885, when Washington had bank
rupted itself in trying to perform
unaided the Nations task of Capital
making. So in the seventies Of the
last century. with a recurrence Of the
conditions of 1885, the Nation not
Only SIlOulQSTSQ Otlc-LldlI d1lu Sud1
anteed the whole of the bankrupting
debt, but undertook. as matter Of
equity, to share all the expenses Of
capital making for the future.
So, in 1915, when the organic act Of
1878 was attacked and the people Of
the Capital we're described as under
assessed and undertaxed, Congress, on
the basis of weeks of searching and in
telligent investigation by a congress
sional joint committee, vindicated the
local taxpayers, declaring them to be
adequately taxed, and so handled the
question of future taxation that the
$3.50 provision of the organic act re-
manned unaltered until in 1922, when
the percentage ratio was changed from
$3.50 to 60-40, but the principle of
definite proportionate contribution by
the Nation was preserved And in
spite of divergence in appropriation
practice this principle has remained
until this day the substantive law.