Evening star., 1939-01-01
Continued From First Page)
and honor into words as pr0mpt-
ly and adequately as 1t ought.

and honor into words as prompts
ly and adequately as it ought.
When Washington puts itself in
the place of Congress and recog-
nizes the difficulties and embar-
rassments under which Congress-
men labor as District legislators,
it will be easier for the city to
substitute at times appreciation
for fault-f1nding. The Capital
may then even feel a pride in
having as its local legislature the
greatest legislative body in the
world; legislature which, though
neglectful and sometimes threat
ening in District legislation, has
ever in the great crises of the
Capitals history acted justly and
wisely and sympathetically.
Though the Nation from the be-
ginning neglected its obligations
toward the Nations city, it
frankly confessed it's 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 Cap
ital-making. So in the seventies
OF the last century, with a recur-
renee of the conditions of 1895,
the Nation not only shouldered
one-half and guaranteed the
whole of the bankrupting debt,
but undertook, as a matter of
equity. to share all the expenses
OF Capital-making for the future.
Congress Moved by Fairness.
So in 1915, when the organic
act of 1878 was attacked and the
people of the Capital were de-
scrlbed as underassessed and un-
dertaxed, Congress on the basis
of weeks of searching and intelli-
gent investigation by congress
slonal 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-
mained unaltered until in 1922,
when the percentage ratio was
changed from $3.50 to 6O-4O, but
the principle of definite propor-
tionate contribution by the Ma
ton, though violated in appro-
priative practice since 1924, was
preserved as substantive law until
discarded in the current years
Appropriation Act.
For the first time in more than
half a century Congress will ap-
proach its task of appropriating
for the District of Columbia with
out statutory guide-one meas
ured in terms of equity and fair
dealing and development of the
American City-for the division
of expenses between the local
community and the National
Government.
For this and other reasons,
such as the proposals for heavy
new taxes to be substituted for
existing taxes that have proved
inequitable and unduly burden
some, it seems likely that a new
crisis may arise in the new Con-
gress. And if that comes to pass,
WashingtOnians might, in the
light of the precedents, rely with
confidence upon their legisla-
lures ultimate justice and SYM
pathetic consideration.
Fair Play for Washington.
AS Washington should subject
itself to a rigid self-examination
to ascertain whether it has not
been lacking in grateful appre-
citation, so should individual
members of Congress test the
question whether they do not fall
short in just appreciation of their
Capital constituency and deny it
American fair play, not merely
in specific legislation, but in gen.
eral attitude and theory of action
as legislators; not merely, for in
stance, in respect to the money
exacted from year to year In
taxation, but in respect to acts
and words which traduce the
good name and bruise the self
respect of the most misunder-
stood and most misrepresented Of
American communities
What is there in the past record
or the present condition of the
people Of Washington to prevent
their constitutional legislators
from viewing them with appre-
citation and esteem? In numbers
they exceed the population of
eight Of the States. They are
drawn from and reflect the spirit
of every section of the Union.
Owing no divided allegiance to
a State, they are American in q
peculiar sense, the most Ameri-
can and national of all Ameri-
cans.
They are now generally recog-
nlZed as by Tar the largest con-
tributors to the upbuilding of the
Capital. They gave of their own
property that the Nation might
practically own and exclusively
control National City. They
donated to the Nation five
sevenths Of the area of the Fed
eral City as originally planned.
They gave the land from the
proceeds of the sale of which the
original public buildings were
completed. Nearly all the work
of street improvement and Cap
ital-making which was done for
three-fourths of a century was
done by them. Through dis
regard by the Nation of its
financial obligations to the
Capital the Washingtonians were
in 1885 forced into bankruptcy In
the pubnc-spirited attempt to