Evening star., 1949-10-11
Lane Says D. {.
Never Paid 1871
Of $4,000
Irritation Over Debt
Brought Up in Talk
To Board of Trade

1UN. " llldll 1ACoCOll bd1lC, il -
of Maryland is annoyed because
the District won't pay $72,C00 it
has owed the State for the past
1853 years.
The story of the hoary debt
came up again last night when
Gov. Lane addressed the Wash
ington Board of Trade during the
groups first general membership
meeting of tine season in the May
flower Hotel.
While stressing the "good-neigh-
bor' angle between the District
and Maryland, the Governor said
Of the city that, since your youth,
our interest has been fraught from
time to time with some anxiety
and warranted irritation" That's
when he brought up the $4,000.
advanced in 1891, as the first of
two sums loaned. The second was
repaid.
Repeated dunning during the
past century-and-a-half has been
unfruitful, he said. Bills have been
introduced regularly in Congress.
but the claim remains unsatisfled.
Cites Use of Roads.
The Governor said the situation
is even more vexing to him now.
because Maryland is being asked
constantly to provide more and
more governmental services for
the people of the District and its
suburbs.
You seek admission to our
public schools and university for
your children" he said. You look
us to construct roads and streets
and express highways to facilitate
the traffic that comes to you across
Maryland.
1--WE are required to stand the
cost Of the necessary construction
and maintenance. and yet in the
past 10 years, there have been spe-
cial grants of funds for highway
construction in suburban Virginia.
including bridges, that have aggre-
gated more than $37, 100000. Dur
ing the same period in Maryland.
there was expended about $780,
900 on the road to Suitland.
Mr.. Lane said he was told that,
to qualify for the distribution Of
Federal urban road funds. you
count the suburban population but
we get no benefit of the use of any
of these funds.
There must be some reason
why the District receives about
50 100000 while we in Maryland
receive only $1,790,000," he said.
Speaks for States Rights.
After contending he had not
come to quarrel" Gov. Lane
spoke on States rights, declaring
their right to regulate their own
affairs must remain inviolate."
He warned that those who believe
in this principle, as he does, may
just as well concede frankly that
much of the alarming progress of
Federal encroachment upon the
original domain of the States has
come about because State govern
ments failed to meet the challenge
of the new day."
Mrs. Henry Grattan Doyle, past
president of the District Board Of
Education, was honored for her
work. A plaque cited her spe-
cial interest in the building needs
of the school system, her work in
connection with the education Of
handicapped children and her
maintenance of sound instruc-
tion and dignity in the teaching
F. P. H. Siddons. president Of
the trade group, was presented
with an engraved gavel as a token
of good will by the Washington
Boys Club. It was rendered by
L. Cornelius Kelleher, selected as
the outstanding District boy last
year. He was introduced by L. w.
Lawder, trade group member.
James A. Cassidy, treasurer Of
the trade group, outlined plans
for the Trade Boards 60th ami
versary celebration on Novem-
ber 81.
Fire Chief Joseph c. Mayhem
gave a report on fire prevention
week activities, now going on.
Several selections were given by
the Mems Glee Club of the Uni
versity of Maryland, introduced
by University President Harry c.
Byrd.