1466 CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS. 
the excellence of its government with experience; every five years it is 
better than in the preceding period. 
We have got to start with the fact that the Constitution of the 
United States has settled it that the power of the Government over 
this District is not in the residents thereof, but in the people for the 
purpose of a national capital, for national protection. It is like a navy- 
yard ora dock or any other Government reservation in its general 
principle. Now, then, we say to these people who come here, ‘‘ The 
great bulk of expenditures are on a scale adapted to a national capital 
and not to a local city or a Jocal residence. Therefore, we will deal 
with you by saying you shall pay what you ought to contribute if 
you were in an ordinary well-governed city, and we will pay the rest.” 
Can the Senator suggest any other principle of managing this city or 
paying for it better than that? 
Mr. Reaean. Mr. President, I am not as pleasantly situated in 
such a discussion as gentlemen are who would tax other people for 
the support of the government of this District. It would certainly be 
much more pleasant to me if I could say to the people here, ‘‘I will 
relieve you of all taxes and I will make you rich and comfortable at 
other people’s expense.” It would be very pleasant to them doubtless 
if I could say it and do it; and certainly the situation of gentlemen is 
much more pleasant who can find themselves sustained by the feelings 
of the populace among whom they are, though they are proceeding at 
the expense of other people by the sacrifice of justice. 
Mr. President, I do not deem that to be any part of my duty. My 
duty is to represent the people who sent me here to take care of their 
interests and to try to be just to the whole American people, to try to 
see that equal justice is shown to all. 
Now, the Senator would throw me off from the point of discussion 
about the Zoological Park by taking up the general administration of 
the city. His reference to the width of Pennsylvania avenue revives 
some recollections with me that I see are in his memory. 
We were both in the House of Representatives at the time the 
organic act for the District was passed, when in order to show the 
liability of the general Treasury for one-half the taxes, in making up 
the estimate by the committee who presented the case to the House of 
Representatives, they charged the General Government with all the 
avenues and streets and alleys as Government property, as if the 
avenues, streets, and alleys were not the property of everybody. But 
it took that to make a pretense for the justice of the charge upon the 
general Treasury of one-half of the expense of this District. 
I recognize, sir, that this being the national capital, the offices of the 
Government being here, it is the duty of the Government to contrib- 
ute its fair share of the expense of the administration of this Dis- 
trict. Ido not complain that that is done. I believe it is right; but 
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me! Oe ee — 
