Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1895-02-22
UNIQUE CITY GOVERNMENT.

ONlQO6 Clt GOVEhNM6NI
At the National Capital the Cit
Treasury IL not At the Mercy a
Local Politicians.
The revelations made by the invest
cations of the Lexow Committee i
regard to corruption in the munieipa
government of New York city ha
called general attention to the govern
ment Of cities throughout the country
In some cities, through associations o
private individuals and through tn
press, some steps have been taken Il
correct the most glaring of the evil
which Cypress the residents of tn,
average city. 1t is but natural that a
this- time, owing to the awakened
public interest in this direction, tha
there should be considerable attention
directed to the form of city govern
ment which prevails at the Nations
Capital. Perhaps the most striking re-
suit, and the one which perhaps would
commend itself most thoroughly to
practical minds, is that such a very
large per centage of the money con.
tributed by taxpayers is expended di.
rectly for the benefit of the city.
AS is perhaps we'll known, the peo.
pie of Washington have no voice di.
rectly in their local government. The
city is located in territory some sixty
miles square, which was ceded to the
United States by the State of Mary
land, for the purpose OF establishing
there the seat of government. Con-
gress has exclusive jurisdiction over
this territory and holds the relation OF
common council to the citizens OF
Washington. The form of govern
ment is by three commissioners, two
from civil life, and one from the army,
who are appointed by the President
by and with the advice OF the Senate.
The appointment of the minor Off
cials OF the District government is en-
trusted to the Commissioners.
All the laws for the government OF
the District are passed by Congress,
but the Commissioners are authorized
to make the police regulations, the
building regulations, and the minor
regulations which are found necessary.
The money collected from the assess
ment of real estate, from liquor H.
censes, the personal tax, and for privi.
leges OF various kinds known as L.
censes, is paid into the United States
Treasury, under the law which estab.
lished this form OF government. The
United States is pledged to pay one.
half of the municipal expenses of the
District. The annual revenue OF the
District is about 100000, and this
is supplemented by q similar amount
from the United States Treasury.
Congress passes each year what is
known as the District Appropriation
Bill, which provides for the various
expenses of the city, on the basis of a
gross expenditure Of about Sc 600 900.
This division of the burden of expenses
OF the District government was fixed
upon because it was found that the
value OF the United States property in
the city was about so per cent. of the
valuation Of the entire property, and
in comparison with the valuation OF
taxable property, owned by private in.
dividuals, the property OF the United
States, and that of the District itself,
and of other exempt property, was
more than So per cent.
In order to give some idea Of how
the large sum Of So. 900. 600 is expended
yearly for the running expenses of the
city government at the nations capi-
tai, some of the principal items are
given. The largest item in this ex.
penditure is the one to meet the in
terest on the debt which now amounts
TO about SIS, 600, 900, and the sinking
fund charges, . total annual expendi-
ture of more than 81, 100000. In ad-
dition more than $500, 900 is spent on
street Improvements; over $942 600
for the public schools, while the police
department costs more than half q
million. Some $4SOOOO represents
the cost of charities and corrections,
while 1896, 900 is spent on sewers, and
$3.50, 900 Tor salaries and contingent
expenses. The fire department $685..
600; the courts, $4,000, and the ma.
litis $4,000.
There is in each House of Congress
committee which has charge Of mat
ters relating to the District Of Colum.
bis. Citizens appear before these
committees and urge the needs of the
city. The economy of this form ol
government is undisputed, while the
absence of the practical politician and
his raids upon the public treasury
which is such common feature in al
city governments, is conceded to be 9
great advantage. In consideration o.
these benefits, the substantial citizeni
of the Nations Capital are perfectly
willing to 60 without the exercise o
franchise.
1t is admitted that this form of gov
ernment is theoretically imperfect, in
asmuch as there is no provision made
for the exercise Of the right Of fran
chise on the part of the citizens. 1t il
considered by those who have livet
under this government, which has ex
listed since the year 1878, that this de
feet appears greater in theory than il
actual experience. A large number o
the residents of Washington are NJ
more diseniranchised than are . lik
number of residents in other cities o
the country. 1t is admitted that ON
of the causes of the venality and cor
ruption in the governments of Amer
can cities is due to the voluntary with
drawal from active participation i,