The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1911-08-18
NAT or AIslI.ftI HAS Y Cow
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cone Isl .Eels LATEs FOR THE
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REC hfEilbEn BY
DEP ARTIaENlT. !.
COMMISSION GOVERNMENT.
j(iIi3 Frederic ]. Haskin.)

Went 41tneBenC from the otHeF CUES
ii tie country. The United States
Started out by having its official
Headquarters In Philadelphia a city
over which It had only general jnris-
dicEipn. When anything against the
dignity OF the nation was Contem-
plated the government had to appeal
4 to- tie city and to the State Of Penn
sylvania for protection. Upon one
occasion some soldiers Of the reyo5
& itition, growing tired OF being unpaid
for their services; grew muttnous
aud Threatened trouble. An appeal
was made to the city and the State
I'd protect the congress from lntimt-
datl6h. but with Indifferent success.
nc was this which led to the laying
Y out of the District Of Columbia and
tlib establishment Of the seat Of govt
er1inent ttiere-a place where the
authority OF tie United States could
81 BE supreme and unmoIested at all
tines '~ssl.
Tie government Of the District Of
Columbia has the President of the.
United States as It's electorate, the
three commissioners as its executive
oficials, and tie congress Of the.
Itnited States as Its city council. The
three commissioners are appointed
blythe President, and his choice is
2 practically unlimited. Two OF the
commissioners are civilians, and
aside from the requirement that they
Shall have been residents OF WASH
dfgton for three years before their
appointments there Is no limit upon
tie Presidents choice. The third
commissioner is a member OF the en-
gileer corps Of the army, with at
least The rank Of captain and with
fifteen years Of service behind him,
ASH rule the President has chosen
pne Of the civ Ian com mfssioners from
each Of the two big political parties,
but President Taft departed from
that custom In the appointment Of
the present commissioners
a s6dsM sn:Natnstl. Il =
+: That the apnointment Of the COM
n1lssioners by the President has re-
suited in the ocholce of good men is
reR0gniae d sby all. Itis perhaps DE
10 ttIlis that Washington is one of the
Teest from graft Of ar cities Of the
country. With q system of account
luz here everything must be under
the scrutiny Of the treasury Depart
1 melt there is little opportunity. for
graft II there Is any questionable
money made out Of the administration
aof Washington's affairs, it is not trace
able to the city hall, but rather to
congress. Some assert that the pub
lie service corporations get more
consideration than they deserve At
the hands of the national legislature.
Others say that timely tips as to
what congress might be expected to
sSdoiwith reference to street extension
or spublfc Improvement, has resulted
4 III some gilt edged real estate invest
3nlents being made, while Others are
Equally positive that these, are sland-
erous stories.
Under the existing arrangement
congress leglslates for the district
making the APPROXIMATIONS upon the
recommendation Of the secretary of
the treasury, who transmits TO 1t the
recommendations OF the board OF
cummissio In their recommends
tions, the commissioners are held to
asstflctly business basis. They are
Sfeaulred to forecast what the income
y Of the city Is likely to be during the
ensuing twelve months, When they
= aseertain the amount OF this estimat- |
led income they must deduct from Il
all Items of expenditure that are pay
liable wholly out of the district funds.
The amount then remaining repre-, |
geents the districts contribution TO
the expenditures The national COY; 4
errment is expected to match this I
s.Bitl IA similar amount, and the re-
sssultlhg fund is what will be avail
able for the municipal operations Of
sthe ensuing year.
z The Tax Rate.
IN other words, the people OF the
8 District Of Columbia are expected to
scontriblate one.half OF the running
gexpsnses Of the city and the federal
government the other half. When the
District has a shortage of funds TEN.
.llorafy loans are made to 1t by the
government under congressional
AUTHORIZATION. The tax rates In tho
district is one and d half per cent, or
4 $3.50 5on the hundred dollars OF as.
sessed valuation. As the law de.
'ipands only an assessment at two.
thirds OF Its trEe value, 1t will BIZ
seen that the resident OF Washing.
ton IN particular, and of the District
6f Columbia in general, gets all the
ADVANTAGES the district affords upon
tbe3 payment Of one per cent. on the
actual value of his property.
SIX Furthermore, the tax law is ex
ttpe1iely liberal tn the poor. All
household and other personal prop.
SeEtyi not held for sale, up to a value
8ef $1,000 Is exempt from taxation,
and In addition thereto, the books,
5sIictlires, heirlooms, and wearing up.
spafels6f the family, OF course this
exepipts every poor person from tax
essIett, II is probable that two.
stilrfs$pf the househplders OF Wash!
aipgtonl never pay q personal property
There III much complaint as to thel
PIE elit MI 5ot eynIent. IL
asReftedit ~ Il q ia marry
~ tlie sella II Gus z aud tliatI
eSeepta s aitects We nationai EoV.
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