Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-14
PLANS FOR DISTRICT
Mr.. Prouty Would Repeal
Half-and-HaIf Principle.
WIPES OUT ORGANIC ACT
Bill to Be introduced at the Extra
Session of Congress.
INDEPENDENT LOCAL SYSTEM
National Capital to Be Governed by
Mayor and Commissioners
Elected by People.
WIPES OUT ORGANIC ACT
INDEPENDENT LOCAL SYSTEM

Representative Prouty Of Iowa, a men,
Der of the House District committee is
working on a bill which will wipe out
the half-and-half plan of appropriations
for the District of Columbia, and estab-
lish form Of municipal government in
this city whereby the District will raise
its own funds and expend them according
to its own ideas. Mr.. Prouty has no
hesftancy in saying that his idea is to do
away entirely with the provisions of the
organic act whereby the United States
and the District of Columbia jointly pay
the cost of the capital municipal organ
ization, and in an interview with Star
reporter today he declared that the city
would be better off if it cut loose from
the old ways and entered on a new period
of corporate life.
The proposed bill is not on paper and
will not be introduced this session., but it
will be introduced early in the coming
extra. session, according to Mr.. Prouty's
present views. There is no doubt about
the earnestness Of his intentions, and out
in the state of Iowa he has been talkins
of the proposed measure for the past
three months at least. He said tooay
that he had not conferred with Repre-
sentative johnson, chairman OF the Dis
trict committee, about the bill, but that
with the general proposition.
Entirely His Own Idea.
Has the investigation which Repre-
sentative Johnson is making into the ac-
counts between the United States and the
District of Columbia anything to do with
your proposed measure?" he was asked.
Does the bill sp- ing from that investiga-
ton or is it original with yourself?"
My bill is entire.y my own idea,"
he replied, although the facts which Mr..
Johnson will present will undoubtedly add
argument to my side. 1t will make fuel
for the fame
That there is a peculiar situation here
in Washington because of the fact that
the city was laid cut to be a national
capita and to have large federal reser-
vations is not overlooked by Mr.. Prouty,
who says he intends to p: Ovide for the
equities in those directions in his coming
bill.
II know full well that the city has broad
streets and great number Of parks and
government reservations. and that the
boulevards are Of National Capital pro-
portions, and that the municipality would
not have them were it not for the fact
that the nation established its capital
here. In framing the bill l would take
that. into consideration when planning for
assessments and taxes.
sessu1ents for streets etc, i would have
the additional. assessment against the
property owners for pavements, sewers
and other street improvements be about
as much as is assessed In other cities
where the streets are not usually so wide
as they are here. Following that assess
ment on the boulevards. if there is no
street car line, l would have the general
public take care of the additional assess
n,ent. Where there are street car lines
r hrr- h. nyx9a IS4
tween their tracks and two feet on each
side as is done practically in all other
cities in this country.
Treatment of Parks.
CAS- the pubic parks are more or less
national in character and larger and more
numerous than in the average city. !
should allow the United States to bear its
noiety of the expense In all other re-
spects 1 would allow the city of Wash
ngton to raise its revenues and eXpend
-hem as in other cities
Along with the proposal to change the
existing relations between the United
States and the District of Columbia, Mr..
Prouty's DILL viii provide for form of
sty government similar to that of Des
Moines. Iowa. Four commissioners and
a mayor would occupy the District build
ng. all elected by the people of the Dis
trict The power of the recall would be
given to the voters. and the municipal
fune etions now assigned to three Com
nisSioners would have to be divided up
among the members OF the council of
five. The mayor would be in contro of
the executive department. and the four
commissioners would control. respective
", the departments of public safety.
finance. streets and public buildings and
grounds.
Expects Opposition.
Representative Prouty said today that
he is very much alive to the fact that his
bill would meet great opposition in the
District of Columbia, but that he is pre-
pared to make big fight to impress his
deas upon Congress. He is anxious to
snow to the House and to the Senate. if
need be. that he thinks the present sys-
EN- of appropriations works for the bene-
fit of few real estate operators. He
mentioned. in his talk with a Star re-
Dorter today, the fact that state capitals
10 not enter into partnership with their
respective commonwealths.
And Yet here in Washington" he con-
cluded, las big as ali five of the biggest
cities IN my state. taking half rs revenue
from the United States. When that stu
alton is changed. ! am positive it will be
for the betterment of all concerned.