The Washington herald., 1912-01-26
McHenry to Introduce Reso-
luton Asking Probe of
Present Government.
ORGANIC ACT OBSOLETE
Both District and Congress Would
Welcome End of Existing Plan,
Pennsylvania Thinks.

Investigation of the District government
rs operating under the organic act OF 1875
with a view TO repeating the existing law
and substituting home rule that will re-
lieve Congress 'Of the necessity OF en-
acting legislation that should be per-
formed by a school board or board OF
aldermen will be the substance Of res
olution introduced in the House early next
week by Representative John q. hcHen-
~ CDemD, of Pennsylvania
Tired of what he terms the eternal
clubbing over matters that have no right
in the national Congress- Mr.. McHenry
desires that a joint committee from the
House and Senate make a careful study
OF the present government TO determine
whether Il is not unwieldy, extrayagant.
and antiQusted. In his own opinion, the
provisions of the present law, dividing
the responsibility for the government of
ton OF obstructive rather than construc-
tive legislation.
shows How District SuGerE.
Citing instances in point, Mr.. McHenry
referred to the fund allowed by Congress
for schools for this year which is but a
fraction Of what was thought by the Dis
trict Commissioners, as the municipal
heads. 10 be necessary. He also spoke
usble acquisition 10 the city, was eradi-
Gated from the District budget on a point
of order.
Congress" said he, can have no
interest in the municipal legislation Of
Washington. nor knowledge of the
city's wants. such as is possessed by
the municipal officials who have spent
their lives here. Conversely" he de-
clsred, Congress should not be bur
dened during an entire winter with
matters of relatively trivial impor
tance.
1t is an injustice. both to Congress
and to the District" said the Pennsyl-
Vsnia Congressman. Ito continue a sys-
tenn OF government which the city OF
Washington has Outgrown. II is an
injustice to the citizens of Washington
to deprive them of the right of an &C
tive part In their own affairs. They
get erything now on suffrance. They
must petition Congress knowing that
the matter will be delayed and ulti-
mately taken up briefly but for all time
during the twelvemonth. In the case
OF the asphalt plant-apparently a
muCh-nceded establishment-is found an
illustration of the manner in which i'm
portant District legislation can be
6idetracked.'
Government as n Taxpayer.
What system of government taxa
tIon will follow the repeal Of the or
Eanic act and the substitution of self
government, Representative McHenry
considers only in a most general way.
Such matters, he said, could be evolved
by the committee selected to investi-
gate the present government OF this
city. He suggested the increased tax
alton of the wealthier classes of this
city, via the income and inheritance
route. Congress could then annually
appropriate on a basis equal to the
taxable value of all property owned
in the District
He pointed out that self-government
would not affect the erection of depart
ment buildings or the creation OF gov
ernmcnt reservations here. These, he
said, would be provided for by Congress
sional appropriation as in the past.
In suggesting remedies for District
home rule, Mr.. McHenry strongly favor
ed. the right of suffrage, declaring that
the existing plan deprived the resident
Of any interest in his own city or the
community at large.
Thinks District VIII Approve.
The resolution calling upon the House
and Senate TO investigate the District
government, he said. will undoubtedly
meet with the warm approval of the
District Commissioners, who have had
a fair chance this session TO see hard
work go for nothing. With the enact
ment of home rule for the District, Mr..
McHenry stated, the system of taxation
would be generally changed, but that the
final result would be less hardship on the
District than at the present time
by this idea" he said. Il do not mean
to urge that Congress close down on the
District. There is no reason why the
appropriations for parks. for public in
stitUtions and the like should not he as
large as in the past. Instead OF the small
sum devoted to an improvement of parks
IN Washington by this Congress. l would
favor the appropriation of a sum sufi-