Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-22

Cuno H. Rudolph, president Of the
Board OF Commissioners, has outlined to
the appropriations committee of the
House of Representatives exactly what
he thinks of the District Of Columbia
and exactly what lie believes the Ma
uonal Capital as a municipality needs.
His statement. made before the SUBJ
committee under Representative Burle-
son, which frames the District appro-
priation bill, carries with il the thought
that the commission form Of government
is so effective as TO be beyond better
ment, and at the same time he outlines
pressing needs which he believes Con-
gress should attend to at once
He points out to Congress that there
IS an organic act, and that IL provides
for the United States sharing in the ex-
penses of its seat of government.
He is opposed to a delegate to Con-
sress. saying mo necessity appears for
such a representative of the Districts
residents upon the floor of Congress-"
One OF the reasons given is that there
is a possibility Of the delegate and the
Commissioners differing on some i'm
portant point.
For Permanent Commissioners.
Permanent official tenure for Commits
sioners appointed from civil life is one
OF the recommendations in his state
ment Coupled with this goes the state
ment that provision for the retirement
of such Commissioners with a pension is
needed here.
Among the laws MIR. Rudolph saws are
sorely needed Is the loan shark law,
now so near to discussion upon the floor
OF the House, ard he states a general re-
vision of the insurance laws and laws
governing the care and commitment OF
the insane would be welcomed Legisla-
ton is needed. he says. to straighten out
certain difficulties in the assessment and
, taxation system. He teStifies also that
there should be municipal warehouse.
more Fairgrounds. parole system and
more effective means of collecting real
estate taxes in arrears. Annual assess
ments are recommended in his statement.
Would Do Away With Boards.
To do away with the board of educa-
ton and the board of charities and
Install directors Of these great branch
es of the municipal government is
argued favorably by the Commissioner
who says the board of education lis a
subyersion of that directness of con-
troll and administration which should
obtain in branch Of the service where
promptness and vigor of action are SO
frequently advisable.
From the experience of his admins
ttatlon he has seen the need of IAN
official investigator. who would be a
new official in the District building
He woSld be general superin-
tendent. TO stand between the
commissioners and the various
city departments and make i'm
partial reports when necessary. Com
missioner Rudolph also states that
change Of the inauguration date from
March to late in April would be q
@"nsumnlation devoutly to be wished
and sums up his statement with thes,
words
The attainment of ideal city condi
tl"Hs should be our aim.
System ''Strikingly Effective"
Mr.. Rudolph says:
The District Of Columbia is probabl,
the only civic community in who's.
government the people who reside ii
that community have no administrative,
control Ii was perhaps the first in
STANCE where municipal government
was exercised without such participa
tIcn. The result has been so strikingl,
effective that the essence of the sys
en- namely, government by board o
commissioners has been adopted will
varied modification in a large mum
"tr OF otner municipalities In tn,
United states The peculiar fact IL
connection with the adoption of tbi,
form of civic government is that /
was not the realization of an ante
cedent theory but was original,
adopted n sort of trusteeship to ad
minister the affairs of precedin.
form of government which was abol
ished because OF its failure To NEE
the complex conditions which the dua
interests of the United States and o
private property at the National Cap
ital involved
Congress learned to it's cost tina
the exclusive legislation over the sea
of government which the Constitution
Imposed upon it could not judiciousl
lie deput;Zed 70 the residents of tn
= District as such or to ;tn organization
composed in part Of the representa-