Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-03-29

system, the more important works of
puolic sanitation, and the greater part
OF the expense of public education. ON
the Buenos Aires police department alone
Argentina expended s.. 100000. The items
OF municipal expenditure which are thus
met by the nation in the case of Buenos
Aires tomitting the heavy item al
docks and harbors, which finds no coun-
terpart in Washington, and as an Offset
creditins the nation with all the cost
OF sanitation and public education. az
Sregated in Washington SJ.S62. 446 or
more than the nations total payment in
that year (about five and one-quarter
1nllllons) toward the maintenance OF the
District of Columbia.
In 1907 the population of Buenos Aires
was 1.146 S6o; that of Washington. by the
census of 1900, was 21S,71S. The esti-
mated population of Buenos Aires today
is 1.5oo,UO: that of Washington, by the
census of 1910, is ;'31 .ots Buenos Aires
is wealthy, busy, prosperous commercial
city, fostered industrially by the nation
Washington Is poverty-stricken, cramped
in every way in commercial, industrial
and tax revenue producing development Mt
Thus impecunious Washington has
about one-fourth of the popula ion OF
wealthy Buenos Aires, and raises in
local municipal taxation more than one
half as great 4 tax revenue.
What Brazil Does for Rio.
What has Brazil done voluntarily ant
cheerfully for national capital upbuildins
and maintenance? In 1906 Rios total reve
nue. was s16.O75.575. of which 81 6S1. 175 wa:
derived from Extraordinary loans TIL,
sum of SS,445,SJO came from orli ary tax
alton, as against about five ,l,' pue-llal
millions of local taxation i'll Wilmington
h, nc ut. .N~r.t
OF Rios ordinary taxation Sj,Ii2.915 cam,
from real estate, house tax" las agains
realty tax of $3.54S, 1865 in same year il
Washington, 1881. $50 from trades. pro
LESSONS and companies s1.52&.o3o from
public services The main items o.
this sixteen millions expenditure in Rit
Wee *. AIS, 40 on public works. S4,279 6Ot
interest and sinking fund, $3.50 $50 lad
ministration and other public services,
y. Al. 400 education, s6eG.9S5 collection anc
dlstrloution OF revenue. s266.91o pensions
s5g.3a5 hygiene and public assistance
$143.S96 Legislature, deputies" (Ther.
are 1850 municipal employees, with sal
aries aggregating s.. ,2oO) Correspond
Ing items of expenditure in Washington
for the same year were in few item.
and sinking fund, s975.4OS: general gov
eminent, s734, 434; education, $1,74, 246
charities and corrections s1.O19,5l4.
The national expenditures on Rio ar,
notable. In rebuilding the city, beginning
in 1903. the nation made for this pur
pose foreign loan of s4O,O0O,OO0, the cit.
a domestic loan Of $4,000. 600. The ma
uonal department Of public works car
ries on the public improvements of cit,
and harbor. Between $4,000 900 ane
mates, has already been expended OF
Rio The police force is on the nationa
military basis. The botanical garden /.
supported by the national government
Brazil joins with Rio in the work o.
Rio Is the Industrial heart Of Brazil
Most Of the great national resources cen
ter in It and in some way pay tribut,
to It. It is made by the nation CONNER
cially prosperous. rich, strong in taxabl,
original commerce Of its site reduced al
most to nothingness. 1t has been Grip
pied and retarded in industrial growth
and Its taxable resources have been re
duced to minimum.
In 1905 Rios population was 81, A3
that of Washington by census of 1900
was N8,718 Today the estimated popu
iation Of Rio is nearly q million; that o
Washington by census of 1910 Is 881. 069
Thus Washington, with a little NOR
about two-thirds as much as Rio in ordi
nary taxes.
Self-Governing Capitals.
What have Argentina and Brazi
granted to Buenos Aires and Rio in self
government aud rational representation
Buenos Aires Is both a municipality and
the capital Of the Argentine Republic, ant
as such has an organization as a city AZ
well as an Intimate connection (like tina,
OF Washington) with the federal govern
tanned by means Of an official called the
lntendent (municipaD. who is appointed
by the president Of the republic, subject
to the approval Of the national senate
for term of four years and who receives
a salary. He performs to great degree
the function Of mayor In an American
city. and Ii to large extent amenable to
the rules Of the deliberate council. body
elected by ballot of citizens on the popu.
lation basis from twenty parishes. into
in most details to an American common
council. These officials serve without pay
for term Of four years. one-half Of theiI
number being elected every two years
however. Buenos Aires is fully repre-.
scented In proportion to Its population In
the national legislature and the national
government In general.
Buenos Aires thus divides capital ex.
penses and control Of municipality with
the nation. and has full representation In
with its population. Washington divides
capital building expenses with the nation
but has no share In control Of its mu-
nicipal affairs and no representation
whatever In the national government
which absolutely controls 1t.
What has Brazil done for Rio political.
ly? Rio and suburbs constitute the fed
eral district Of the United States Of Bra
zil The municipal organization of the
district is controlled by the national gov
eminent, but the right Of the 100000 In
habtants to a voice in the management,
Of local affairs is safeguarded in two
ways: ~ The district Is represented II
the congress of Brazil by three senator's
elected for nine years. and by ten depu-
ties. elected for three years. CO
city council Of ten members. elected by
direct suffrage for a term Of two years
The council meets In ordinary session
twice year. The chief executive Of Rio
Is the project. who holds Office for four
Of the republic and confirmed by the
senate.
Brazil and Argentina have followed the
example of the United States in estab-
fishing federal districts and national capt.
tails distinct from the states and con-
trolled in the last analysis by the nation.
But Brazil and Argentina have improved
upon our example by developing the re1a-
lions Of nation and capital on republican,
democratic and representative principles
fairness and patriotic pride. In both
Buenos Aires and Rio the people Of the
national capital have representation like
other citizens in proportion to their num-
bers in the national government In both
nations they participate through a coun-
Gil in the disposition Of their municipal
concerns. In both capitals the nation
controls the municipality and through the
national president appoints the chief ex-
ecutive official mayor with large
powers.
Wise Local Municipal Government
do not intend by these comparisons &c