The Washington times., 1915-11-06
Organic Act Defended
!Bv COn1nliSSiOner Kutz
Engineer Takes Issue With Colleagues Holding
That Federal Government Is Bearing Undue
Burden But That Principle Is Right.

to this end an opportunity should be
AFFORDED them to voice their views on
all questions which do not conflict with
what may be termed the national siue
or the city's development.
In the absence OF any legally nu-
thorized means OF voicing public
opinion. dependence has been mad upon
the various civic associations Of the
District, but these. as now constituted.
cannot be considered as fully represen-
tative OF the entire community a far
better plan for giving the people share
IN the management OF their afrairs
should be devised. and such plan
might well include representation In
Congress.
while the responsibility for the Capi-
tai cannot be divided between Congress
and the residents. II is believed that the
Interests OF both can be better served
by adhering generally 10 the present
plan. whereby the municipality is
maintained as separate and distinct
municipality. than II the District Is
abolished as such and merged into the
Federal Government.
Wants Plan Continued.
am also OF the opinion that the de-
velopment of the District. both as a
National Capital and as a place OF resi-
dence for 10000 people. will progress
more rapidly and more satisfa ctorily II
the United States continues to contrib
than II the District revenues are COW
cred into the Treasury and appropria-
tons made for the support OF the Dis
trict. irrespective of these revenues.
1t seems to me that this Is part
nership. with the United States as the
partnerships, the burdens and the profts
should be Droporuoned to the interests
of each.
1T In fair to assume that during n
large part OF the thirty-scven-y year
period In which the half-and-haf prin-
ciple has prevailed the interests Of the
two partners were equal. but whether
they are equal at this time depends
upon the relative growth OF each dur
ing recent years.
Growing More Rapidly.
After mature consideration, though
with only one years experience as a
Commissioner. I have reached the con-
clusion that the community interests
are growing more rapidly than the Fed.
eral interests. and that the Federal
Government IL bearing an undue pro-
portion OF the tax burden.
Just what reduction should be made
Is q question for the statistiscians and
can only be determined bv comprehen-
sive survey and appraisal OF existing
conditions Objection Is made to any
fixed proportion on the ground that as
:, condition/ are constantly changing n
new proportion would have to be work.
cd ont each year. but representation w
Congress IL based upon census taken
every ten years and remains nchangcd
during such a period regardless of vary
ing conditions I think n like principle
should be applied IN proportioning the
cost OF maintaining the District of Co
Iumbia. and that once determined. this
proportion should romaisA unchanged
| for reasonable period.
Assuming the proportion TO have
bern fxed. ! feel that Congress should
appropriate for the District according
to its needs and the Districts share
should be raised bv taxation at such q
rate "a VIII produce the sum desired
Most other communities have fuctu-
atinp tax rate and there does not ap-
pear to he any good reason why Wash
ington should be excepted in this re-
spect."