The Washington times., 1915-10-26

policy cripples commercial and manu-
facturing growth OF Washington, thus
reducing to minimum its taxable re-
sources and Its ability to meet un-
aided the heavy drain of National
Capltal as municipal expenses.
Warrington Is an has been always
poor In taxable resources, and has
peen crippled commercially and in
policy.
Every capital in the world except
Warrington: whether in Europe. Asia.
Africa. Australia or the Americas. has
a voice In respect to questions OF local
taxation. and either controls or partici-
pates influentially In its municipal
government. The London and the Ber-
I'm municipal councils have more power
councils Of Brussels. OF ottowa. Of
Copenhagen. OF Tokyo. of Cape Town,
and OF Bern have more power-that
is greater freedom from supervision
by national authority-than those OF
Lodon and Berlin.
As To Other Capitals.
But every one except Washington
has an influential voice In its local gov
ernment. even when 1t does not control
II. Some OF these practically self-taxed
and locally self-governed capitals are
dissatisfied with the limited degree OF
Intervention and control In their NUM-
cipal affairs exercised by the national
government. In Paris. Athens. and
Christiania larger freedom OF action
and Increased authority and power In
the municipal government are sought
by the capital community. All three
cities have full representation In the
national government, and also enjoy a
tt,n I.. .nlf Ii
ernment In which the national govern
ment merely participates.
Yet these cities are dissatisfied with
their practical relations to the nation.
Though Paris is the pride OF France
upon which national millions both for
national and municipal purposes have
been lavished. and though the city has
its elected municipal council with au-
thority over taxation and loans. II
chafes at the domination In certain
matters OF the central government
which appoints the city's prefect or
mayor instead OF permitting this Off
Ger to be elected bv the people. as In
other French cities. Athens seeks
greater general powers In Its munich
pal government and freedom to a
greater extent than at present from
national supervision. Christiania pro-
tests against appointment by the King
of three municipal magistrates. influ-
ential executive officials. and contends
that the people OF the city should elect
, these officials. as well as the municipal
council"
Maximum of Obligation.
In summing up his exposition o,
Washingtons tax burdens. the policy
under which the city Is forced to oper.
ate as n capital and tho advantages OF
the half-and-half principle, Mr.. Noyes
| said:
! ''ln most other capitals the nation has
| leRislated and acted discriminatingly II
! favor OF the capital. fostering its com
| merce and its manufactures, increasing
| local means OF self-support and enlarg
ing equitably its taxable resources. anc
| rendering II attractive In every way tC
its residents as well as to visitors. Ever
| when the nation does not thus favor tn,
! capital over other cities. but treats al
| the cities alike il does not discourag,
| In the capital Its material development
and prosperity and the resulting ac
| cumulation OF taxable resources.
These comparisons show that whil'
| no nation In the world is under sucl
strong and peculiarly binding e0uitabl,
| obligations to develop its capital, II,
other nation In the world so discourage
the development and material prosperit!
| OF Its capital. In Washington's cas-,
there Is maximum OF obligation. ant
in the particular indicated a minimum
OF national response.
Other Nations Surpassed.
! But however It may have falle,
short In other respects. as an annua
contributor to municipal maintenance II
a definite and liberal amount the natioi
has. since 1878, under the wise and fai
legislation Of that year. surpassed othe
nations In this form OF patriotic ex
penditure. The result has been to re
! store the nations self-respect as a full
filler OF capital obligations: and +
build up the capital OF today. In whicl
every American has a proprietary In
terest and In respect to which ever
American now feels proprietary pride
''Will the nation repudiate and de
stroy Its Hesitation which has produces
such results?''