Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-11-06
Engineer Commissioner Kutz
States His Views on HALF
and-HaIf Issue. !
U. S. PAYMENT TOO GREAT
AND SHOULD BE REDUCED
For Retaining Present Form of Gov
eminent, But Suggests Repre-
sentation in Congress.

Engineer Commissioner Kutz of the
District of Columbia today announced
his belief that fixed and definite pro-
portion OF .he Districts expenses
should be borne by the federal govern
ment His statement was made before
the joint select committee of Congress
investigating the fiscal relations be-
tween the United States and the Dis.
trict
Commissioner Kutz said that he be-
lieved the proportion of the expenses
now paid by the federal government.
one-half, was too great and should i,s
reduced
He advocated readjustment of the
proportion of the Districts expenses
borne by the United States and by the
taxpayers of the District. as conditions
in the future should warrant He suS-
gested that a fixed period for the re-
adjustment of the proportion of expenses
be set, just as the readjustment OF the
number of members of the House is made
following each ten-year census of the
population of the country.
Commissioner kutZ declared himself
for the retention of the present form
Of government here. He suggested,
however, that it would be advisable
for Congress to give the citizens rep
resentation in Congress.
Commissioner kutZ said:
Proper Proportion of Expenses.
The question as to the proper pro-
portion of the expenses of the District
of Columbia to be borne by the Dis
trict and the United States. respective
ly. is intimately connected with the
agencies bear to each other II the
government Of the District of Column
bia is to be turned over to the resi-
dents of the District. as has been ado
vocated before this committee, the
United States should not bear as large
a part of the expense as IL the other
extreme plan were adopted and the
District made a bureau of the federal
government. In other words, repre-,
sentation. whether it be full represent
tation or only partial, has a money
value which. though not capable of pre-
else ascertainment, should be consid-
cred in proportioning the expenses.
In the form Of government now au-
sentation in the legislative branch, but
it Is prescribed by law that two of the
members of the board of Commission
ers shall be selected from among the
actual residents of the District, while
the third shall be federal officer de-
tailed for membership on the board.
This affords the residents partial rep-
resentation and entities the existing
system to be described as a compro-
mise between the plan involving local
elf-government and the plan to feder-
alize the District.
washington is primarily the Capital
city Of the nation and the responsibility.
iity for its physical growth and devel-
opment should unquestionably rest
| with Congress rather than, with the
people of the District. 1t is the mecca
frr to{t fro -tof in a
Union, and these visitors take per-
sonal pride in having the streets well
paved. well shaded and well lighted; in
finding an abundant supply OF pure
water, a model sewerage system ana
beautiful parks.
Need Opportunity to Voice Views
They take very little interest, how
ever, in plans or projects for the moral.
social or educational development Of
the community. These questions are
local questions, and in legislation upon
such matters the wishes of the resi-
dents of the District should largely
govern, and 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 side of the citys development
''In the absence of any legally au-
ion depe ndence has been had upon the
various civic associations of the Dis
trict, but these, as now constituted.
cannot be considered as fully repre-
sentative of the entire community. A
far better plan for giving the people
a share in the management of their
affairs should be devised, and such
plan might well include representation
in Congress.
while the responsibility for the cap
ifoI mt ha diNid ad hat
gress and the residents, it is believed
that the interests of both can be bet
ter served by adhering generally to
the present plan. whereby the viuni-
cipality is maintained as separate
and distinct municipality. than If the
District is abolished as such and
merged into the federal government.
Likened to a Partnership.
II am also of the opinion that the
development of the District. both as a
National Capital and as a place of resi-
dence for $4,000 people, will progress
more rapidly and more satisfactorily il
the United States continues to contrib
ute fixed proportion of the expenses
than if the District revenues are COW
cred into the Treasury and appropria.
tons made for the support of the Ds-
trict, irrespective of these revenues.
1T seems to me that this is a partner
ship. with the United States as the
senior partner, and that. like business
partnerships, the burdens and the
profits should be proportioned to the
interests of each
1T is fair to assume that during
large part of the thirty-seyen-ye
period in which the half-and-half 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.
After mature consideration. though
with only one years experience
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 is bearing an undue pro-
portion of the tax burden.
Question for Statisticians.