Evening star., 1928-06-03
RESEARCH HISTORY
OF D. c. PUBLISHED
First Volume of Work Con-
tains Analytical Study of
Local Government.

With investigations of Washington
being made right and left, during and
between sessions of Congress, the Johns
Hopkins Press has just completed the
printing of a 942-page volume on "The
District of Columbia-Its Government
and Administration" published as cne
of a series on Government administra-
ton by the Institute for Government re-
search. While there have been many
works of an historical nature on the
District and Washington, this volume
stands as the first detailed analytical
study of the distribution OF govern
mental functions, as found In the Capt.
tai City.
William Tindall. w. B. Bryan, Wal
ter F. Dodd and others, as well az
papers prepared for the city's historical
associations, have made valuable and
outstanding contributions toward the
Capitals history and the description OF
its government. But the present vol
ume occupies a field of its own IN is
manner of taking up in minute detail
the various phases Of the complicated
and unique governmental machinery
under which the Federal City Is main
tanned. The work Is In no sense criti-
cal. although there are occasional
flashes where criticism Is implied. II
is intended as the first Of two volumes,
the latter to point out some OF the
weaknesses, as well as the merits, Of
the government of Washington based
on the fundamentally descriptive mat
ter contained in the first. The date OF
publication of this companion volume Is
yet TO be decided.
Three Years Work.
This work represents about three
years of research and writing by Dr.
Laurence r. Schmeckebier Of the Insti-
tute of Government Research. It was
undertaken. w. F. Willoughby, director
of the institute, explains in foTeTorc
to the volume, because 1t Is in line with
the institutes attempt to improve meth.
ods OF public administration. Only as
full information Is available regarding
the organization OF the Government
DR.. Willoughby explains. can methods
Of public administration be improved.
I'm the case Of few governments" ne
writes, "it Is more desirable that sur
vey of this character should be made
than in that Of the District Of Columbia,
This arises not merely from the fact
that the District of Columbia Is the seat
of the National Government, but from
the further fact that it has govern
ment that Is unique in character and
presents problems not to be found In
other governments which have as yet
failed to receive a satisfactory solution.
In no other government Of the United
States, not even in the inSular depen-
denotes, is there complete denial OF
direct representation of the people IN
the conduct of the Government such as
exists in the District of Columbia. In
no other political subdivision Is to be
found a condition where the same gov
ernment has to perform the function
both of a state or territorial and q
municipal government, and Is at the
same time treated in many respects as
a mere administrative subdivision OF the
National Government"
DR.. Willoughby points out that the
most important features in respect to
which the existing government is ur-
satisfactory have to do with these
matters.
No Consistent Policy.
These defects are due primarily to
the fact that Congress has never
worked out any consistent policy In re-
spect to the treatment of the District
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