Evening star., 1928-06-03
RESEARCH HISTORY
OF D. C. PUBLISHED
BY HOPKINS PRESS

Continued from First Pagel
of Columbia as a subordinate political
agency. In some respects it treats IL
as a municipal corporation. and In
others as a mere administrative depart
ment of the general Government. This
has resulted, and still continues to re.
suit. in confusion In respect to respon-
sibility and financial obligations ano
administration.
DR.. Willoughby explains that the re-
suits of the survey are almost wholly
descriptive II is planned later, he says
to issue companion volume. in which
the institute will make critical OBJ
servation of District affairs. viewed ir
the light of lis other studies of public
administration.
The volume is divided into 68 chap
ters and two parts. There are also a
number of illustrations. consisting oi
various maps and diagrams Part l Is
concerned with the history and general
government of the District, in which
are discussed physical economic and
social conditions; political and financial
history: political status and general
government: the financial system and
/ the personnel system.
I Part II discusses in detail the organ
ization and function Of every depart
nent and division of the District gov
ernment. as we'll as the part played by
those distinctly Federal agencies that
are concerned directly with some phase
Of the District government.
| District Government Unique.
In his introduction DR.. Schmeckebier
points out that the District Is unique.
| in that it is the only political subdivi-
sion in the United States in which all
/ the powers of government are vested IN
| the United States, which in the case OF
/ the District exercises functions and
powers elsewhere divided between the
| Federal Government, the State, the
| county. municipality and various other
civil divisions. Congress itself performs
the function Of both a State legislature
| and q city council, he points out But 1t
| also has delegated certain ordinance
making powers to other agents. On the
/ executive side the powers are divided
| among District and Federal agencies
I dealing exclusively with the District and
among Federal agencies concerned with
/ both District and Federal affairs.
/ The District Of Columbia is also
/. unique" DR.. Schmeckebier points ont.
in that 1t is the only community in the
| continental United States which does
/ not enjoy suffrage and has no form
Of representative government. The lack
/ of any elected local body TO pass laws,
| TO fix the rate of taxation and to deter
/ mine how the money shall be spent
makes it imperative that careful thought
| be given to placing these powers where
| they viii be widely exercised for the
common good. The District Of Column
bia. as q municipal corporation, lis a
l creature Of the United States. and Com
gress may legally place its government
under the direction Of a head Of de-
| partnent or any Federal officer. But
/ the interests of the United States and
| the residents Of the District frequently
clash, particularly in the matter Of the
| amount which the United States shall
! contribute to the local government. II
! is agreed that the United States should
make a contribution. but the amount
has been matter Of controversy for
many years
Little Industry Here.
In a chapter devoted to economic
conditions here the District Of Columbia
is described essentially as a community
| without material commerce or manu-
featuring The unusually high 1er-
centage Of population engaged In cleri-
cal occupations is cited In this respect
Business conditions here are likely n
be more stable than In other munich
palitieE. IT Is said. as the income Of the
majority Of the inhabitants is derived
from The Government. pay roll. and
varies little in normal times, but has q
1 tendency TO increase. The District Il
not subject. the book states. 10 the bust
ness cycle which often results I'm extern
g 10
rangement Of business elsewhere.
In its discussion Of social conditions
here the book points out that in 1924
the percentage Of iiliteracy among al
classes Of It's population over 10 years
Of age was 23. which Is lower than in
any city Of 10O. 900 population east 0!
the Mississippi. with the exception oi
Cincinnati Dayton, indianapolis and
Toledo. The Western cities geneyalIS
have q lover rate. II the matter o.
nome oynerglip the District IL ranked
about midway among cities of 100 ,0Gf
Or more. The book points out that ti1e
relatively high value of residence prop
erty In the District In reflected In the
facs that In 1920 the average value oi
the homes mortgage was S7.iiz and tff
average amount of mortgage debt wai
1921 The average value Of homes
n1ortgaged was exceeded IN only eight
cities of 100, 900 ~ more. and the aver
age amount Of deDt was greater In only
segen cities ~ the ganle sine.
Recession Believed Unfortunate.
Tne volume traces the political MIS-
tory u the District Of Columbia. and
points ~ the unfortunate effect of tins
recession 81 ,ce original part of the Dis
tFsct On the otneT Size of tlc river u
Virginia.
II II unfortunate" says the hook
that the portion of the Virginia ares
z.boYe the mouth of the Anacostia
paSSNd out of the control ~ the United
Eszte2. Thtolgn this area must pass
all tTaff,c 10 and from the South, and
the j&ek o. plan and the general IN.
Il sat.sfaltoYy Ci2afaeter ~ the dePelop'
Baef1t eFea4eH a Ga6 situation
Iae volume treats IN detail 9f thf
financial history " the District, dis.
l09alng ~ soTne length the conditions
DrlGr ~ 1919 wi1@u there Hag no regular
plan f0r the appropriation n money bs
ne United States for municipal puf'
g}ySaes }f1 f5ae DiH9Tje1 II discusses M
syaIlG if2d.aZ ~ tne zdopli0n u tils
cgzanic art of 1878 the zd0ptioD of tj1s
59~59 plan of aggoEslokiBg the ezpeDsei
Je4gce5g the District and tile FeGeFa
CcyeEnineDt. zDd the atfacks upon t9l'
s2elem which became persistent ane
glgogo3s sDoit 1910
In the deiIa1es there afe oeeaaiona
flashes " n la stated, which might IcaH
one 10 supDose that the question d
fiscal gslataJps Was ia process " becoHg,
ing q national one But there IL III
eylceBce ~ indicate tnat tie colntrl
~ large ~Sa stirred uD over The tlnap.
nszl relations n the United states an1
ti2e District ~ d rule, the attacks VI
sllf existing relationship we're mac
Ys1stiy Dy members 1f ofle party tn tn
ftkaaAN II fALrRAAnaa li4fa tlae rilAfanaE