Evening star., 1930-12-15
OTHER NATIONS THAN THEUS
LITERALLY AID THEIR CAPITALS
Results of Extensive Survey in 1915-16
Along Lines Suggested by Mr..
Simmons Are Recalled.

ment as property owner paid a fixed
sum IN lieu of taxes, mutually agreed
upon. In Ottawa, Pretoria and Rome
the capital communities were dissatis-
neo with the amount of national money
appropriated toward the maintenance
ana upoundlng of the capitals. At
that time Ottawa was pronosino fo
assimilate the financial Conditions and
relations to those of the District of
columbia. Exact information is at
tillS tlme lacking, but since the report
Lhe dominion government has made
me progress In capital development.
Lump Sum Too Small.
Pretoria adopted lump-surn apnro-
priation, but the capital connnnitv
protested that it was too small. In
Rome the capital community and the
natlon decided as far back as 1870
ABOUT the time that the United States
was awakening to its responsibilities in
Capital City development-to 90 ahead
Jointly bearing the expenses of a pro-
gram designed to make the Eternal
City one of the worlds most beautiful
capitals. For street improvement alone
municipal loan of $50 ,00O, 900. guar
anteed by the national government. was
made. The work of improvement went
ahead so fast that the local community
found itself heavily debt burdened. and
there were numerous complaints at the
national government was not assuming
its share OF the responsibilities.
Paris. Buenos Aires and Rio were
found to be capitals enjoying the ben
eft Of lavish donations for Improvement
out of national funds. France was
shown to be contributing about $4,000
600 annually for the Paris police. with
large and fixed additional sum for
street and sidewalk making and i'm
provement. Almost universally in the
case of foreign capitals it was found
that the police were a part of the ma
tion'S military establishment and were
maintained partly or in whole by the
nation.
Other Capitals Have Voice.
1t was found that every capital in
the world except Washington was repre-
sented on equal terms with other cities
In the national government. Every
capital In the world except Washington
has voice in respect to questions of
local taxation, and either controls or
participates inf1uentially in municipal
government. Since the report was made
an interesting change has developed in
Havana, Cuba's capital a city which
was not, however. included in the table
or discussion of 1916. After many years
OF dual and overlapping responsibility,
divided between the local and national
governments, in the financial support of
the municipality of Havana, Cuba de-
cided by constitutional amendment
within the last year to take over the
government of the municipality and
with it the financial obligation for sup
port of the city. 1t had heretofore sup
ported such agencies as the police and
bore the, majority burden of education.
Now 1t has created a federal district
under exclusive federal control, as in
the case of the District of Columbia
The residents of Havana, however, still
retain their voting status as Cuban
citizens.
Unsatisfied With Power.
It was developed that some of the
practically self-controlled and locally
self-governed capitals were dissatis-
fed with the degree of interven-
ton and control in their munic-
ipal affairs exercised by the ma
tional government. Paris, Athens and
ChriStiania were seeking larger freedom
Of action and increased authority and
power in their own municipal govern
ments, despite the fact that they en-
joyed full representation in the national
governments and maintained governing
councils permitting local self-taxation
in municipal affairs.
Discussing the subject whether there
is any special obligation upon the ma
tionS to develop or maintain the capi-
tails, the argument Of 1915 pointed out
that in the case of Washington there is
double obligation-O that arising from
the circumstances of the creation of
the Capital, and (2) that which is
coupled with and measured by the alb
solute control of the Nations City.
THE Nations obligation" as set forth
ito washington under the first head
is not duplicated in the case of
any other of the worlds capitals.
except Canberra, capital Of Australia"
which then was still in the planning
stage. I'm respect to few other capi-
tails (MeXico City, Paris, Rio, Buenos
Aires, Athens, Rome) national obliga-
ton of this second kind is recognized,
measured by the degree of peculiar con-
troll exercised over them in each case
by the nation. This equitable obliga-
ticn is substantial in the case of Mexico
and of Paris and much slighter in the
case of Rio, Buenos Aires, Athens and
Rome. But even Mexico and Paris fall
far behind Washington in the height
ana Dr6aOLn OF CIllS ODllgdClOIl.
True Basis Not Taxation.
1.-THE true basis of this Nations obli-
cation of proportionate contribution
toward the maintenance and develop
ment of the Capital is not solely or
primarily untaxed ownership of Dis
trict real estate. though substantial
and continuous obligation does arise in
connection with such ownership. The
strongest obligations resting upon the
Nation are equitable in their nature
and based primarily on the circum-
stances of the Capitals creation and
the treatment of the Capital by the
Nation ever since the birth of the Ma
tons city. The general Government,
by the fact of planning a magnificent
Capital, covering a larger area and
characterized by broad streets, avenues
and reservations to an extent insult
able for self-supporting commercial
city, and by founding this Capital in
q place comparatively uninhabited, as
we'll as by the terms of the bargain
with the owners Of the soil, and by
the declaration of its representatives at
the founding of the city and after
wards, showed an intention to build up
a national city at the Nations expense,
on grand scale, irrespective of the fu-
ture population of the District. The
Capital was to be primarily a center
of Federal action, and the occupation
Of the ground by settlers was merely
incidental to this great purpose. The
original owners of Washington donated
five-sevenths of the city's soil and
yielded the right of government to
the Nation on the understanding and
implied agreement that the Nation was
to build up here a magnificent Capital
at its own expense, reimbursing itself
from the proceeds of the sale Of do
mated lots. A pretentious city was
planned and lots were sold by the Gov
eminent on the strength of this un-
derstanding. For three-fourths of a
century the Nation violated or neglected