Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-22
COLOMBIA PLANS
FEDERAL DISTRICT
Special Area Like That OF
U. S. Capital May Be
Set Aside.

Already a pattern for five other fed
eral districts, the District Of Columbia
may soon be copied again, according to
news from South America that Colom-
bia plans a "distrito federal for its
capital, Bogota.
other countries that have created
special federal districts for their cap
itals are Australia, Argentina, Brazil,
Venezuela and Mexico.
Only Two Voteless Capitals.
Only the two English-speaking ma
lions, the United States and Australia,
do not permit the inhabitants of their
federal districts to vote Elsewhere cit
liens living in federal districts have the
right of suffrage.
Largest of the federal districts is
that OF Australia, and 1t is also the
newest" says a bulletin from the Wash
iiigton, D. c., headquarters Of the Ma
tional Geographic Society. THE fed
eral territory of Canberra, where the
Australian government set up house,
keeping in 1927, contains $40 square
miles. Ample boundaries were drawn
fer Canberra after an Australian COM
mission visited the District of Columbia
and learned that Washington had out
grown its territorial limits. The Aus
tralians made their federal territory
more than Is times as large as the Dis
trict Of Columbia.
Canberra Has 5000 People.
"But Canberra, largest of federal dis
trictS, has also the smallest population
only 5000 citizens. Conversely, the
federal district of Argentina, next to
the smallest of such capital territories,
with an area only square miles more
than the 70-square- emile spread of the
District Of Columbia, has the densest
population. Buenos Aires, the Argen-
tine capital, lists 1880, coo inhabitants.
Three federal districts have larger
populations than the District OF Column
bia-Buenos Aires, Argentina; Brazifs
federal district, with the capital, Rio de
Janeiro, and the federal district OF
Mexico. with the capital, Mexico City.
Brazils ID. c. has 100000 inhab-
itant's; Mexico's. 100000.
"Venezuela's federal district includes
both the capital. Caracas, and the port,
la Guaira, with total population OF
los, 900.
Brazil Has Two Federal Districts.
"Only Brazil allows itself the luxury
OF two federal districts, the present one
enfolding the exquisite Rio de Janeiro
and its environs, and the future led
eral district, wild, forest-covered tract
of 5000 square miles reserved In the
interior state of Coyaz. Progressive inn
provement and adornment OF Rio de
Janeiro, which is admittedly one OF the
worlds most beautiful cities, helps post
none the day when Brazil may build a
Aiming new capital in the wilderness.
washington and Canberra are the
only ready-made capitals in federal
districts, unless Delhi district, India, be
included in the class. On the outskirts
of the ancient capital OF India rises
new government city of mixed Grecian,
italian and Indian style, designed by
English architects. Delhi district. an
area of 500 square miles, was delimited
A few wears ago to accommodate the
future capital of India. Recommends
tions in a recent report upon the fed
Grafton of Indian states hint that Delhi
district may soon become q true federal
district.
Chief executives of all six existing
federal districts are appointed by the
President or premier of the respective
countries.
How Districts Are Governed.
"Mexico City's mayor Is the head Of
the Departmental del Distrito Federal,
an appointee of the President, but not
A member of his cabinet. He runs the
capital with the cooperation OF an
advisory board made up OF representa-
tives elected to it by such organlza-
tions as the chamber OF commerce,
labor unions real estate owners, manu-
facturers associations, professional
mems associations and women's clubs.
'.Venezuela's federal district has a
governor. Brazil's has project ana
Argentina's an intendente, each APP
pointed by the President. Home rule
has been most nearly achieved by
Buenos Aires, whose tntendente, or
mayor, can be removed from ONCE by
the elected municipal council In case
of neglect of duty, malfeasance IN ONCE
ar improper conduct. Washington's
citizens cannot vote; in Buenos Aires
citizens are fined for not going to the
polls.
tThree Senators and ten deputies of
Rio de Janeiro elected in the federal
district, represent the Brazilian CAPT.
tails citizens. Rio de Janeiro also has
an elected municipal council serving
under the project, or mayor, appointed
BY the President.
ton, d. c., in local government, In
street Arrangement and in general de-
sign. has certain unusual features that
distinguish 1t from all other federal
districts. No individual may own prop
erty In Canberrs. The Canberran pays
his government per cent per year on
the assessed value of his lot The gov
eminent may revalue the land at the
end of 30 years. Plans for houses must
be passed upon by local board OF
architects, because australia is re-
solved that its new capital shall be
beautiful. Canberra has no street cars
and no overhead wires. Every city
block has a playground and 100000