Evening star., 1937-09-26
A Greater Washington
Integrated Government.

MOoA hitciCotiliB Aoi etuOy Wy
the civic groups is the sugges-
ton of the National Resources
Committee that scheme of in
tegrated government be tried out
on the Greater Washington area,
as an experiment. The first reac-
ton of the civic leaders is against
the proposal as another case of
using the voteless and unrepresent-
ed District of Columbia as labora-
tory guineapig.
The idea, as fantastic as it may
seem, is worthy of careful study
for it is an attempt to grapple with
real local problem. The rigid
boundaries and restricted area of
the District of Columbia creates
problems of taxation, regulation
and the furnishing Of uniform
municipal services to the local
community extending beyond the
District line.
The residents of these outside
areas are really as much a part Of
the National Capital community as
those who live within its confines.
Many advantages can be found
through the bringing of all Of
Greater Washington under a single
control, with uniform laws and
regulations as we'll as the various
municipal services. But the prob
lem is TO find practical way to
bring this about.
This national agency is not the
first to discover this problem and
the need for a solution. Their lack
of knowledge Of the actual existing
conditions is thought responsible
for even suggesting such a thing.
AS other communities expand be-
yond their corporate limits the ad-
Jacent territory is annexed, unless
in another State. That Is diff
Guilty number one as to Washing
ton, because here our only expan-
sion would be into the sovereign
States of Maryland and Virginia.
Then the maximum area of the
seat of the Federal Government
cannot exceed 10 miles square.
Through the joint action of Con-
sress and the State of Virginia the
portion given back to that State
could be returned and the maxi
mum area restored. 1t is. however.
very doubtful if the citizens of
Arlington County would be willing
to give up their voting rights to
become part of the Federal Dis
trict. 1t is equally doubtful If the
Virginia Legislature would willing
ly relinquish the tax resources Of
that county.
This question was informally dis
cussed at the meeting of the Inter-
federation Conference on Monday
evening and committee is to
study the matter and report at the
next meeting. Considerable in
terest has been aroused in the
proposal in the number of towns in
adjacent Maryland and a joint
conference on the scheme is pro-
posed to be held shortly under the
leadership of the Prince Georges
County Municipal Association.
Among District leaders the opin-
ion prevails that nothing short of
a constitutional amendment and
subsequent cessions of territory by
the States can produce any salts
factory result. The Districts vote
leSsness Is considered a factor as
we'll as the relinquishment by the
States Of taxable areas which pro-
duce considerable revenue.
1t is thought that some kind of
mutual arrangement might be
worked out which would be an i'm
provement over the existing order.
There is a fear, however, that the
District, lacking all self-determina-
ton, would get the short end of any
bargain in dealing with communi-
ties in full possession of the rights
of participation in the councils of
their State and the Nation. A
community, part sovereign and
part subject, would be an anomaly
in a supposed republic.