Evening star., 1937-01-08
FORMULA REDUCED
TO ; ELEMENTS
Establishment of Four New
Agencies Also Is
Proposed.
(Continued From First Page.)

(SOIlLlIlucQ r1IoU 1dSC.J
appointed last Summer to make an
exhaustive study of the subject and
determine fair and equitable basis
for its solution. ]. L. Jacobs, Chicago
efficiency engineer and tax expert,
directed the survey, which was au-
thorized in the 1887 District appro-
priation act A fund Of $4,000 was
provided for the purpose.
While the proposed formula for
measuring each year the proportionate
amounts to be paid by the District and
the National Government is reduced
to three basic elements, the applica-
tion Of the formula and the accom-
panying recommendations will require
extensive new legislation, at least l9
new laws or amendments
The establishment of at least four
new agencies of government. with
varying responsibilities and powers,
Is, in addition, proposed.
Elements Of Formula.
Here is the basic formula:
First-The annual measurement in
dollars and cents Of the value of serv-
Ices rendered the National Govern
ment by the municipal government
and vice versa. Contractural relations
are to be established between the mu-
nicipal government and each depart
ment of the National Government and
the cost of each specific service will be
covered in the respective departmental
budgets. In the current budget, for
instance, the net amount OF $2,533,357
Is found "reimbursable" to the District.
Part of it would come from the Ma
tional Government, part of it from
citizens who receive special services
for which they do not pay directly now
or do not pay, in the opinion of the
committee, enough.
Second-Establishm of continue
ing method for determining the extent
Of Federal and District interest in each
public improvement Capital outlay
within the District and for fixing the
amount to be paid by each government.
The capital outlays, it was explained,
apply to all capital outlays in the Dis
trict of Columbia. The proposed JEFF
ferson Memorial, for instance, would
be regarded as capital outlay, the ex-
pense of which might be found divisible
between the District and the National
Government. The agency for deter
mining the extent of the respective
Federal and District interests" in cap
ttal outlays would be the National
Capital Park and Planning Commits
sion, enlarged and given new powers.
with its name changed to the National
Capital Planning Commission.
Third-the periodic comparison Of
the average cost per capita Of supply
ing normal State and local services"
in . group Of comparable communi-
ties with the cost per capita of supply
ing similar services in the District.
When this average cost per capita in
the District exceeds the average cost
in the comparable communities Con-
gress Is expected to appropriate the
difference for the District. This part
OF the formula would be applied only
"as long as Congress exercises direct
and positive control over the District
government"
Many Changes Proposed.
Numerous recommendations for ad-
nninistrative and statutory changes
including rewriting of the Districts or
ganic act and repeal of the 60-40 ra-
ito system-are found through the
thick volume of 244 pages containing
the committees findings.
The Investigators found, for in
stance, that under the existing system
of District government authority Is
diffused and responsibility decen-
tralized.'
But the committees recommended
tions include the establishment of the
following new agencies of govern
ment:
(a) A permanent municipal survey
agency" charged with the task Of re-
viewing periodically the contractural
relations between the municipal gov
ernment and the National Government
departments and with making the
necessary comparative studies of the
per capita costs Of government in the
District and in comparable cities.
This agency, as long as the Budget
Bureau reviews the local budget, would
be attached to the Budget Bureau.
(b) The powers and duties Of the
present National Capital Park and
Planning Commission would be en-
larged to make it ''the one responsible
agency for physical planning and de-
velopmeEt of tie District" 1t would
analyze proposed capital Improvements
and prepare the estimates Of the cap
ital budget" as distinct from the
operating budget" Of the District. It
would show in the analysis the por-
tions Of capital outlays in the District
Of Columbia payable by the municipal
and National governments. Its per-
sonnel would be enlarged to Include
representatives of both governments
and local citizens qualified in PLAN
ming and engineering" 1t would be
relieved Of its present administrative
duties.
(c) Pending, in the words of the
report, "the granting Of broader pow
ers over local affairs" 1t Is proposed
that there be created an advisory
council consisting of representatives
OF the Federal and District Govern
ments and citizens representative Of
civic groups to be appointed by the
President" The duties Of this advis-
ory council would be to "advise on the
original preparation Of the District
budget, the determination Of tax and
revenue sources, and ON the operation
and administration Of District services
and expenditures"
Cd Provision should be made, the
report states, for permanent mu-
nicipal survey agency that will aid
the administrative officials in main
tanning the District not only as the
most beautiful Federal city but as the
model local government"
(e) The report further recommends
"a comprehensive analysis Of the ad-
ministrative organization and methods