Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1937-11-28

support Washington in a
style BETTING its position and pres
tige as the Capital of the Nation, have
justifiable reasons to view with
alarm the phenomenal growth Of
their city's offspring-the suburbs.
The problem is not a new one by
any means. A recent report of the
Maryland State Planning Commits
sion, warning that Baltimore and
Washington are spreading toward
each other at rate defying reason
able regulation, serves. however, to
dramatic it and present certain of
Its phases from the viewpoint of de-
slrable regional planning. The Mary
land commission, by reason of its
Jurlsdictional limitations, deals only
with this suburban expansion north,
east and west from the District Line.
But southwark across the Potomac,
where outlying urbanized areas are
developing with even more rapidity,
the condition is much the same and
from it may be drawn comparable
conclusions.
No Hope for Relief.
Since those boom days of the World
War period, when the metropolitan
area" emerged from embryonic form
and only too soon outgrew its swad-
ding clothes. District taxpayers have
become increasingly conscious of the
consequences of parenthood Yet,
after 20 years, they are unable to see
hope of relief from annual expenses
involved in providing local improve
ments and new arterial highways to
meet the exacting demands for servic-
ing an offspring that is now reaching
prodigious size.
1t is an old axiom that taxes-per
capita as we'll as total-increase with
population. But Washington, unfor-
'tunately, is in the unique position of
metropolis in which population is
rapidly outdistancing the revenue re-
turns. AS more people leave the Dis
trlct annually to take up residence in
outside areas within easy committing
distance, earning their daily liveli-
hood in Washington but paying tax
tribute to Maryland and Virginia, the
effect of this migration on District
budgets is easily apparent.
What, then, is the answer to ques-
lions raised In a prediction of the
planning commission that in 1850
just 13 years hence-80 900 people
will be added to the population of the
Maryland suburbs alone?
Answer Seen in Report.
Some think an adequate answer is
supplied in an earlier report of Presi-
dent Roosevelt's National Resources
Committee dealing with problems
OF Urban America" and its intricate
maze of metropolitan districts strad-
ding State lines.
1t SAID: "The Congress should pass
legislation giving previous blanket
consent to the adoption of interstate
compacts, enabling the several COM
munities within the same metropolitan
region but in separate States to deal
Jointly with the regional aspects of
health, sanitation, industrial waste
regulation, the control of public utili-
ties, planning, public safety and well
fare, education and other govern
mental functions of regional scope"
With respect to the situation that
confronts Washington, the same re-
port made this specific recommended
ton: "As an experiment, the Federal
Government should cooperate with
the States of Maryland and Virginia
and make use of the unique oppor-
tunity to cevise complete scheme
of integrated metropolitan govern
ment for the District of Columbia and
the urbanized outlying areas within
the metropolitan district
Under such a political compact, the
District would furnish essential public
services to its metropolitan suburbs
such as police and fire protection,
water and sewage, health inspection,
school and highway maintenance, re-
celVlng in return just and adequate
recompensation. This is being done
now on small scale with respect to
water and sewage services in sections
OF Arlington, Montgomery and Prince
Georges Counties
Solution Not Simple.
But the creation of this planned
utopia for the Washington metro
polltan area isn't as simple as it
appears on paper. Legal opinion
seems to support the contention that
1t would require nothing short of an
amendment to the Constitution 1t is
equally apparent that it would take
super sales talk to persuade both
Maryland and Virginia to surrender
such productive taxable areas for the
benefit of their residents and the Dis
trict of Columbia.
Meanwhile, as representative civic
groups still debate the question
spasmodically, it has received a cool
reception from District officials. They
are far more interested in the recon-
mendations for the regional develop
ment of the Baltimore-Washin
Annapolis area as outlined by the
Maryland State Planning Commission
in its own report. There is scarcely
division of the District government
that is not giving this report close
scrutiny if for no other reason than
to study how it affects future District
expenditures.
In recent years the increase of
thousands in the outlying districts who
use private motors and buses to and
from work and pleasure in Washing
ton has necessitated careful plan
ming for additional speedways and
more convenient transportation ia
cilities.
The concern is not so much to help