Evening star., 1939-03-05

NieV eoPlld4 PATTERNED 10 COQSlQer-
able extent on the general plan and
system of government of the District
OF Columbia is the aim of movement
OF recent development in Canada.
1t is not generally recognized even
. among Canadians that for more than
25 years Canada has had a Federal
District Commission. There has been
a Federal District Commission at Ot-
taWa, the capital but not a federal
district. Moreover. for more than 25
years there has been available here a
complete plan for the formation or
establishment of federal district cap
ttal based on the recommendations of
group of outstanding Canadian pub
lie men. Yet no government has seen
f7t to give effect to the plan or to any
OF its more important recommendations
Sir Wilfred Laurier. one of Canada's S
most distinguished prime minister's was
the first to advocate federal district
He used the phrase washington of
= the North" in 1893 in predicting that
Ottawa would eventually become the
center of intellectual development in
Canada. The Ottawa Improvement
Commission evolved out of his idea in
1899. 1t was replaced by the Federal
District Commission in 1927 When $780,
600 year was appropriated by the ted-
eral government for its use and a capi-
tai grant of S3000,0OO
King Supports Proposal.
Canada's present prime minister, the
Right Hon. Mackenzie King, has con-
sistently supported the idea of a fu-
ture federal district capital but the
name most prominently associated with
the new movement for its immediate
creation is that of Mr.. T. Franklin
. Ahearn, member of Parliament for Ot-
tawa West, whose father, the late Hon.
Thomas Ahearn, privy councillor, was
the first chairman of the commission.
Mr.. Ahearn who has been a member
OF Parliament for the important con-
sistuency of Ottawa West for nine years.
has campaigned throughout his political
career in favor of the setting up of the
district without further delay. He has
constantly urged the necessity of a
parliamentary committee or royal COM
mission to deal with the matter and has
suggested that this committee or COM
mission should be authorized to p1o-
ceed to Washington to study the set-up
OF the District of Columbia at first
hand, to call witnesses, including recog-
nized experts and authorities on the
subject and generally to pave the way
Tor the governments adoption of the
original commission plan.
Mr.. Ahearn is the principal power be-
hind the new movement. He is known
to be on terms of intimate friendship
with the prime minister and it is
rumored that he may become the next
chairman of the Federal District Com
mission. If that is the case he will un-
doubtedly force the issue into the open
and, by mobilizing the wide support
Which he has already accumulated both
In Parliament, even among ministers and
among the public, bring about formal
off1clai adoption of the district plan.
Plan Five-Man Commission.
A commission of five members, three
= to be appointed by the Federal Govern
ment to give it control and ensure con-
tinuity of national policy and two to be
elected within the district, is the plan
OF administration favored here. Cana
dians cannot understand the paradox in
the District of Columbia that in one
of the freest democracies in the world
100000 citizens are deprived of the vote
The writer predicts that within one
year the National Federal District Capt.
tai will be reality in Canada. There
are more than 100000 persons on relief
IN this country at the present time. If
for no other valid reason the plan will
be launched to absorb 100000 or more
of these people in useful employment
for the next five years.
4. In talk over the national network of
Canadas official broadcasting system he
called for the adoption of the federal
district plan after explaining the sys-
TENS in the District of Columbia and
elsewhere. A booklet explaining the sys-
tenn In detail with particular reference
to the District of Columbia will soon be
circulated to all members of Parliament,
Senators and newspapers urging support
for the new movement.
Canada's first definite and official step
toward the attainment of federal dis
trict capital was taken on June 5. 1919.
when an order in council was passed at
Ottawa providing for commission con-
'sisting of at least six members, including
the mayors of Ottawa and Hull, and that
Its first duty should be to take all neces-
sary steps to draw up and perfect a COM
prehensive plan looking to the future
growth and development of the two cities
and their environs. 1t was emphasized
that the plan must provide for the loca-
ton, laying out and Identification of
parks and connecting boulevards, the
location and architectural character of
public buildings and adequate and con-
venient arrangements for traffic and
transportation within the area in ques-
tfon.
This order in council provided that
the government should pay half the cost
OF the plan and that the other half