Evening star., 1942-03-10
By HAROLD B. ROGERS,

BY HAhOLD b. hOOLnS,
IN sharp contrast to Washing
ton, Buenos Aires, capital OF Argen-
tina, has the right Of suffrage for
It's people, who elect two Senators,
as well as 80 members Of the Cham
ber of Deputies to their national
Congress.
An important election for half OF
the Chamber of Deputies was held
March when 13 provinces and the
federal capital voted. The 14th
province has no vote.
Keen interest was shown by the
people of Buenos Aires, busy, hus-
ting city, in the election. This was
apparent, not only because OF ma
tional issues involved, but also be-
cause the people of this capital elect
their own representatives IN the
two houses of Congress.
Representation of the Argentlnian
capital in the Senate is closer to
the people than it is IN the prov
inces because in the provinces the
Senators are elected by local Legs
latures, while in the federal capital
alone the Senators are elected by
direct vote of the people.
Elections Every Two Years.
Out of the 158 seats in the Cham
ber of Deputies IS members were
chosen at the March elections. Hall
of the Chamber is elected every two
years.
In the case of the Senate, where
there are 80 seats for the prov
inces and 2 for the federal capital,
elections are held every three years,
when one-third is elected. Inc
Senate was not involved IN this
months elections.
Men % years of age are eligible
to vote, but not women.
Returns from the March l elec-
ton were not complete according
to latest advices reaching Wash
ington from Buenos Aires. but at
the last report Acting President
Castillo and supporters of his policy
of prudence" and isolationism ap-
parently were gaining strength, with
control of the Chamber Of Deputies
almost assured. 1t appeared the
Conservatives, who oppose a break
with the Axis, would get II seats.
where 80 is a majority, according
to the Associated Press. The Cas-
tiuo supporters control the Senate.
Argentina and Chile are the two
South American countries which
have not severed diplomatic rela-
tions with the Axis.
Axis Opponents May Control
The Socialists with II seats, ap-
parently would hold the balance OF
bower in the Chamber between the
Conservatives and the Radical party
of Raul Damonte Taborda, the Dies
Committee" chairman who recently
fought duel with an Argentlnlan
army officer. If the Radical party
of Senior Taborda should win the
seven minority seats in the Buenos
Aires Province, which Is one OF the
last to be tabulated in the election
returns, their Deputies and the So
cialistEboth anti-Axis-could con-
troll the Chamber, Senor Taborda
claimed.
Buenos Aires province, the largest
and most important OF all, takes a
major role in the election, in sharp
contrast to Washington, the Capt.
tai of the United States, where resi-
dents are deprived of the vote.
Regardless of the complexities
of Argentine politics, the general
picture in Buenos Aires appears to
be that there Is a closer and more
friendly relationship between the
federal government Of Argentina
and the administration of its capital
city than is the case in Washington.
There are some distinct slmilarl-
ties. For instance, each capital is
federal district, in which the chief
executive Of the nation Is also the
chief executive Of the city. In
Buenos Aires the intendente (mayor)
is appointed by the President OF the
country, as in Washington the Dis
trict Commissioners are appointed
by the President.
City Fixes Own Taxes.
But in Buenos Aires the national
Congress approves taxes lin gene
raj" for the city. Then the city
administration itself fixes the details
of taxation.
In both countries Congress is the
chief legislative body for the capital
city. but in Argentina more dis
cretion appears to be left to the local
government. In this instance there
is a vast difference, because in the
United States Congress there are no
Representatives or Senators elected
by the people Of the District OF
Columbia.
An elective City Council originally
was established to administer al
fairs of the city, but in 194l the
President ousted the members and
appointed other officials in place OF
those elected. He did not change
the Mayor nor his two secretaries,
Luis Mariana Zuberbuhler. in charge
of finance, and DR.. Martin Aberg-
Cobo, in charge of public works.
The President appointed in place
of the Council a committee of 81
''neighbors," including retired ad-
miral and three former cabinet
members. The Acting President,
Ramon S. Castillo, promised to pro-
pose amendments to the municipal
law, which Congress is scheduled to
act on in May.
Evidence of the friendly rela-
tions between the federal govern
ment of Argentina and Buenos
Aires, which is the pride of the
country, is seen in several direc-
tions.
Share Expenses of City.
AS explained by Senor Zuberbuh-
Ter, the federal government pays
for many services in the city, such
as the schools and the fire depart
ment. The federal government pays
the salaries of 10000 police for
Buenos Aires and $4,000 members of
the gendarmerie, semi-militarized
troops which police the frontiers.
Usually the city pays for street
improvements, destruction Of old
properties and big projects for re-
conditioning the city. But in the