Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-02-02

ments undertaken under transitory
political pressure"
Only in the past few years, by
reason Of the rapid increase In pop
ulation and prices. their statement
continued, has the District fallen
seriously behind in ability to meet
expanding needs on q pay-as-you-
go basis.
Other Cities Tax Loss Cited.
Other cities, which f1oated bonds
and increased taxes, they said, suf-
fered q decentralization of their
business sections which blighted
areas and great tax losses. This
decentralization movement, they re-
ported, caused q $4,000, 600 loss in
taxes in the central area Of Balti-
more In a recent t0-year period and
a 5000, 900 900 loss in Detroit. In
Washington, they stressed, the as
sessed value of the central area In
creased S per cent between 194l and
1916 and since has gone higher.
The Commissioners said they
didn't believe home rule would add
anything to the cleanness., honesty
and freedom from graft and cor
ruption of our city government"
The examples Of other cities, they
said, certainly justifies this belief"
There could be home rule with
out reorganization, or reorganiza-
ton without home rule, they
stressed. Yet, they continued, the
ordinary man tends to think, In a
vague way, that any defect he OBJ
serves in the city government is
automatically referrable to his lack
of q vote and would be automatic
ally cured by giving 1t to him"
Bill Would Not Meet Need.
The statement OF the Auchincloss
subcommittee, that this Is not the
case, they added, fails to register
in the average citizens mind
Local self government is the
traditional heritage of every Amer
ican," they said. For this reason
as a matter of principle. since we
cannot adduce any other compelling
reason-we feel that Our citizens
should be given home rule, provided
a responsible majority of them want
it and provided there are adequate
safeguards which will protect the
paramount rights of the Federal
Government in its own capital and
will conserve the benefits bestowed
on the city by its present form Of
government"
The Commissioners concluded
that the bill, in Its present form,
would not meet these stipulations.
The bill would permit adult resi-
dents here for one year to partici-
pate in council and school board
elections and in determination Of
the city's financial policies, regard
less OF domieile, but 1t makes no
provision for imposing on undomi-
ciled persons the same taxes that
much be paid by those legally resid-
ing here, the Commissioners pro-
tested.
Dangerous Condition" Stressed.
1.-THE persons who would thus cast
votes, without having full financial
responsibility for the results of their
votes, may be numbered by hun
dreds of thousands, enough to swing
any ordinary election"
This divorce of taxation from
representation they called dan
gerous condition in any electorate. "
The present Board Of Commits
sioners thus far has upheld the
standards of the Districts financial
stability" they said, though 1t has
not been an easy task.
Elective officials, faced with
popular demands for municipal i'm
provements regardless OF how or
whether they can be paid for" they
continued, will face the task less
easy.
1T will become an impossible
one If an effective majority of the
electorate can demand expenditures
with no immediate observable eff
feet on their own pockets"
Fear Effect ON Council Elections.
They applied the same arguments
to the council election plan as to
the lack Of residence or taxpayer
qualifications. ANY or all of its
members" they said, might be per-
sons who have no real stake In
Washington and no personal in
terest in Its future prosperity"
The Commissioners noted that
any person residing here who does
not pay the District income tax may
be assumed to have the definite in
tention of leaving the city some day
and making his home elsewhere.
In effect, his nonpayment amounts
to an assertion by him that this is
his intention" they continued.
IF the implied assertion is false
such a person evidently does not
possess a sensitive conscience and
high standards of public duty. II it
is true, he is a transient whose long
term civic interests lie elsewhere.
On either assumption, q District
council thus made up seems to us
to be q very dubious institution"
Corporation Counsel Vernon E.
West said he had grave doubts as
to the constitutionality Of the plan
to let the council initiate legislation,
subject to Congressional veto.
He also said he doubted the con-
stitutionality Of proposals to give
wide powers to the Congressional
Joint District Committee for the
period of change to the new city
government. Likewise, he questioned
the plan to permit council acts, in
situations, to become i'm
effective subject to later
legislative review, on the approval
Of the Joint Committee, the, Speaker
and Senate president.
The home rule bill in its pro-