Evening star., 1952-09-28

Government. From a Sprawling
town confined roughly within the
area west of the Capitol, south
Of Florida avenue and east OF
the White House and containing
fewer than 1000 Federal officers
and employees at the beginning OF
the 10th century. it has steadily
expanded until. in recent years
it has burst out Of the boundaries
of the District Of Columbia. Today
the National Capital extends well
into Maryland and Virginia. in
which areas more than 100000
people reside.
In similar circumstances other
American municipalities have pre-
served their revenue potential
through annexation Of adjacent
areas. The boundaries Of the Dis
trict Of Columbia being fixed and
certain have not permitted the
acquisition of growing contiguous
territory.
Integral Parts Of Capital.
Nevertheless, economically and
socially. nearby Maryland and
Virginia are now part Of Wash
ington and integral portions
|of the National Capital. They
promise to become even more SO
as the dispersal of Federal
agencies from central Washington
proceeds.
But it is within the District Of
Columbia, the central core, that
tremendously expensive facilities
need to be. constructed to serve
the hundreds of thousands OF
residents beyond the taxing juris-
diction of the District. The streets
and bridges in the District with
related appurtenances must serve
not only its residents but also
those in metropolitan Maryland
and Virginia, where today there
are more motor vehicles than in
side the District. Sewer and water
facilities must be expanded and
maintained in the light Of these
areas and with due regard fol
the growing Federal establishment
located therein. The District Of
Columbia. to perform its function
of appropriately housing and serv-
icing the Federal establishment
must give full recognition to its
status as the core Of great ma.
tional capital.
It has previously been notet
that the area of the District IL
fixed. and that its ability to re.
tain revenue sources is therefore
limited. OF perhaps even greater
importance Is the constantly
shrinking potentially taxable prop.
erty area. Today, only 48.3 pei
cent of the land area of the District
(excluding streets) is on the ia,
rolls. Since 1910 land owned by thu
United States has increased from
37.2 per cent to 42.4 per cent anc
the area owned by foreign nation.
and other exempt groups. appro.
lpriately situated here. many oi
which are tax free by act of Con.
gress, has increased from ST. pei
cent to SO per cent. Clearly. there.
fore, the United States has a re.
sponsibility for an important
share Of the cost of operating tn.
District.
Federal Share Cut Constantly.
In the face Of these trends there
has been constant reduction II
the percentage of local costs beinI
paid from Federal funds. From /,
$50 per cent percentage in fore
between 1873 and 1920 the Fedora
payment has shrunk to 8.2 pc
Icent or less during the curren
fiscal year. There can be no ques
ltion that the constantly shrinking
Federal payment is directly re
} )sponsible for the Districts inabil
J Iity to provide for capital expendi
lures for the unmet capital need
this committee has been studying
In these circumstances, and TO
lother reasons reviewed or impliet
above. the committee has full con
fidence in the soundness of it
Judgment that a substantial por'
Ition Of this public works program
lis q Federal responsibility.