Ságvári Ágnes (szerk.): Budapest. The History of a Capital (Budapest, 1975)
Documents
The efficient promotion of the interests of the state, the appropriate organization and management of municipal institutions in the capital is inconceivable without a proper administration in control—on the one hand consistently providing the necessary ways and means to maintain and strengthen the state, and on the other hand, exercising responsibility for the welfare, the comfort, and the satisfaction of the legitimate demands of the inhabitants—along overall lines which are also conducive to its harmonious operation. Uniformity of organization in all municipal responsibilities and operations, bading to consistency in every aspect of its work, is even more essential in the centre, since the varied needs of a population increasing year by year, and of the growing industrial and commercial development produce an accumulation of items on the official agenda which must be given prompt and accurate attention. Hungary does not as yet possess a capital with such a uniformity of organization capable of meeting these intrinsic requirements. The sister cities, bound together by a variety of interests, are separated into two different municipalities; whereby a common function, common progress and growth, and the efficient promotion of both state and municipal interests are not only impossible, but the very separation of the municipalities in many cases works to the detriment of the public. As a result of the different taxes and municipal tolls collected independently by the two sections of the city, industry and commerce, as well as day to day commodities, pay double taxation and this impedes the free development of life, trade and general circulation in the capital. And all official measures, which must be applied within the territory of the neighbour city as well in almost daily instances, or must be prosecuted there, cannot be undertaken directly, but in each case a special request must be made and the co-operation of the sister municipality obtained. There are moreover many matters of public interest to be accomplished in the sister cities, and their successful execution requires the co-operation of both, but in the absence of possibilities of common action they must remain undone, to the prejudice of the public interest. These reasons have moved the Government to recommend the organization of the capital as laid down in Sections 1 and 2 of the Bill. With the legislative passage of this Bill the population of the capital will consist of 270,476 souls, according to the recent census returns. The total number of houses in the capital will be 9,404. The total area of the capital is 29,892 holds*. In conclusion, the total revenue of the capital—according to the present-day budgets of the three cities—is 2,902,476 florins, total expenditure is 3,845,876 florins, and the resulting deficit of 943,398 florins in revenue will be covered by the average local rate of 20 per cent at present levied in the three cities. ... Ed: Albert Gárdonyi: A főváros egyesítésére vonatkozó okmányok gyűjteménye [Collection of Documents Related to the Unification of the Capital], Budapest, 1913, pp. 162-163. * About 42,400 acres. 94
