Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-30

Opinion may havo been divided and may
still be divided as to the propriety Of the
original distribution among the leading com
nittees Of the House Of the various appropria-
ton bills. The distribution has doubtless not
always worked we'll But there can be no
fair difference o, judgment on full
review of the facts to an unequal
distribution. by which is meant dis
trIbution leaving only such measures
in the hands Of the appropriations committee
the other committees and particular power
full interests do not require to be assigned else
where. IL there be any good ground why
the Naval Affairs Committee or the
Post Office Committee sEolld initiate legisla-
ton touching naval and post Office matters
there is also good ground why the committee
dealing with the concerns of the national CAPT
tai and District should originate appropriation
bills affecting the interest of the District. But
tho House has not taken that view
OF the matter. 1t has decided after
an extended debate and strong argument that
while the old practice of collecting all the bills
in the hands Of the appropriations committee
is not to be resumed there Is to be no further
distribution Of such bills and that the
line is to be drawn at the District bill
1t is not Of so much importance to the District
that one committee rather than another shall
originate its appropriation billsas that the true
and just theory concerning the nature
of these measures shall be recognized
practically by the committee to which this duty
is intrusted- Both committees contain men
Of quick intelligence and fairness. men who
are not Influenced by unfriendly feelings to-
ward the capital II is not Il question of indi-
xrfd H.
concerned only with District an airs. has theo-
retically greater acquaintance with local
needs. on the other hand the appropriations
committee, on which the places are
more highly priced. has greater permanence
In its composition from Congress to Congress-
and as body has probably greater accumu-
lated experience even concerning local affairs
II is likely. however, if the District appropria-
tion bill were sent to the District COM
mittee that the added dignity and importance
would give the greater permanence to the
makeup of this committee which would be de-
sirable- The important thing for the District,
as already suggested, is that the House and the
committee which prepares its bill shall
recognize that Congress in dealing with
its financial concerns is acting as its
local legislature under the constitutional
provision and not exclusively as a national leg
islature, and that its bill cannot honorably be
treated as on the same footing as the national
appropriation measures. The money for the
latter comes from national taxes, to which the
people Of the District pay their proportionate
part In large measure Congress is at liberty
TO apportion the national taxes upon national
objects In such wise as II may fit. after
meeting the obligations already incurred in
which the national credit is involved There
Is large room for eXpending here and with
holding there or for cutting down ex-
penditures all along tie line. This is not the
case when Congress comes as local legislature to
disburse upon local objects the local taxes. The
District pays some three millions of local taxes
annually. the United States an equal property
owner binds Itself to pay an equal amount
The District revenues are determined by the
local tax returns, the governments share is
equitably appropriated in advance, and the
only effect Of a failure to make the actual ap-
preparation Of the full revenues in any year is
TO accumulate equitable surplus in
the Treasury to the Districts credit.
while the Districts current needs are only
partly met The creation of such surplus in
this case has been recognized by the closest
otherwise Congress by failure to fully approp-
riate the local revenue to meet local needs
would be dishonorably eyading law and
shrking just obligations The District does
not want to accumulate another large surplus
10 Its credit in the treasury. 1t needs every
cent Of its revenues, after interest and sinking
fund provisions are met, to satisfy current
wants II needs more than these revenues
TOR great public projects which can be most
economically and effectively accomplished by
Immediately mourning a large initial expense.
Under the circumstances and the law economy
in District financial concerns will consist in
the intelligent and discriminating expenditure
OF Its full revenues upon the most urgent and
deserving OF its needs No waste and no ex-
travagsnce are to be permitted in the expendi-
ture. but the District bill for the obvious
reasons suggested offers no field FOR the appli-
cation Of a general policy of cutting down
national expenditures which can honorably
and reasonably be applied to the other apprc-
priation bills.