Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-04

are matched dollar for dollar by the fed
eral government under existing law.
The report of the Commissioners is a
severe criticism of the methods of certain
members Of Congress to break down the
alf-and-half'' act by indirect legisla-
ton.
1t constitutes the most determined ex-
preston that has yet come from the pres
ent board of District officials as to their
views of this act.
Text of the Report.
The report in full is as follows:
Pursuant to the reference by the
Senate committee on the District of
Columbia of H. r 9411, Sixty third
Congress, second session, entitled, An
act relating to expenditure of money
received on account of liquor licenses,
Washington Market Company, and
from other sources for consideration
and reply touching the merits of the
bill and the propriety of its passage,
the Commissioners Of the District of
Columbia have the honor to submit the
following report
THE bill provides that no monies col
lected or received by the District of Co
lumbia on account of any license or con-
cession to manufacture or sell intoNlcat-
ing liquors. or on account of rental paid
by the Washington Market Company, or
from tolls over the Highway bridge, or
from the fish or any other wharf, or from
rental or income from any real estate IN
which the United States has any title,
legal or equitable, or interest or estate in
possession or in reversion or remainder
shall be expended in payment of any eX-
pense or in discharge of any debt or Ii
ability of the District of Columbia IN the
payment or discharge of which Congress
has in any manner whatsoever committed
the United States to participate. And no
such monies shall be treated as revenues
available or to be available with which
to pay any expense, debt or liability Of
the District of Columbia. to the payment
of which or any part thereof Congress
has in any manner whatsoever committed
the United States
Effect of Measure Considered.
1.-The effect of the bill would at least
be to withdraw from District revenues
that are matched dollar for dollar by the
federal government under the existing
law, several hundred thousand dollars
collected from sources hitherto treated
by the Congress as legitimate sources of
municipal revenue to which to apply the
.half-and half principle. Whether the
considered as exclusively federal reve-
nues, no part of which would be devoted
to the support of the government OF the
District, or whether they would consti-
tute a fund to be used for projects or
services of the District without any fed
eral contribution, is not stipulated IN the
bill.
$50 far as the bill discloses the mu-
nicina1 government would continue to col
lect and account for these moneys. ana
the expense Of doing so would continue TO
be borne by it and paid for out Of the an
nual appropriations for the support OF the
local government establishment.
This bill is one of series or proposed
legislative enactments several of which
have already passed the House OF Repre-
sentatives, others OF which are now under
consideration by it or by its appropriate
committees. and all of which, in one
form or another. involve either radical
departure from the existing financial reia-
tions between the federal and municipal
governments or propose new sources OF
taxation and a very great increase In the
revenue derived from local taxation
Apply to Financial Relations,
Most Of these measures deal with the
financial relation mentioned above in an
Indirect rather than in a direct manner,
and are to be found either in amend
ments to the pending District appropria-
tion bill or in separate bills, like the one
under consideration. They proceed upon
different principles. One proposes to cover
into the Treasury as federal receipt a
large sum UeGiNeu from lOCdl laAd-
tion another. the one which Is the sub
iect of this communication, seems to pro-
nose to withdraw from future sources
of local revenue large sums. Others place
the total expense of certain street or road
improvements upon owners of abuttinS
property.
"Another charges District revenues ex-
| clusiyely with certain annual mainte-
| nance expenses. Another adds new sub
| iects of taxation. One directly abolishes
1 nod haI
| would require the total annual cost OF
maintaining the District government to
| be borne by the District without any aid
from the national government.
Evidence of Dissatisfaction.
..The pendency and consideration OF
| measures :ucn as these evince a strong
dissatisfaction upon the part of many
! members of the Congress with the pres
ent financial arrangements whereby the
federal government contributes to the
support of the local government.
! Assuming the existence Of this dissatis-
| faction the Commissioners express the
opinion that if. in the judgment of the
Congress, the time has come to effect a
| change in the financial and fiscal system
| now obtaining in the District of Column
! bia that change be accomplished after q
| comprehensive and direct examination OF
| the question itself rather than by indl-
| rect approach through the medium OF
| separate and unrelated bills.
! 1.-The Commissioners are at this time
unable to advise the Senate committee
| what would be the net result of the en-
actment of this and the other pending
| measures. to which reference has beer
made, upon the financial future of the 10
cal government, for reasons that art
obvious from consideration of the fore
going and they therefore repeat tina
thew question the DroDriety OF the DaSSag1