Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-05-22
District Fiscal Legislation.


posed for the half-and-half law which
shall be framed on the principles laid
down by the congressional joint fiscal
committee. then Congress should corr
slider radical amendment of the organic
act. but not till then.
This substitute must, as we have seen,
provide (a) a definite policy of regular
and liberal appropriations by Congress,
,b) certain and fixed taxation of the
District, (c) no increase of the local
tax burden and Id no decrease, at
least. of the national contribution, rep
resenting its capital responsibility and
obligation.
Compare this equitable substitute for
the organic act with that proposed in
this years District appropriation bill.
II repeats the half-and-half law by
change in the wording of the appropriat-
ug clauses of the bill and by the blanket
repeal of all laws Inconsistent herewith.
II appropriates in round numbers $l1.
100000. 1t VIII collect from the District
in taxes $s200,0O0. Under existing Law
ii ought to appropriate $5,S00,o00 from
the Treasury and $500 900 of the S.
100000 of District revenue. and put the
s., 40o, 900 of District surplus in the Treas
ury as trust fund for the benefit of
the District in some future clean" year.
The biz proposes. however, that the ST.,
100000 of District appropriations shall,
IN violation of existing law. be paid, not
half and half. but $s.eOO,ooo from the
District and $3,4OO,0O0 from the nation
The effect of the legislation is to repea!
the organic act without substituting for
it any definite policy of regular and lib
eral congressional appropriation or any
assurance of fixed and certain local
taxation, to confscate to national uses
s2,4O,000 Of local revenue under the
half-and-half law and to reduce the ma
tional contribution from so per cent to
so per cent and to increase the local
contribution from 50. per cent to 20 per
cent.
This rider makes % the congressional
policy of appropriations indefinite, IT.
regular and illiberal, (2) leaves local
taxation calculating and uncertain, (3l
increases the local burden proportion
ately from so per cent to 20 per cent and
in dollars from $5,s0o,0o0 to $500. 900
and a. decreases the national contri-
button proportionately, and points to its
future elimination.
The constitution of the District of
Columbia, so designated by the Supreme
Court of the United States, IS thus
amended in vital point, without any
verbal suggestion in the bill of this
amendment or repeal and without the
slightest aHusion in it to tn, funda-
mental, law thus amended or repealed.
By indirection the keystone in the
arch of the capitals development and
prosperity is demolished, and the re-
building of the wrecked structure is left
TO chance+an the fates in the uncertain
future.
Prior to 1873 the nation, through Con-
gress, participated as it saw fit in cap
ital upbuilding, with no definite equi-
table measurement of its obligation
toward the nations city and its people.
There resulted a neglected, shabby, dis
creditable capital; humiliation, re-
proach and shame to the nation.
In 1873 definite equitable standard
of national participation in capital
building was fixed. There has resulted
one of the most attractive and most
wholesome of the worlds capitals; a
worthy object of national pride.
1t is now proposed to abandon this
definite standard which has worked so
we'll for both nation and capital and
under which Washington has so won
ierfully prospered, and to restore so
far as any fixed degree of nationa! par
ticipation in capital-making is con-
cerned the relations prior to 1878, dur
nag the period of the capitals neglect
and shame.
Shall the half-and- half plan be
abandoned, unless and until some other
definite standard of national participa-
ton is after thoughtful and deliberate
consideration substituted in its placea
Shall the degree Of national participa-
ton in capital maintenance and devel-
opment be rendered uncertain, fuctuat
ing from year to year, shifting from
too little to nothing with the whims and
caprices of the few individuals, the
mere handful of legislators. who in sue
ressive Congresses are willing and arc
permitted to act for the nation in deal
ing with local concernss
Italy was a long time getting into the
war and is likely TO be a long time get