Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-04-21
Distrid Appropriations.


The District appropriations bill for
1901. as rported by the Senate appro-
priations committee, carries practically
the ssae aggregate of appropriations
as tho wisely liberal House bill. The
mais differences between the two prop
osifions in specific appropriations re-
BITE to the schools, street improve
nents and repairs, water mains and
the Gallinger Hospital.
In respect to the schools the main
Senate increases are the provision for
twenty-five additional teachers and
$4,000 for the teachers retirement
fund. The main item of decrease re-
suits from omission for the present
of assembly halls from the new school
buildings, and increase of the amount
available for erecting these buildings
without the halls to sum which will
enable the District to contract for and
to build them Immediately, net de-
crease Of 100000 in respect to school
buildings.
In respect to street improvements
and repairs there are specific decreases
and increases. resulting in net de-
crease of over 100000.
In respect to the Gallinger Hospital
the Senate proposition raises the limit
of appropriation to $1,5O0,000, enables
several hundred thousands of dollars
Of past unexpended appropriations to
be utilized, and cuts out a new ap-
preparation of 100000 proposed by the
House.
In regard to the water service the
Senate proposition makes an additional
appropriation of 100000 for water
mains.
Washington's hope is that when the
bill is in conference agreement will
be reached favorable to all wise spe-
cifc items of increase, whether pro-
posed by House or Senate, and that re-
taliatory decreases will be avoided, with
the result of making this years bill as
nearly q model as is humanity possible.
The Senate committee bill carries
legislation, as a substitute for repeal
of the half and half law and increase
Of the tax rate, that is of vital impor-
lance to the capital community. It re-
moves the limitation upon the Com
missioners' estimates and permits them
to present the full needs of the Dis
triet for consideration by Congress.
Recognizing that the primary obliga-
ton Of capital maintenance and de-
velopment is upon the nation, it pro-
vides, in continuation of the present
practice, for the financing of the Dis
trict by Uncle Sam, who advances the
money for capital expenses and reim-
burses himself from District taxes to
the extent Of one-half Cor in the flu
ture perhaps some other definite pro-
portionate percentagel of the, total
District appropriation. This legisla-
ton solves wisely and equitably the
troublesome problem of SURPRISES or
deficits in District taxes collected un-
der the half-and half law Under its
provisions deficit or surplus in one
year is Offset by surplus. or a deficit
in another year, and every cent of tax
money collected from the District will
be spent at some time for the Districts
benefit in accordance with the terms
of the law under which the money was
collected.
The Districts legislature could con-
fer upon it no greater blessing than to
pst among its statutes this wise, sound
and equitable legislation.
The Senate committee also proposes
that the specific amount of money to
be raised in taxes in any year under
the half and half law shall be ascer-
tanned in advance of the tax levying to
meet the Districts proportion, and
that then the tax rate shall be in such
percentage figure as will produce ap-
proximately the desired sum of money
when applied to the assessment roll of
District property. This provision sug-
gests and points prospectively to the
day when the nation shall say to the
District: Next year | desire from
you ten millions out of twenty mil
lions needed to meet the cost of capi-
tai maintenance and upbuilding Raise
the ten millions in any way you
please, by any combination of realty
and tangible and intangible personally
taxes that you prefer, by a high tax
rate and low assessment or by a low
rate and u high assessment, but raise
the ten millions"
This provision reflects the spirit of
the original law of 1873 and should by
all means be tried out before anv
proposition to abandon either the half
nd-half law or the principle of def
mite proportionate contribution is en-
tertained.