Evening star., 1920-05-28
deficits the absolute justice would be
done which equity demands


New Law Concerning SurPluses-
Thus broadened. the law would read
in some such shape as that suggested
by the Jones amendment to H. R. 1853
now under consideration. The Dis
trict should have the benefit of this
surplus In the future wherever and
whenever il is most needed: not solely
in payment of the Districts share of
the funded debt. but to meet any debt
of any sort, or to prevent a deficit in
current maintenance under the half
and-half law. or TO make part OIL a
sinking fund to finance some great
project or municipal improvement
outlay than can be spared from cur
rent revenues.
The considerations which | have
suggested concerning the retroactive
and ineauitabie bearing of II. r. 1853
upon the accumulated surplus of un-
expended District taxes should be
taken into account when by the Jones
amendment a just and honorable solu-
ton of the problem of surpluses and
deficits is submitted.
The solution propoxed by II. II. S15s
In morally indefcnsibIe; that suggest
ed by the Jones amendment is wise
and fair and honest.
Petitioning for Financial Equity.
All Washington says Amen to the
unanimous petition of the Board of
Trade in 1916, which declares:
I'VE. the members of the Washing
ton Board of Trade. do earnestly petit
ton Congress % for the repeal of
Commissioners estimates to twice the
amount of the Districts estimated
revenues; and (2) for legislation
which shall cause any surplus of Dis
trict revenues arising in any year
from the enforcement of the half-and-
I.,l 1axr tne hold in faT o011px n q
a trust fund for the benefit of the Dis
trict to meet its needs in some future
year
We protest against the repeal at
this time of the half-and-half law,
W hich the joint congressional commit
tee has in effect declared to be fair;
and we respectfully protest against
such repeal by rider on an appropria
tion bill: or in such form as to be
retroactive; or by any method which
does not secure for the proposed leg
islation thorough preliminary consid
Grafton by the District committees.
and by Congress, and which does not
substitute for the repealed law one
establishing a definite policy of regu-
lar and liberal appropriations by Con-
gress for capital maintenance and de-
velopme mt. and a fixed and certain
tax burden for the District of Colum-
bia'
The Jones amendment responds di-
rectly to this appeal for affirmative
legi slation. 1t enacts into law the
present practice: it repeals the law
of 1909 restricting the estimates; and
it disposes equitably of the trouble
some problem of District tax sur
piuses.
Flexible Tax-Rate Provision.
The new section 3 of the Jones
amendment. giving flexibility upward
to the tax rate on realty and tangible
personally. rounds out this important
constructive legislation. BY increas-
ing the tax rate in any year to ap-
proximate in tax revenue the proper
tionate amount of the total District
appropriation, already made. which
the local taxpayers are required to
pay, it reduces to minimum the
chance of any material deficit; and
surpiuses tas well as any unexpected
deficits) are equitably disposed of by
the previous sections of the amend
ment.
This provision meets the wishes OF
those who would increase the local
taxes in any year of unusual liberali-
ty by Congress in apprOpriating to
meet the accumulated and neglected
needs of previous years: and II made
fnir to the local taxpayers by the fact
that under the system of definite pro-
pOrtfonate contribution the nation,
through Congress. In increasingly