Evening star., 1922-12-22
D. c. Needs and Appropriations.

D. c. Needs and Appropriations.
All Washington hopes. apparently
with good reason. that the unusual
brevity of the hearing on the District
appropriation bill by the House appro-
priations subcommittee indicates sub
stantial acceptance as a budget OF the
Commissioners estimates after they
have been cut to the hone and into the
bone by the budget bureau.
The cut In the hearings may signify
70 cut in the budget. The millions OF
reduction in the Commissioners ap-
prcpriative proposals to meet essen
1ial municipal needs. u,ade by the
budget bureau. may reasonably be
viewed by the members OF the House
appropriations committee as obviattng
The necessity OF the customary auto
matte and perfunctory reduction of
these estimates by themselves.
This treatment CT the District bud
get figures as Il real budget. lending
itself equitably to minimum Of re-
duction and a maximum Of absolutely
essential increases, is in line with the
words, the spirit and intent of the
Districts new fiscal organic act of
1922
This act retained the principle OF
definite proportionate contributions,
hut cut the governments contribution
from so to 40 per cent. increased by
g., no m
nersonalty and cut down revenues
hitherto exclusively enjoyed 'by the
District Having made these drastic
changes and laid down the funda.
mental principles CT the new system
Congress left the practical application
OF, the new fiscal law largely to be
worked out by the District Commits
sioners
We are no longer to wrangle over
ffty-ffty or over the question Of def
rite or indefinite proportionate con-
fributions. There is no longer the pos
slbility Of hurtful deadlock between
the two houses over this issue. 1t is
decreed that the proportionate con-
ratio shall be sixty-forty. and every
body accepts and Is adjusting to 1t.
It Is clearly impossible to provide
the millions Of money necessary to
meet the neglected needs Of the war
time in respect to schools. streets
water supply. etc. in current appro'
priation bill. which relies solely upon
revenue derived from local and ma
tional taxes of the present. which does
not utilize accumulated tax surpluses
of the past and which does not
through federal advances to be reim-
hursed or through bond issue COM
pel participation by taxpayers OF the
future in the payment for permanent
improvements which will benefit them.
In the spirit of our new fiscal law
the pending appropriation bill Is to be
made to meet the absolute maximum
of these accumulated neglected needs
OF the past in addition to the provision
Of adequate current maintenance.
Then before the session closes the
Joint select committee is to report and
Congress Is to determine the amount
OF our accumulated tax surplus Of the
past, which. with the corresponding
prdportionate contribution of the ma
tion. will naturally be devoted at once
TO meet the accumulated neglected
needs of the wartime. failure to do
which In the past has caused this un-
expended tax surplus to accumulate.
And if after the revenues from taxes
et the present and past have been thus
fully utilized there remains the need
of millions to be expended upon great
permanent public improvements which
benefit the taxpayers of the future
Qike enlarged water-supply plant. ade-
quate school building equipment.
smooth streets and effective sewers)
this need must untesitatingly be met
by a District loan, either in the shape
Of an advance from the federal Treas.
ury. to be reimbursed with interest, or
2 bond issue such as any other munich
pality would under similar conditions
negotiate.
u ne InIneuldte ui SeIt ueeu IS, tneTe-
fore, with the minimum Of friction ap-
parently assured by the terms Of our
new fiscal law. to provide through the
pending appropriation bill adequate
current maintenance of the Capital.
and in addition a maximum Of provi.
sion to meet the grossly neglected
needs Of the war time. Next will come
the helpful solution of our tax.surpius
problem; and finally. If necessary. con-
sideration of District houd issue.