Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-05-06

L
Hearings Had Been Expected.
IT was generally expected when the
bill was referred to the appropriations
committee yesterday to consider the
fiscal relations provision. on a vote Of
the Senate. that an opportunity would
be given the citizens of the District
to be heard in regard to the matter.
In fact the suggestion was made on
the floor yesterday that such hearings
should be given. The committee to-
day railroaded the matter through.
however, without regard to such sug-
geStionS.
Senator Phipps later said that the
action of the committee in reporting
out the conference tax plan with the
slight amendment mentioned, was
unanimous. and that most of the
members of the appropriations COM
mittee were present when II was
taken.
The Colorado senator said that he
intended. to call the bill up at the
earliest opportunity, perhaps this
afternoon. There is only one matter
unsettled IN dispute in the District
bill, and that is the fiscal relations
provision.
If the Senate agrees TO the motion
of Senator Phipps to concur in the
House action on this provision with
an amendment'it it will have to go back
to the House for approval of the Sen
ate amendment, but as soon as the
House has concurred in that amend
ment the bill will be completed and
ready for the approval of the Presi-
dent. This is contingent. of. course
upon the Senate's adopting the mo-
ton of Senator Phipps.
Senator Rhipps said that he did
not believe the new fiscal relations
plan would result in any increased
taxatio upon the residents of the
10 Mt
people of the District are already be-
ing taxed to raise revenue sufficient
to pay 60 per cent of the eXpendl-
lures of the District. and that the
new plan makes the 60-40 arrange
ment permanent.
S5JO.OOO Surplus Raised.
He said also that under this 6040
plan the District had raised a surplus
of approximately s55O,000 last year.
and that on that account the tax
rate had been lowered this year.
So far as putting the District on
cash-paying basis. he said, the
Senate already has put through
concurrent resolution seeking to de-
termine the Districts right to the ex-
listing surplus of nearly $5,OO0.0O0 of
District revenues which have ac-
crued in past years.
He said that bill would be intro
duced soon amending the law so that
one-half of the tax on real estate
would be payable November 1 and
one-half May /. In this way, he said.
the District would have enough money
on hand to pay on cash basis as
provided in conference fiscal rela-
tions plan, without burdening the
people with increased taxation.
To Ask for Herring.
Senator Pat Harrison of Mississippi
when he learned of the action of the
Senate appropriations committee, in
reporting the bill back to the Senate
without hearings. said:
81 intend to make a motion when
the bill comes up in the Senate to re-
ter it back to the committee again
with instructions that the people Of
the District be given an opportunity
to be heard on it. The people of tho
District have no representative IN
Congress. That is all the more rea-
son why they should be heard when
important matters like this are un-
der consideration"
The District Commissioners should
certainly be heard on the subject,
Mr.. Harrison added.
The District appropriation bill, to-
gether with the conference fiscal re-
lation plan which has been vigorously
attacked, was referred to. the Senate
appropriations committee late yester-
day afternoon, with instructions that
the committee give consideration to
the fiscal relations provision.