Evening star., 1923-02-08
j. s. SHARE { OF D. c.
COSTS S8,000,0)D
UNDER NEW PLAN
Bill in House Would End
Proportionate Sharing of
Annual Expenses.


ment after July /, 1924, shall no
longer bear a fixed proportion of the
expenses of the National Capital. but
shall pay the sum of $S,000,000
toward such expenses. is made in
bill introduced today by Representa-
tive Louis C. Cramton of Michigan,
who was chairman of the subcom-
rnittee which drafted the District ap
preparation bill this year and who
was chairman Of the House conferees
on the District bill.
Representative Cramtons bill pro-
poses that on and after July I, 1924,
there shall be credited wholly to the
District of Columbia any revenue now
required by law TO be credited to
the District of Columbia and the
United States in the same proportion
that each contributed to the activity
or source from whence such revenue
was derived
Present Plan stands TIL 1927.
The Cramton bill also provides that
nothing contained in this act shall
be construed to prevent. until July
l. 1927. the advancement permitted
trict by the Treasury Department, in
accordance with the first paragraph
of section OF the District of Colum-
bia appropriation act, approved June
90. 1922"
In discussing his proposed bill. af-
fecting the federal contribution 10
! the expenses of the District of Co
lumbia. Representative Cramton said:
II believe 1t highly desirable. both
for the federal government and the
4--s., T11. 1T, hnt he oh, y,E~c
/ propose in the federal contribution
| TO District expenses, be made. The
! property interests of the federal gov
ernment in the District Of Columbia
| so far as land area, etc. is concerned,
| have reached an approximate maxi
mum, while the development of other
!, property interests in the District is
| going on at a constantly increasing
| ratio.
| 'rhe rapid growth Of population ir
the District, accompanied by an ever
| greater real estate development anc
| Increase in other taxable property
make it imperative, in fairness to the
| federal treasury, that the old proper.
tional policy of contribution be
! thrown into the discard
ss,0OO,0OO About Present Total.
II propose in lieu of this that q
| fixed amount each year be contrib
| uted by the federal government to.
| ward the expenses of the District and
suggest as that amount sS,000.000.
THAT is approximately the amount the
! federal treasury contributes at the pres
ent time under the present plan. and
| while there are many in Congress who
| criticize the present federal contribution
/ as too liberal, in view of the extremely
| low tax rate in the District OF Columbia
| / think consent of Congress to tha
amount as fixed annual contributor
could be secured.
| 81 am aware that the first impuls,
of District residents may be one o
| opposition to my suggestion. i be
Heve. however. that on consideration
| il will be realized that the best in
terests of the District in the years t.
COMETS most rapid development
can be secured under the plan which
l suggest. At the present time Con
gress feels that the total appropria.
tions for the government and devel
opment of the District of ColuElbi.
must be restricted to such an amour
that the federal share thereof. a
present 40 per cent, shall not consti
tute an undue burden upon the fed
eral Treasury. At the same time, tn
city is developing. as have said, an,
it's needs in many directions ar
acute, as is the case in any growing
city
Tax Rate Is Low.
The tax rate is low and some in
crease in 1t could be borne by tn
District without undue hardship. ant
think would be borne cheerfully il
the interests of more rapid develop
ment of the District needs in the wa,
of paving, schools. sewers. lighting
police, fire protection, etc.
IF the plan l propose were adopted
and the contribution of the fedora
Treasury were a fixed, stipulated sum
II am sure the disposition of Congress
would be to expedite development o
such District matters as rapidly n
the sentiment of the people of tn
son able tax rate. At the present tim
Congress is inclined to feel that Dis
trict support for increased expendi
lures is the more enthusiastic be
cause so large part of the propose
expenditures must be made from tn
federal Treasury.
''The realization that the entire ex
penditure beyond the $S,000.000 mus
come from District revenues. woul
no doubt have q SOLDERING ,nfluenc
upon some propagandists fol reckles
expenditures, but where real need ex
listed and a pronounced public senti
ment was manifested for the expendi
ture of money to be contributed sole
ly by the people of the District. | al
sure that appropriations would b
made by Congress in response t
such demand.
Il think the people of the Distric
are sincere in their demand for neede
improvements in the District and ths
a slight increase in the tax rate
meet more rapid filling OF those DC
, mands would be cheerfully accepted
am satisfied that my bill provide
very just treatment Of the feders
treasury and more liberal polio
of dealing with the District