Evening star., 1923-07-05

centum on the full value of property
of the United States used for any riu-
nicipai activity from which revenue
is received, and provides that any
revenue derived from any activity
or source whatever. appropriated for
by both the United States ana the
District, including the tax on motor
vehicles. shall be divided between the
United States and the District in the
same proportion that each contributes
to the payment ot the appropriations
Under this requirement. Of law the
United states was credited during
which, added to the several items re-
quired by earlier legislation TO be
credited TO the United States. made
the total of such credit for the year
1928. $Ss2.slS.G4.
The provision for 8 per centum
taxpayers OF the District. All moneys
received for rental OF vault spaces,
about $4,000 year, now goes wholly
to the United States, although the
face sidewalk and street improve
ments; ali receipts from the whole
sale producers market, about eco
q year, are credited to the United
States, and this amount IL increased
by half would not pay the full rental,
yet the District pays GO per centum
OF the salaries of employees at the
market and contributed So per
centum of the cost of the structures:
and the entire receipts from public
convenience stations, nearly $4,000 a
year. go to the United States, while
the District pays $4,000 or the $4,000
appropriation for salaries and ex-
penses and shared half the cost OF
the buildings.
u. s, shares in All But Four Items.
Under the requirement for the
division of, revenue from activities
o riaS cd hv
States and the District. the United
States received. in 1923, S16i.43e from
the motor vehicle tax, and against
that sum paid as its share for the
aries of the license bureau $3.50:
From Police Court fines the sum OF
S194114.19 was credited to the United
States. as against this paid sl9'tSo
as it's share OF the salaries and ex-
penses of the court. These items,
prior to 1928, were credited wholly
to the District. OF the sixty-six items
of miscellaneous revenue belonging
entirely to the District under tne
terms of the organic act the united
States. as the result OF ieglsiation
passed from time to time. beginning
with 1888, now shares in all but tour
items, in some cases. as shown, being
credited with the entire amount OF
collections, and in others receiving
so per centum and 40 per centum: ~
credited to the United States IN this
way will exceed $1,000,000.
81 zoo, coo OF Surplus by Year END.
"Bv the close of the fiscal year
1924 the District will shavc raised
sl2O0.000 Of the cash fund or SS'ooo'-
600 to be collected and deposited in
the Treasury before July l, 1927. The
raising OF this fund imposes an un-
just and unnecessary burden upon
the taxpayers of the city. as the
District now has to its credit on the
books of the federal Treasury free
surplus of about $4,500.eOo. an amount
more than sufficient to enable the
District within present appropriation
limits to operate on a strictly cash
basis. The ownership OF the District
to this fund is recognized oy the
controller general Of, OF the ;nvss1iee unnsed 4
ton into fiscal relations between the
United States and the District by
joint select committee of Congress. the
committee recommended that Con
gress recognize the existence OF
free surplus in the United States
treasury to the credit OF the District
of Columbia as of June 80, 1877, In
the sum of s4,671. 1861"
AFTER charging certain sums found
to be owing the United states the
Seionging to the District of t4,lss.-
15i.s2 The raising of the additional
$4,000 600 will merely result In In
creasing the Districts cash in the
treasury to nearly s7.5oo.ooo,. a sum
far in excess Of cash needs con,
sidered with current collections and
the semi-annual payment of taxes
Every EFFORT should be made to have
The free surplus appropriated for mu-
nicipai improvements or else that 1t
be permitted to be used as an operat-
ing cash fund and thus do away with
the present necessity OF raising
new fund for this purpose.