Evening star., 1923-10-03
CRAMTON To URGE
FIXED SUM TO D. c.
Representative Would Have
Citizens Taxed to Meet De-
velopment Needs.

Arguing that change In the fiscal
J relations between tho District and
federal governments is needed, Rep
rcsenta atiye Louis c. Cramton of
Michigan, who had charge of the
District appropriation bill in the last
session of Congress. now urges his
proposal for a definite and fxed pay
ment by the federal government an
nually intead of sharing the expenses
proportionately.
Representative Cramton expresses
the hope that this proposal will be
considered on its merits and Impair
bias" on his part.
Cites DISTRICTS Needs.
The need OF Il change in the fiscal
earrangements between the federal
lumhia is forcibly demonstrated at
The present time" said Representative
Cramton. Here we have rapidly
growing city with an Intelligent, alert
and progressive population. demand
ing all the things thoroughly mod
ern city should have. but which must
5 ,hools, sewers and paving must
follow homebuilding rather than pre-
rade it. The complaint here Is that
such improvements do not follow
closely enough on the heels of devel-
ornent. The people who complain
enjoy very low tax rate. could with
out hardship stand moderate in
crease If it would bring about the
improvements desired Then what
stands in the way? The present pro-
portionate plan OF federal contriJn-
t!on to ID. G. expenses.
Sees Tax Cut Demand.
while the people of the District
enjoy very easy tax rate. the people
OF the nation at large are bending
low under the heaviest tax burdens
they have ever known. They are
everywhere demanding that federal
taxation he reduced TO the minimum
Because Of the war burdens and in
creased costs. the total of federal ex-
penditures cannot In any event be
brought below tfre TO four times
the pre-war total. but the minimum
possible must be reached.
Under the present fiscal arrange
ment the District budget comes with
in the pinch of this necessity, because
n percentage of the cost Is borne by
the federal Treasury and the larger
the appropriation the District of CO.
contribution. Hence, the District
budget is necessarily scanned by Gen
Lord in charge of the federal budget
and must later be scanned by Con-
Eress largely with a view to the size
OF the federal contribution and its
effect on the total of the federal bud
get .--...
HIames Fiscal Plan
"The result is the pruning and cut
ting that is causing the present evil
dences OF distress in the Offices OF
many District of Columbia officials
associations. But SO long as the
present fiscal relation between the
District and the federal government
Is maintained and the federal Treas
ury remains so heavily burdened. sc
long Will tie car OF District progress
be Obliged to suit it's pace. to that OF
Uncle Sam, which leads 1t. -s .yf !.
u proposed in the last Congress
and will again in IhisssthatSthe sys-
TEN be changed and Task that Dis
trfct officials and publtc- spirited citf-
zens Interested in more. rapid deyel-
opment of the city consider the sug-
geston impartially and unaffected by
any imagined bias of mine. 49,
Urges Definite Ratio.
II urge that the federal contribu-
tion be definite and fixed amount
rather than on a percentage basis.
I suggest that it be fixed at $4,000, 900
annually. with no return of any fees
or other moneys TO the federal Treas :
ury. that being the approximate con-
trihution in the current year.
IF such plan be adopted the stated
and fixed amount is set down IN the
federal budget and the federal Treas
ury loses interest in discussion Of
appropriations above that amount
for District purposes. There would
not then be the same necessity as
now for review of the District
budget by the federal budget office.
IF such review should be con-
tinued as an examining agency to
serve Congress the budget commits
meled in his action by the condition
or the burdens of the federal Treas
ury. He would then consider the
District budget solely with a view
TO the needs of the District and the
erect of the total of the District
budget upon District taxation. The
action of Congress. after such review
or without II, would be based upon
such considerations.
Doubts Big Tax Raise.
There would be no necessity of
mortgaging the future; new i'm
idly as actually needed. within the
limits of such a tax rate as those
demanding the improvements and
benefiting by them would approve
and reasonably could be asked to
bear. / do not contemplate that any
substantial increase in the tax rate
would be necessary, but those that
strenuously urge increased expendi-
lures would be in the dignified and
impressive position of urging the ex-
penditure of their own money
"The expansion of the city, the in
crease of taxable property. is SO
much more rapid than the increase
of federal property interests here that
my proposal can be. defended upon
considerations of Justice as well as
expediency. My present purpose, how
ever, is to commend consideration of
the question to those who seek more
rapid city improvement than Is at
present possible"