Evening star., 1924-05-01

discussion of this bill this rest Will
be denied, one of the avowed main
purposes of the act of 1922 Will be
defeated and the understanding
iation was based will be fagrantly
violated.
4. Ii teaehe, a false theory con-
cerning the relation of nation TO
Capital.
1t obtrudes annually upon the at
tention of Congress the suggestion
of large cash donation TO the Cap. I.
tai, as il the primary obligation or
national city upbuilding were upon
the local taxpayers, and the nation
were only an Incidental contributor.
a voluntary and benevolent donor:
Since the nation in 1873 recognized @
power and obligation. it's responsi-
bility in respect to the Capital has
been primary and dominating. AS
late as 1915 this relation of nation to
! clearly set forth in the report of the
joint select committee of Congress,
which made the most thorough. ex-
haustive and able study of the fiscal
statesmen had given to the subject
since 1878. AS long as all the
| assets and revenues of the national
| and local joint contributors toward
Capital upbuilding are in the hands
| of the national joint contributor. and
as long as all decisions concerning
the amounts to be paid by the joint
contributors. respectively, and con-
| corning the expenditure of the joint
| revenues are to be made by the ma
| tional contributor, the latter must
| in equity. and will. in fact. bear the
| primary responsibility of Capital up
building, and the local taxpayers
will be recognized in their true re-
| lation as merely incidental contrib
utors OF tax money, not fixed in
| amount by themselves. but exacted
at the pleasure of the other joint
| contributor.
). II reduces TO minimum or de-
stroys any chance of equitable pro-
portionate contribution by the United
States in approprfadng and spending
| the Districts Accumulated Treasury
| tax surplus.
Another practical effect of destroy
! ing the 60-40 ratio will be to reduce
| TO a minimum any chance of equi-
| table proportionate contribution by
! the United States when our accu-
mulated tax surplus comes to be ex-
! pended. This tax money was col
| lected by authority of the half-and
| half law solely to apply upon the
Districts half of District appropria-
| tions. Whenever it is expended it
| would be equitable to spend it under
| the half-and-h law, the United
| States duplicating it, If when the
surplus comes to be used the pro-
! portionate contributions are on the
! 60-40 ratio, the nation through
seems to demand. the $3.50 alto. or
will make the existing 60-40 ratio
! retroactive and add to the District s
! surplus only 40 per cent from the
national Treasury. But If both the
! $3.50 and the 60-40 ratios are de-
! stroyed. and when the surplus comes
| to be expended there is no definite
proportionate contribution by nation
| and taxpaying Capital, then the
| chances are 100 to ! that the nation
will not participate at all under any
| percentage OF obligation to enlarge
| the surplus fund for the upbuildine
| of the capital
8. There are no onsettins bene-
fits to the injuries inflicted by the
bill.
| Broadly. Washington is tempted to
surrender its safeguard of national
proportionate contribution by the as
surance that through 4 lump sum
payment system .he Capital will
| escape the tender mercies of the
budget bureau and will win the
privilege. not of taxing itself with
out restraint but of being taxed by
Congress without limit for the up
building of the nations city.
1t is suggested that there will be
cutting aown of Uncle Sans Capt.
tai upbuilding outlay if the ex-
penditures are made in lump sun
instead of a proportionate part ot
the Districts total municipal ap-
propriation.