Evening star., 1924-03-09
Undermining Tactics.

oSAAhAAAuS AoCtACas
When that which was accepted as
the new organic act of the District
was adopted in 1922, definitely estab-
ishing the ratio OF federal-District
payments for Capital-municipality
maintenance at 60-40, and requiring
The Commissioners to accumulate
within five years a fund sufficient to
'nable the District to meet it's own
'equisitions out of its funds on that
alto throughout the fiscal year with.
nut drawing upon the federal Treas
Try, it was accepted as definite set.
lement. Though in some respects this
lew act was not satisfactory, though
imposed too high tax rate in JUS
ice to the District, it was viewed as
'etter than a continuation Of the prac-
ice of the preceding few years Of nib
'ling away at the principle of definite
roportionate contribution which was
he basis of federal District relations
IS established in the organic act of
1878.
But Immediately after the adoption
It this new principle, or rather this
Id principle in new form, efforts were
,nade in Congress TO undermine it.
One in particular was 4 distinct pro-
losal to substitute the indeterminate
contribution for the definite contribu-
ion. That, however. was advanced
;quarely in form that q could be
;pecifically met. Other attempts, how
'ver, at breaking down the established
fiscal relations of the District and the
government have not been SO frank
and open. One of them has just been
made in the form of a rider on the bill
or the purchase of a new park site. A
subcommittee of the House District
committee having this measure before
It has adopted a provision, wholly
foreign TO the major, indeed the sole,
purpose of the bill, changing the rate
II taxation from s1.20 per 800 to
$3.50 per hundred, at full-yalue assess
nents, destroying the fixed ratio prin-
'iple and substituting sliding scale
principle with the District paying for
.ts maintenance all it can raise by
aXation at the rates thus fixed, and
he United States meeting whatever
oalance may be necessary, if balance
there should be.
1t IS explained that this provision
was accepted by the subcommittee
only as a means of getting a unani-
nous report on the park bill to the
full committee, with the understand
.ng that the author Of the proposal
would have chance for a hearing OH
the question in committee.
This is playing with fire. 1t is not
fair to the District. 1t is an invitation
10 an unwarranted reopening of the
Question Of the District-federal fiscal
relations. There is no reason why
straightforward proposal should not
be brought forth on it's own merits il
there is still disposition to upset the
agreement of 1922. Just why it is
deemed necessary to try to slip the
"sliding-scale" proposal into a bill on
a totally different subject can only be
surmised. The true friends Of the
District must be on guard constantly
against such insidious methods of at
lack.
When the Districts new organic
act was adopted a little less than two
years ago relief was felt throughout
the community, for it seemed that for
long period at least this bothersome
and disturbing question had been set
tied. 1t had obstructed the course of
District legislation for several Con.
crosses. 1t had given rise to vexatious
controversies. 1t had kept the local
community in grave state of uncer-
tainty Thus a respite seemed to be
assured from these retarding influ-
enees. But it appears now that there
Is to be no respite, that this mode of
attack is to continue. No one can plan
for developments and improvements
involving large expenditures in the
Capitafif assurance of continuance of
the f1xed-ratio principle is destroyed.
So it is lamentable that any encour-
agement whatever is given by the
House committee on the District to
these undermining maneuvers. Full re-
spect for the enactment of 1899 as a
cantract should be shown by rejection
Of the sliding-scale proposal in any
form or guise.