Evening star., 1924-05-02
ID. C.. COMMITTEE MEMBERS FLAY.
PROPOSED FISCAL PLAN CHANGE
Tinhhan, Chindbloom and Moore Vigorously Pro-
test CrantOn Anendment-Ask Exhaustive i.
|. Study of Tax System. ~. .s~e 3.4


Vigorous protest was made in the
House yesterday by three members
OF high standing that the Cramton
amendment entirely changing the fis-
cal relations between the federal
and District government which have
been in effect for more than fifty
years, or any other Fundamental
change regarding the treatment of
the National Capital ought not to
be made without careful considcra-
ton and thorough independent leg
islation instead OF by an amendment
to the appropriation bill. The
Cramton amendment was placed in
the appropriation bill by a vote of
% to during consideration OF the
measure in committee of the whole.
Representative George Holden
T1nkham of Massachusetts, who has
served for four years on the Dis
trict legislative committee and six
years on the subcommittee which
drafts the District appropriation bill
Representative Carl R Chindbloom,
Republican, Illinois, a member of the
ways and means committee. and
Representative r Walton Moore,
Democrat. Virginia, a member OF the
joint committee which is considering
the reorganization OF the admins
trattVe branch of the government,
all urge that special investigation
should be made before the fiscal re-
l2ttons were disturbed in any way.
Representative John c. Schafer, Re-
publican, Wisconsin, advocated a con-
stitutional amendment. If necessary,
granting the people of the District a
right to protect their own interests
In legislation and especially in re-
gard to the tax rate and how the
money raised by taxation should be
spent. AS long as the people of the
District are subject to taxation with
out representation he advocated that
the federal government should bear
the entire expenses of the National
Capital.
Charges Contract Breach.
Representative Tinkham argued at
length against the Cramton amend
mont as a violation Of a moral con-
tract and said: ..
when I said contract 1 meant
that what Is now law, was an asser-
ton on the part OF the United States
as to what 1t proposed to do for five
years with regard to its fiscal rela-
tions with this District. 1t calls for
accumulations OF money on the part
OF the District which have been to
date accumulated, and IL the District
or it's representatives would not agree
to change in the contract-I call
1t a. contract: you may call 1t policy
Il should deem II improper for the
Congress to repudiate 1t.
In my opinion, you are violating a
moral contract upon which the Dis
trict of Columbia had a right to rely
and under which they have accumu-
lated a surplus, or have performed
their part, which contract two years
pudiate. The agreement, or policy, II
you wish to call 1t so, was to hold
good until 1927 and must II honorable
conduct and high standards are to be
maintained by Congress.
Argues Policy ShesId Stand.
1T was a solemn arrangement, that
was to continue in effect for five
years in accordance with it's very
terms. Particularly should IL stand
when there has been no hearing be-
fore o legislative committee, when
commission, when the proposition is
simply offered from this floor with
only fifty members present, COM
plete change in an asserted policy for
q term of years.
"Why did not the honorable gentle
man from Minnesota Chairman Da-
Wis of the subcommittee in charge of
the District biiD two years ago pro-
pose this policy which should have have
he now proposes in the bill?
Sees Confusion Resulting.
ais there not enough confusion al
ready existing in the fiscal relations
between the District of Columbia and
Congress because OF the many new
policies that have been adopted with
fixed in 1922 and stand by 1t. That Is
the only sound course of procedure
Change IL If necessary, but in regu-
lar way and upon the date upon
which the policy is to terminate by
'T ask the honorable representative
from Michigan Representative Cram
ton) why he comes here two years
after he has made that arransement' l.
which has been satisfactory and ac-
ceptable to the District of Columbia,
and proposes a new arrangement
which, if it is right, should have been
proposed two years agoT
Representative Mckenzie OF IL
,inois acting chairman of the mill
tary affairs committee. asked Repre-
sentative Tinkham: In view of the
fact that your ancient ancestors came
over on the Mayfiower and your more
recent ancestors stood at Concord
and Lexington fighting for a prln-
ciple, Is not your principal animB
against this legislation due to the
without representation
Representative Tinkham replied:
IT think there is an important ele-
rnent of that principle in tt-that Is.
that we are disposing OF matters
vitally affecting the taxpayers of this
District, who are not represented
here, In a most cavalier and casual
way, and that having implied for
five years that the relations were to
be upoE a certain fixed basis and
then lightly to repudiate that basis,
the fact that they are not represent
ed here has bearing and an i'm
portant one upon my opposition to
the trea tment Of the question that
is now under discussion"
Sees Obligation Definite.
In an argument with Chairman
sentative Tinkham said: IF this Con-
gress en2cts into law a statute which
purports to fix for five years the finan-
cial relations between the United
Organization or federal district, and
for a period of two years that ar
rangement Is carried out by the na-
tional government and carried out by
the other party, 1t seems to me there
is an obligation, in reasonable honor.
carry II through unless something
has arisen which should change the
status of the arrangement"
Cites Cftfzens' Petition.
REPRESENTATIVE Tinkham read to the
House the petition from the citizens
joint committee on fiscal relations
between the United States and the
District Of Columbia for preservation
hgaR[IREI1EEl1NE@IEiElEIENlElHlEElEfEl
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