The Washington times., 1925-03-21
BAT I'll: IN
CONGRESS
LOOMS
Cong. cranton Would Institute
New Fiscal Arrangement
for District and U. S.

The fight for establishment of
q permanent lump-sunl plan OF
fiscal relationship between the
District and Federal Governments,
win be re-opened Immediately
upon the converting of Congress,
either in the regular session next
December or in special session.
should one be called before that
time.
Congressman Louis C. Cramton
Of Michigan, author of the lump
sum proposal. stated today that
he win reintroduce his bill pro-
vidinR permanency for the plan
as one of his first official acts,
following the opening Of the
Sixty-ninth Congress and win
insist upon consideration for the
measure.
Confident Of Success.
ssThere is no question about the
continuation OF the Iump-sum policy.
Congressman Cramton declared:
ssf.onrress has committed itself TO
This policy twice by an overwhelm-
ing margin. I am convinced that
n will be continued permanently,
even in the absence of specific les1s.
Iation establishing 1t as the Legal
nlan of fiscal relationship.
sOThe advantage OF having II
established as the permanent plan.
however, is great. Declaration oI
fI5is principal as a permanent law
vviII do away with legal uncertainty
4, the matter which now exists ana
wrlnich prevents the District Com
naissioners preparing their estimates
upon a formal lump-sum OASIS.
Creation Of the lump-sum pan
two years ago has. Deyohu uues'. ~ ;
,.-exzsd al, inestimable boon to the
bistrict. The last two approprla-
ficn hills. based upon this plan, nave
haen nv far. the most hOeral IN
eSa entire history of the. NatlonaI
ranifaf and that without WoTktIS
~ hardship, by way OF drastic tax
STscraases. upon the taxpayers Oh
the District. .r
coordination of this plan. expert
100 IF the past two years mas
nroved. viii make possible extensive
6eveIopment OF the National Capltai'
rossible under no other system.
Free Of Budget Bureau.
Efforts will be made. during the
,,n.1,i11e- session, to free the Distr'cL
RECOMMENDATIONS from the control CT
80 R,,dget Bureau. The action OF
tSe bureau in slashing District estl-
ste" where the change did not
.fsect the Federal Treasury to the
s-tent of a single penny, was severe
~ criticized by a number OF sen
ators and Congressmen during the
past session. E.,
AThere is a rapidly growing feel.
tho on the part of members OF
CONGRESS. that the District Com
Taissfoners should be given free
hand in fixing the amounts 10 De
appropriated for annual Dstrlct
! needs. as long as the total amount
makes no difference in the Federal
contribution.
Congress will be asked to appoint
= snec,aI commission to study the
@,.csI relationship between the local
and national governments, with q
view TO fixing an equitable lump
sum contribution, based upon
scientific ascertainment of the Fed
eral Governments responsibilities TO-
ward the National Capital.
A bill for this purpose was IN
troduced near the close OF the last
session by Congressman Ernest
w. Gibson. of Vermont, who Is ex-
uected TO reintroduce the bill soon
after Congress assemblies.
House Opinions.
These viewpoints were expressed
by the House Appropriations Com
mittee during the past session, when
Il reported to the House as follows;
eff the lump-sum plan should pc
come permanent law so that the
budget could be presented on that
basis, there Is no reason why the
estimates submitted for the District
of Columbia should not be pre-
sented to Congress In such total
amount as the citizens are willing
70 stand for by way OF taxation
with due consideration being givsn
% the relative Importance and merit
of the various objects To be appro
priated for"