Evening star., 1925-02-24
Good for One Year Only.

II II follows its past wise policy
OF holding experimentation with the
lump-sum-payment plan strictly to
the temporary good-for- r-one-year- only
basis of application, the Senate will
not assent to the House proposition
that the Budget Bureau be authorized
TO submit for 1927 the District esti-
mates on the basis of the temporary
lump-sum provision for 1926.
This assent would, in effect, make
the lump-sum provision good for two
years instead of one. 1t is step
toward permanency. 1t amends the
present substantive law, which says
that the Commissioners shall as
nearly as may be possible bring them
Ghe estimates within the probable ag-
gregate of the fixed proportion of ap-
preparations TO be paid by the United
States and the District of Columbia" +"
Unless it does amend this substan-
tive law the Commissioners will SUBJ
NIT their estimates on the definite
proportion basis, and the Budget Bu-
reau will transmit them to Congress
on a lump-sum basis. Only hurtful
confusion can result from this condi-
ton of contradiction and inconsist-
ency.
Obedience to the substantive law in
framing the estimates by Commits
sioners and Budget Bureau has not, in
fact, restricted hurtfully the total
volume of the estimates. The Com
missioners' original estimates on the
definite-proportio basis were great
er in total amount than the Budget
Bureau would approve or the House
would appropriate on the Iump-sum
basis.
The condition is neither wholesome
nor safe in which our alien tax-col-
lecting and tax-spending body is
urged to pay solely from local tax
money for national and semi-national
projects, even when the law author
izing the appropriation by its very
terms clearly contemplates a proper
tionate contribution by the Nation.
The $500 900 appropriation for the Ma
tional Capital Park Commission is a
case in point. This appropriation was
added to the District appropriation
bill at a time and under conditions
which cause every cent of the amount
to come from the District tax money,
though the project is so broadly ma
tional that it is pictured by the terms
Of the law as of interest to the extent
of 1 cent per year to every man,
woman and child in the United
States; though the law specifically
provides for a division Of the cost be-
tween Nation and Capital community,
and though the amount Of the appro-
priation may be expended wholly or
in part at the discretion of the Com
mission outside of the District in
Maryland or Virginia. The law
clearly contemplates that in an ap-
preparation of 100000 for Park Com
mission uses either $4,000 Of the
amount shall be paid from the Treas
ury as the Nations 40 per cent con-
tribution or approximately this S240,-
600 shall be added to the basic lump
sum payment in lieu Of this definite
proportion Of contribution.
On the precedent set in the Park
Commission case the whole of the ap-
preparation for the Arlington Me-
mortal Bridge could be added to the
District appropriation bill at such a
time and under such conditions as
would cause every cent of it to be
paid from District tax money.
Clearly, while experimenting with
the lump-sum-payment plan Congress
should limit the application of it
strictly on the temporary annual
the substitute lump-sum payment
flexible, SO that it may respond in
equity to existing conditions at the
time of appropriation.
Evidences develop at every turn
that permanent substitution of the
lumpsum plan for definite proper
tionate contribution win be Jug
handled, One-sided, unfair. 1t will give
back to the Nation its pledge of pro-
portiOnate contribution which accom-
panied national seizure of the Capitals
power of self-taxatiOn without restor-
ing to the District this seIf-taxing
power of which it had been deprived.
Its practical effect will be to place a
maximum limit on the contribution of
the United States and to remove the
Limit entirely from the contribution
of the local taxpayers.