Evening star., 1925-01-29
An Adequate Budget,

AL ouCq udlc OuuBeIs
Leaving for Congress to deter
mine" whether to repeal the lump
sum payment plan inaugurated in
The current law as an annual meas
ure Of Federal contribution to the UP
keep Of the National Capital or tc
apply the proportionate percentage ge
plan, in accordance with existing sub
stantive law. the House appropriations
committee today reports a District bill
which is exceptionally liberal in its
provision for funds. It proposes an
appropriation Of s30,966,957, which is
an increase Of $1,794,SO3.79 over the
current appropriation and an in.
crease, as well, Of s196,4S6 over the
budget recommendations.
This is an exceptional situation.
Heretofore the District bill on emer.
Gence from the House committee has
been In terms Of reduction from the
budget estimates, and often from
the current appropriation. The House
committee this year has recognized
the large and growing needs OF the
District in terms Of a bill which makes
generous provision for all branches OF
the municipality, and for the first
time in the history Of local fiscal
legislation approximates the real re,
quirement.
The committee seeks to justify the
lump-sum plan as the permanent
method of making Federal contribu.
ton to the upkeep of the Capital in
an extended argument. 1t presents
figures to show savings to the United
States under this system which, with
its recommendation, it submits in
its report, though not in the text
Of the bill, for congressional ap-
proval as the substantive law of
District appropriation. This argu.
ment, Of course, is directed to Con-
gress itself and Is framed to ap-
peal to the spirit Of economy. 1t is
at the same time addressed to the
people OF the District, seeking to show
that under the lump-sum system
larger appropriations will be made by
Congress than under the definite pro-
portion plan. In other words, with the
Federal contribution reduced to a
maximum lump sum not in proportion
TO the total, there IS to be no stint in
appropriating District revenues to be
raised by increased taxes. If a limit
is placed by Congress upon its own
outlays by appropriations from the
Treasury in Capital maintenance,
Congress will appropriate without
restraint from the taxes levied with
out limitation upon District property.
This point Is stressed in the follow
Ing language Of the report accom-
panying the bill to the House:
If the lump-sum plan should be-
come permanent law, so that the bud
get could be presented on that basis,
there is no reason why the estimates
submitted for the District of Colum-
bia should not be presented in such
total amount as the citizens are will
ing to stand for by way of taxation,
with due consideration being given to
the relative Importance and merit OF
the various objects to be appropriated
for.
This question is to be determined
between the House and the Senate.
Whether the lump-sum plan is adopt
Cd by the House for one year only
or made permanent by the use of
the language of substantive law
in the appropriative clause, this
new bill will undoubtedly be the
most liberal that has ever been
enacted for the maintenance of the
District. Generous provision is made
in this bill and will doubtless be con.
tinued in the later framing Of the
measure, and perhaps increased, for
all branches Of the municipal organi
zation, for schools, for police, fire pro
lection, for street Improvements and
for salaries in the executive estab
lishment.
Reserving for future discussion
tho question Of the fairest and
wisest method Of Federal partici
patton in Capital maintenance, it is
in order to express gratitude tc
the House appropriations committee
for this unusually, but not unmerit
edly, liberal provision. The Capital
community requires a large budget
1t has never had an adequate one. It's
needs have accumulated. It's scale OF
pay for its public servants has re
manned low. while elsewhere such
scales have risen. It has Jagged in its
physical equipment. Now it would
seem to be the will of Congress, as ex
pressed up to this point by the House
committee on appropriations, thai
Washington needs shall be met
adequately. The spectacle of Dis
Jrict bill which in it's first stage ex
ceeds current appropriations and bud
get estimates is a gratifying novelty