Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-12-20
Eliminate Section One.

The pending House bill Oh. r. 1879
20 create a Joint congressional COM
mittee to inquire into the fiscal rela-
lions between the United States and
the District provides in its second sec
ton that the joint committee shall as
certain and Seport whether the pres
ent percentage proportion basis of ap-
propriating rs now provided by
law should continue" or whether the
United States should contribute fix
ed or lump-sum amount annually
in lieu of the existing per-
Centage proportion basis" and if so,
''what would be & fair and equitable
amount to be so contributed
Clearly these words assume that
when the joint committee begins it's
vitality important labors the then ex-
esting substantive law shall provide
Tor the present percentage proportion
basis of contribution and that the first
task of the committee is to ascertain
whether the then existing percentage
proportion basis provided by substan-
tive law shall continue.
But the first section Of the pending
House bill contradicts and destroys
the assumption upon which the sec
ond section is based. For the first
section of the bill in effect repeats the
present substantive law providing for
a percentage proportion basis and SUBJ
sstitutes as permanent, substantive
law for q fixed period a lump-sum
appropriation. On the passage Of the
bill this provision goes into effect at
once. and when the joint committee
begins its labor its first task will not
be to ascertain whether the then ex-
listing substantive law for a definite
proportionate percentage contribution
shall continue, for the substantive law
then existing will provide for a lump
sum contribution. and not one on a
percentage proportion basis.
In the battle between the percentage
proportion basis and the lump-sum
/ plan the fact of being the substantive
law is a distinct advantage. It is
about the only tactical advantage that
che sorely buffeted and impotent Dis
frict now enjoys. In possession Of this
citadel 1t needs to fight only on the de.
fensive. If the District is wise it will
not surrender this stronghold unless
and until it is battered into submission
by superior force, and further resist.
Rnce is vain.
But section first of the pending bill,
eontradicting and stultifying section
second, proposes that the District
under its banners inscribed Financial
Equity" and Percentage Proportion
Basis" shall abandon to the enemy its
tower OF strength, pending the de.
Eision Of which shall occupy the citadel
permanently.
In this clash between the first and
second sections Of the proposed law
the second section should prevail. =
Changing the present substantive
law. pending the decision of the joint
committee and of Congress whether
or not It ought to be changed, is illog-
tcal in principle, and in practical eff.
feet unjustly hurtful to the helpless
District.
Do not impose the extreme penalty
or expulsion from its citadel upon the
District before the investigation begins
which is to determine whether it shall
be expelled.
Do not first fire, then inquire. Do
not transfer to real life the topsy.
turvy procedure of Alice's Wonder.
land where the Queens rule is: "Sen.
fence first-yeriict afterwards"
Eliminate section one.