Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-01-09
Parks and Local Taxpayers.

Parks and Local taxpayers.
The proposition TO SHIFT the entire
burden of completing the parkway
connection between Potomac and
Rock Creek Parks upon the shoulders
Of the local taxpayers calls attention
70 the fact that in direct violation
of substantive law appropriations for
park development in the District
Maryland and Virginia, through the
new District OF Columbia Park Com
mission, are so thoughtlessly made
that every cent of the cost is being
paid by the local taxpayers.
The annual appropriations Of more
than a million dollars a year, author
iZed as supplemental and extraordi-
nary expenditures by the new District
Of Columbia Park Commission law,
are directed by the law itself to be
paid from the revenues of the Dis
trict of Columbia and the general
funds of the Treasury in the same
proportion as other expenses Of the
District OF Columbia
The current ratio is 60-40, fixed in
the substantive law by the new or
ganic act of 1922, and still unrepealed.
The wholesale exceptions to the 60-40
ratio involved in the temporary lump.
payment plan of 1926 merely suspend
the substantive law of 1922 for the
year during which the exceptions
apply and do not repeal or pernla-
nently amend the substantive law.
The Park Commission law clearly
contemplates land provides) that the
authorized annual appropriation Of a
million dollars shall be made, $500, 900
from the District revenue and $500. 900
from the National Treasury. If the
District appropriations for 1927 are
TO be made at the 6040 ratio in &c
cordance with existing substantive
law, this apportionment Of the parks
expenditure will result automatically
II tentatively and for only the year
a lump-sum payment is to be sub.
stituted for the national 40 per cent
contribution, the Nations contribu
ton of $500 900. or thereabouts, ought
lawfully and equitably to be added
specifically to the nine millions Of
basic lump-sum payment.
The Park Commission appropriation
is made Enthusiastically as a supple
ment TO the current maintenance and
development appropriation, with its
nine millions of lump-sum payment
in accordance with last years teuta,
tive precedent. If the 60-40 ratio is
not applied to the whole appropriation
and if the lump-sum payment is not
increa sed as suggested, II is gen
orally recognized that every cent of
the Park Commissions million dol
lars per year will come from the Dis
trict taxpayers.
Congress will not permit any tenta-
tive Juggling with the ratio of national
and local community contribution to-
ward Capital development to throw
the whole burden of Park Commission
expenditure upon the local taxpayers
I. The law specifically forbids this
procedure by directing a division OF
the cost.
.. The project is broadly national
The terms of the law suggest the pa
triotic interest i'm it to the extent of 4
cent year contribution of every man
woman and child in the Republic. Con
Rress will detect the gross perversiOr
of law and equity which results in Z
denial to 109 800 900 Americans of al
participation in the patriotic privilege
of parks contribution and exacts tho
entire 11O,O00,000 pennies, represent
ing the whole Nation, from the hal
million Americans lat more than s.
annually per head of the District Of
Columbia.
3. The title to all the land pur
chased by the Park Commission j,
vested in the United States. The Parl
Commission can purchase land in ad
tacent Maryland and Virginia as wei
as in the District. II the whole COS
falls upon local taxpayers their tal
money will buy for Uncle Sam exclu
siye title TO land outside of the Dis
3rfct in Maryland and Virginia.
The natural, easy way to avoid thi
inequity and perversion Of the law i
for Congress, after its Temporal!
tentative experiment with the lump
payment plan. to adhere now withou
exception to the definite proportion
plan of contribution directed by exist
Ing substantive law. If, however, Their
IS To be, even temporarily. a lump
sum payment contribution for 1927
approximately 100000 should clearl,
be added by the House appropriation
committee and the House to the basil
nine million lump-sum payment.
It Is perhaps a sad commentary OF