Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-15
Cutting the Local Budget.

\ tentative maximum allotment of
funds to the District government in
the budget for the next fiscal wear
mas been announced by Director
Lord. as the mandate of the Presi.
dent. The total named is $3S,573,S29,
a reduction Of approximately $780,
Oo0 from the estimates as presented to
the Commissioners by the heads of
departments. At the same time the
commissioners are notified that they
may indicate such increases over the
total mentioned as in their judgment
are urgently required. with a state
ment of the consequences following
failure to appropriate the full amount
deemed necessary
Thus does the Districts budget
come under the system of Federal
supervision, despite the fact that
Congress has abandoned the definite
proportion plan of appropriations and
adopted the lump sum principle Of
national aid. 1t has been repeatedly
contended since this change that
there is no warrant whatever for a
Federal scrutiny of the District es-
Inmates by the Budget Bureau, mas
much as the amount of United States
funds appropriated for the support of
the District is not affected by the total
Of the local appropriations This view.
however. has not prevailed. and under
ho 10 II;
submitted TO Congress through the
Budget Bureau and may be cut bv It
In another aspect of the matter
however, the intervention of the
President is warranted He is. by
virtue of his office the head of the
District government He does not
OFTEN exercise his function which is
ordinarily limited TO the selection of
the commissioners. Yet Presidents
nave in the past counseled with Dis.
trlct heads in matters of municipal
administrative policy.
The Presidents intervention in the
matter of the budget may be due to
his belief that the District appropria-
tions are advancing too rapidly in
point Of size. with the result of an un-
due increase in the burden of taxa
ton put upon the people. There has
heen very material advance in the
amount of money allotted for District
expenditures during the past few
years. Ever since the abandonment of
the definite proportion principle by
Congress the annual District appro-
priation bills have steadily increa sed.
AZ the present rate of increase on the
lump sum basis in a few years the as
SeSSment upon the owners of DrOperty
In the District will be proportionately
heavier than upon those in any other
American community. II is therefore
NOT altogether to he deplored that
The President has placed a limitation
upon the estimates that are 10 go to
Congress.
The commissioners are under heavy
pressure to write their estimates in
large terms. Heavy arrears of local
needs demand attention Every de.
partment OF the District government
requires an increase of funds. If all
The department estimates were heed
ed in full the budget would be moro
than s42 900 900. and the tax rate
would be considerably increased to
meet the requirements
Hope remains that Congress may
restore the definite proportion prin-
Cple Is a matter of equity toward the
District and as a logical check upon
extravaganza in local government de-
velopment. While that hope remains
II is the course of wisdom to advance
conservatively in local estimates and
expenditures. and to that end the
Presidents present action in placing
a limit on the budget for 1928 may
prove to be helpful