Evening star., 1927-12-05
Lump Sum Contribution of
$9,000,000 Held made
quate for City.
EVER. INCREASING BUDGET
OF CAPITAL EMPHASIZED
Five-Year Building Program and
Library Extension Plan Stressed
by Commissioners.

The District Commissioners signal
lied the convening of the new Con-
gress today by opening their cam
paign for restoration Of the 60-40 basis
of fiscal relations between the Dis
trict and Federal Governments.
An emphatic plea that the appro-
priations for the next fiscal year be
made upon the 60-40 ratio instead Of
the lump sum contribution of SO, ,000..
600 is the dominant keynote Of the
annual report Of the Commissioners,
which was transmitted to Congress
as soon as 1t convened.
The report calls especial attention
to provision of the substantive law
liking the 60-40 ratio Of maintaining
the District and carefully pointed out
that it Is still in effect, although con-
trlbutions by the Federal Government
IN recent years have been in the form
or S9,0OO,000 lump sum. Stress also
is laid on the ever-increasing budget Of
the District, which has to be met with.
out additional aid from the Federal
Treasury.
Urge 6O-4O Basis.
"The Commissioners earnestly be-
lieve that appropriations for the next
fiscal year should be upon the 6O-40
basis instead of the lump sum con.
tribution of 50 900 ,0O0," declared their
report. ut is clearly evident that the
total budget of the District Of Co
lumbia has been annually increasing
while the Federal contribution has re.
manned substantially stationary.
In considering the proper basis Of
contribution by the Federal Govern
ment and the District of Columbia for
the maintenance and support Of the
Capital there are certain items which
may be viewed upon a MATHEMATICAL
basis. However, it would seem not
unreasonable to suggest that there is
a further rather intangible element
which should prompt the Federal
Government to contribute an addition
al sum. Expenditures in the District
are made on a larger scale, by reason
OF the fact that it is the Capital Of the
United States, than would be the case
If this were not so.
Municipal structures must be made
more ornate, under the advice of the
Fine Arts Commission, streets must
be wider. greater police expenditures
are necessary. and. in fact, the bud
get, taken as a whole, IS upon q scale
Of expenditure which represents an
increase over that which would be
necessary in similar city not the
Capital Of the Nation II
Proportions Shown.
Several statistical tables are In.
cluded in the report, one showing the
actual appropriations from 1922 to
1928, and the proportion contributed
by the United States, and the other
the amount Of taxable real estate,
which under the present rate of tax
alton OF $1.7O per hundred will yield
$l9,z11,583.75 during the current fiscal
year. The latter table also shows
that the tax-exempt property in the
District is valued $594.00O. 900, of
which S470,000.000 is owned by the
Federal Government, $4,000, 900 by
foreign governments, $50 ,OO0, 900 BY
the municipal government and $7O,-
100000 by charitable, educational and
religious organizations.
The commissioners also placed en-
phaslS In their report on the proposed
nve-year building and extension pro-
gram OF the Public Library, and sug-
gest that Congress give serious con.
sideration to the question of financ-
ing it.
'The Public Library is by its or
ganic law declared to be a supplement
OF the public educational system of
the District" said the report. 1T Is
important that public library facili-
ties should be provided in some sys-
tematic way. The board of trustees
believe that steps should be taken
promptly to meet the requirements Of
the law that the library shall consist
OF central library and such number
OF branch libraries so located and so
supported as to furnish books and
other printed matter and information
service convenient to the homes and
offices of all residents of the said Dis.
trict.'
Services Reviewed.
"The services of the two educational
branches-public schools and library
are different, but both are essential.
The school covers intensively a period
of from to IL years in the pupils
life; the library covers the entire
period of life and the whole range of
knowledge. 1t is imperative in a
rapidly changing world to afford edu-
catiOnal opportunities for all Of the
people of the community.
Recognizing the obligation placed
upon them to find ways to provide the
more adequate library services called
for by the Hbrary's organic act, the
library trustees adopted a five-year
building and extension program, which
was introduced as III. r. 1888 at the
last session Of Congress by Repre-
sentative Ernest w. Gibson after hear
lngs before the Gibson subcommittee
of the House District committee at
which the program was presented by
the trustees and librarian and indorsed
by representatives Of various civic or
ganiZationS.
1T is estimated that the outside ex
pense Of providing sites and buildings
for IL branches. remodeling of the
Conduit Road School when abandoned
and enlarging the central library build.
Ing, including equipment, will be ST.
796,500.
1.-THE Commissioners believe that the
program is generally sound, that 1t
represents a scientific study Of pres.
ent and future conditions as far as
they can be forecast, and that it fits
in with. the other programs for the de-
velopment Of Washington, notably
those for the public schools, the parks
and Fairgrounds and the proposed
municipal center. The question that
the Commissioners believe should be
given consideration in this connection
is that Of financing the proposed II:
brary- extension program. The Com.
missioners hope that Congress will
adopt definite financial program GOV
ering this and other municipal better
ments.
Growth Is Reported.
The library trustees report crafty
ing growth in the work of the pres
ent library organization. Books to-
Continued on Page s. Column 81