Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-10
URGED
BY BOARD OF TRADE
Present Lump-Sum Appro.
priation for District Called
"GrossIy Unjust"


An outstanding plea for return
Of the expenses of the maintenance
and upbuilding of the National Capt.
tai, as provided in existing substan-
tive law for the District OF Columbia.
with abandonment OF the present
temporary and make shift lump-sum
plan, was adopted unanimously by
the directors of the Washington
Board Of Trade yesterday afternoon.
This plea, incorporated in a decla-
ration of principles concerning the
fiscal relations between the United
States and the District OF Columbia,
will be forwarded TO the District
Commissioners, the Bureau OF the
Budget and TO Congress for consid-
Grafton in connection with the budget
for the year 1928, which now is be-
fore Congress for action.
Call Plan Grossly Unjust"
Concerned over the financial sta
bility Of the District under the pres.
ent lump-sum-payment plan employ
|
der which local taxpayers have no
assurance as 10 the size OF the future
tax burden. the directors OF the Board
OF Trade. which has persistently
fought the lump sum payment prac-
tice since its Inauguration, declared
in the resolution that this plan not
only is unsouud in principle. but as
now applied is grossly unjust"
The board reaftirmed its belief IN
''the justice. wisdom and prosperity.
promoting qualities Of the definite-pro-
portion plan OF contribution" and
urged Congress 10 return in practice
| 10 compliance with the terms OF the
existing substantive law. which pro
| vides that so per cent of the tax bur.
den OF Washington shall be borne
by residents OF the District OF Co
lumhia and 20 per cent by the people
OF the Nation.
The declaration Of principles con.
cerninx the fiscal relations between
the Federal and local governments
was submitted TO the Board OF Trade
directors by Theodore W. Moves.
chairman or the executive committee
OF the Citizens Joint Committee on
Fiscal Relations. which is composed
u delegates from many local orgariza.
tons sponsoring the movement on
behalf OF residents OF the District for
equitable readjustment Of the tax
system. Mr.. Noyes also Is a member
OF the board OF directors OF the trade
body.
The board recommended. should
Congress ever decide 10 substitute
some other form OF national contrieu.
tion towards the uphuilding OF the
Capital than the 6o-s0 proportional
plan. now provided fer in substantive
law. but temporarily set aside by the
lump payment plan. that the suhs.i-
tuts system provide first Of all for
definite. regular and liberal sppro-
priations by the United States and
for fixed and certain District taxa-
tion."
Districts Burden Boosted.
The gross injustice OF the tempo
rary iump-sum plan. members % the
Board OF Trade have pointed out. lies
in the fact that. in the face Of q
steadily rising District budget. the
contribution OF the United States re-
mains stationary. This serves 20 occs.
year by year the tax burden placed
on residents of Washington. they poin;
out. with no indication ~ where the
limit would he reached. her~as the
proportion at the time OF the inauSu-
ration Of the lump-sum plan was APP
prcNinsately so per cent for the Dis,
,rsct and 40 per cent for the United
States. the growth in ccsts OF the up
building OF the Nations Capital has
transformed this proportion as ~ the
present year 20 approximately ss.sS,
As result OF this ehanSe in the
fiscal plan. local leaders point cut.
there has been a tremendous rise both
In tho local tax rate and in the aS,
scssnents on District property.
The declaration cf principles adopted
by the hoard also sets forth that. in
Justice TO the taxpayers ~ the Dis
tric,. the character " the expsnal.
lures which are possible under the
District appropriation ar; should ee
limited by law ~ exclude national
projects and those semI.nSssonal In
character.
The Board of Trade and other coa,
s;ituents of the ClttscnS' lelGs Cc,n,
mi,tee on Fiscal Relations persistent.
~ have pointed ~ the injustice ~
assessing against the taxpayers ~
Washington the cnSi "a the partial
etsst ot the maintenance ct Fe<ters,
Government projects iccate1 here nct
distinctly lecal in character,
Assessed for Federal Work.
Amens such ariec,s which have
heen attacked hy Sonmi,teeS ~ tho
Rcard ct Trade are the assessment "
the cost OF the LAYING NJ water mains
and the provision "cf water service to
the Feaerai departments tres cs
tCon,snued on raSe 4. Ceiumn Sl