Evening star., 1928-03-02
Increase the Lump Sum.

The House has passed the District
bill .or the fiscal year 1929, retaining
the Mmp-Sum contribution Of 50 600 900
BY the Federal Government. Thus the
House. which in 1924 adopted as tenn
porary eXpcdient the Federal contri-
button Of 4 lump sum in lieu of the
lawful provision that this contribution
be fixed on a proportionate basis, con-
tinues TO regard this sum as inelastic
ard arbitrary. The Federal Contribu-
tion Of 100000 for 1925. when S29.-
o03 $50 was spent. remains the same
in a bill calling for the expenditure
in 1929 Of s3o.7Si535. The Districts
share in maintaining and developing
the National Capital has increased
more than slo,0ooo0o. The Federal
share has not increased one penny.
The Districts proportion of sixty per
per cent, as agreed upon in 1922 and
continued in 1923 and 1924. rose to
s;yty-six per cent in 1925. when the
lump sum was inaugurated. and now
is seventy-eight per cent under the
pending appropriation bill. Is this fair?
Isit equitable? Is it just? II the House
believed. in 1924. that S9.000,o00 rep
resented a fair contribution by the
Federal Government, then by what
manner OF reasoning does it conclude
that this amount should remain sta
tionary. that it represents fair con-
tribution today?
Eventually Congress must return to
the fixed ratio basis of appropriating
for the District or find. after careful
study. a workable substitute. But in
the meantime, while 1t continues the
lump sum from year to year. the
amount Of the lump sum should be in
creased IS the expenses Of the District
and the burden upon the local tax
rsye-s are increased. If in 1922 1t was
found equitable for the Federal Gov
eminent to contribute forty per cent
to Capital expense, 1t is just as equita-
bic 10 believe that in 1929 the Federal
Governments lump sum should ap-
p-oxin7ate forty per cent contribution
as fixed IN 1922
Moreover and in addition, 1t Is only
fair 70 expect that the national con-
tribution should be increased specifi-
cally in proportion to national or semi
national projects and items in the Dis
tr:ct bill. The law provides that in ap-
p-opriating for expenditures under tu-
Y:sdiction OF the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission the Nation
shall contribute It's definite proportion
toward this distinctly national project.
The definite proportion Is sixty per
cent for the local community, forty per
cent for the Federal Government. But
hY placing the National Capital Park
erd Planning Commission projects in
the District bill, whence 1t derives It's
Federal appropriation from fraction
O. the $4,000. 900 lump sum, the letter
Of The law as we'll as the patriotic
spirit O. its wording is violated. So II
has been vith the accumulated surplus
Of local tax revenues, which was raised
on the understanding that 1t would be
matched dollar for dollar by the Fed
era! Government. but which has beer
nearly expended without any CORE
spending contribution Of any kind OF
arnoun, from the National Treasury
80 also has Il been IN the appropria-
ton. from local taxes entirely, OF money
70 complete the parkway connection
between Potomac and Rock Greek
raykS. r. such national Or sey1i-na-
t.o1&l items are 70 be carried IN thf
local supply bill, then increase the Fed
ssal lump sun 50 that they shall re-
ce.Te their definite share ot Fedora
revenues from the lump sum. II thi'
Is not done, then divorce these na'
tioflsi or seuji-nat!onal projects from
The lccal appropriation bill and appro
pirate for them separately and proper
t!onaeiy But d. not saddle the cos
O. national and sem;-nat!onal projectt
Elnos' wholly upon local taxpayers b,
inserting them among strictly Ioca
items.
The unrepresented taxpayers of th'
y.Stric. rely upon the senate " righ
tt!a wrong