Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-10

charge to the Federal Government:
the furnishing of fire protection to
the Federal agencies free OF charge:
the assessment Of District residents
for the upkeep Of st. Elizabeth's Hos
pital and other projects.
The board emphasizes the necessity
Of largely increasing size OF the
lump-sum payment by the United
States--so long as this temporary
system is practiced by Congress. In
this connection also the board points
out hat Inauguration by Congress- of
the lump-sum plan did not change
the existing substantive law OF the
District providing for the proportion
plan.
The text of the resolution adopted
by the board Is as follows:
"Whereas the Board OF Trade since
it's creation has been consistently Wig
orous in upholding as wise, just and
universally beneficial the organic act
Of 1873 and the principle Of definite
proportionate contribution toward
Capital building by Nation and Dis
trlct upon which 1t IL based:
ard whereas the board as a con.
stituent member of the citizens joint
committee on fiscal relations be-
tween the United States and the Dis
trict of Columbia appeared through
representatives at the hearings of the
Joint fiscal committee Of Congress In
1915 In support OF the organic act
and its basic principle. and on the 23d
of May, 1916. did interpret the decision
of the congressional fiscal committee
O) that the District was adequately
taxed; (2) that the definite proportion
frih y1ft yuyhi
had I'D TO that time been an economic
necessity had ceased to be such ne.
cessity: but (3) that the substitute for
the definite proportion contribution
plan when enacted should constitute
a carefully considered system under
which District taxation Is fixed and
certain and under which Congress
shall pursue a definite policy Of reg
ular and liberal appropriations for
CAPITAL maintenance and development.
"And whereas the board. as men,
Der Of the citizens Joint committee.
Endorsed the new District organic act
OF 1922 so far as It reaffirmed and
indicated the definite contribution
plan, even though it changed the pro-
portion Of contribution by the United
States and the District, respectively,
from $3.50 to 1880;
"And whereas the board, as mem
Der Of the citizens joint committee.
vigorously and successfully contended
for the application OF the principle
Of definite proportionate contribution
to past expenditures on the part and
in behalf Of the District and as a
result in 1924 helped to secure the
payment to the District of over $4,000
900 OF surplus unappropriated District
tax money In the Treasury;
"And whereas the act OF 1922 re-
affirming the principle Of definite pro-
portionate contribution is still the
existing substantive law. Congress
having. by failure to act upon propo
sitions Of amendment, refused to
amend 1t;
"And whereas the appropriation
from year TO year in the annual APP
preparation act Of a lump sum Of
national contribution In lieu OF the
definite proportion provided by the
substantive Law constitutes merely a
confessedly temporary exception 10
the application OF the substantive law
and does not permanently change Il:
Resolved. That the board reaffirms
Its belief In the Justice. wisdom ana
prosperity-promofing qualities Of the
definite proportion plan Of contribu-
ton and urges Congress 10 return in
practice TO compliance with the terms
OF existing substantive law.
That the board further urges that
whenever tif ever Congress shall sub
stitute In the substantive law some
other method OF national contribution
toward Capital upbuilding for the def.
mite proportion plan the substitute
shall provide las recommended by the
congressional joint fiscal committee of
1916, for definite regular and liberal
appropriations by the United States
and for fixed and certain District tax.
alton.
THAT the lump payment plan Ia un.
sound In principle and as now applied
Is grossly unjust.
THAT as long as IL 10 applied tempo.
rarily on annual appropriation acts
the lump sum Appropriation should be
largely increased and the character Of
the expenditures. which are possible
under the District appropriation act.
should in justice be limited by law
W In equity by practice 10 exclude ma.
tlonal and semi.nntional projects.
THAT action in accordance with
sheSn urincfnIes ha urged uDnn the