Evening star., 1928-05-01
Nav the Conferees Agree

May the Conferees Agree!
The deadlock between the House and
Senate in the conference upon the Dis
trict appropriations bill should not be
permitted to kill that bill by preventing
agreement by the confereeS in respect to
Il before the adjournment of this seS-
sion.
Enthusiastically the responsibility for
this catastrophe. If it happens, will be
upon the House conferees. The Senate
by more than a two-thirds vote (thls
majority being approximately evenly di-
vided between the two great political
partiesl has proposed the substitution
for the nine millions lump sum appro-
priatson Of the sixty-foTty ratio Of ap-
preparation provided by the substantive
Law of 1922. which remains unrepealed
and unamended though two vigorous
efforts by the House to secure such di-
rect repeal have been denied by Con-
gress through refusal Of the Senate to
assent.
Before the present conference began
one Of the House conterees declared
that the Senate must accept without
the slightest alteration the Houses fis-
cal provision, which disregards existing
substantive law. or the House by mac
tion would kill the whole District bill.
thus throwing into chaos the Districts
fiscal affairs. and thus, even if the
preceding years appropriations were
extended. checking abruptly the Cap
uars wholesome development. And the
House conferees are apparently making
good this threat by refusing perempto-
rily to consider any poStponement or
compromise Of the issue and by de-
handing Tin order to avert murder OF
the District bill) unconditional surrender
by the Senate of its contention that the
substantive fiscal Law should be obeyeo
The Senates amendments TO the
District bill propose increases OF Ger
tain appropriations as well as vital
change in the method Of financing
them II the Senate increases IN ap-
!. preparation were made without this
change in financing or without cor
responding increase Of the lunp-suIn
payynent the effect would be to decrease
stfn further the percentage contribution
sbv the Nation and to make heavier the
Districts financial burden. The Sen
ete's amendments are thus insepsrably
fntertwined and in effect the position OF
the House conferees IS thus to deny IN
advance any consideration Of Senate
amendments TO the District bin, which
as framed tentatively by the House be-
comes as unalterable as the laws OF tce
Medes and Persians.
The position Of the House eonferees,
II il is as represented, is untenaole.
the Senate lis a coordinate branch OF
Congress. It's acts are entitled to as
much consideration as those OF the
House. The very purpose Of conference
committees Is TO compromise existing
differences and neither side can proper
" assume an unyieIding attitude. II the
Senate through is conferees indicates
that il is willing 70 discuss the que@-
t,ons involved and possibly TO modify
its action despite the vote on the moor
il is I'd 70 the House 70 heed such over
t,,res and 10 60 some distance al least
IL Cancellation and compromise.
washington has petitioned Congress
"a that the sixty-forty ratio be sub
statuted eor the lump-sum payment; ~
that II this substitution cannot he
effected Ia the few weeks remaining OF
tsle present session the fiscal issue be
submitted TO q joint commission TO re-
port at the next session, and 90 that 10
correct the grogsest inequities Of the
Iurap-sun appropriation practice, wfl.ie
Il Is permitted temporarily 10 prevail
the amount Of the lump-sum payment
be substantially increased, The reasons
for these items Of petition are set forth
sn detail IN srg1mentatiYe supplements
" the petition.
The District is painfully aware Of III
tefnerlfy In petition1ng 81 all. II has
been threatened with reduction Of the
lynap~sun payment il II ventures te
push for any change in the wording ol
the House appropriations committee''
fiscal provision.
The District puts into the Treasury
each year over eighteen millions OF na'
isonai taxes and between thirty and
aaifty-aye millions Of municipal taxes
II is not represented IN Congress, ~
national state and municipal ieglsis
tire AID IL has not word 70 say Tx
other American communities concern
sng the amount d the2e taxes OF uh'
manner Of ezpendlng them.
+ Only the right oi petition Is leit W u
and t9e Capital community appeals u
sts LEGISLATORS IN both branches of Con
eresz for fsir play, for financial equt
and for Just sne even sympathetic con
ssceration u ~ petitiOfl
Il urges ihat no personal preJuoic
o. obstinate pride u opinion De per
saitte6 To divert any of rs Legislator
sn Congress, ~ whose protection In
Gonatitutl0n has iutrusted its legtsIatiy
sselfare. from dispensing even ~hande
Justice in sppropTiating for the Dis
kflcf.
. .