Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-17
MEMBERS PROMISE
IMMEDIATE ACTION
Measure Carries Increase
Over 1923 Grant, With
Lump Sum Continued.

Continued from First Pagel
mmp-sum plan of Federal participa-
ton in the Districts expenses feels that
Congress by its adoption OF such plan
In 1928. and its adherence to TINS
method since. has definitely adopted
The principle as the Feoerai poncy 70
supersede the former percentage di-
vision OF expenses The amount that
should be contributed by the Federal
Government should be reached by a
fsir consideration Of the sum total OF
lust needs of the District and the pay
ment of a rate OF taxation BY the prop
erty OWNERS which is comparable to
thst paid in other cities Of similar
size. giving consideration. OF course. TO
thu added advantages enjoyed by the
r,eople of the District under the prlvi-
iege of residence in the Capital City.
Such part of the total expense OF the
District as cannot be met from the
revenue derived from such COM
parable tax rate and other municipal
sources. such as licenses, fees. special
taxes. etc. should be borne by the
Federal Government whether it proves
- be more or less than the present
contribution.
Tax Rate Here (tf0.
''Tre current tax rate in the DISTRICT
OF Columbia upon real estate AND
tangible personal property is $40. The
estimates Of appropriations that were
submitted II Congress for the fiscal year
1899. making allowance for supple
mental and deficiency amounts that
normally follow the enactment OF the
regular appropriation bill. are based
upon the same rate. This rate is lower
than the tax res in comparable cities.
Assuming that the total OF the APP
r-cpriations for the fiscal year 1928.
and including in that total normal
estimate Of ensuing deficiency and
supplemental appropriations. were made
under the 60-4o plan. the tax rate on
real estate and tangible personal prop
erty for the current year would be less
than sl.o5. And upon the 6o-40 basis
the tax rate figured upon the estimates
for the fiscal year 1929 would be less
than SI.2o. II follows. therefore, that
Il the 6o-40 basis was restored for 1929,
there would be a reduction in taxes TO
the very low rate of less than Sl.20. or
If the lax rate should not be reduced
and the rate Of Sl.70 maintained. there
would be a surplus in revenue greater
tran the needs OF municipal expansion
which is already going forward under
the present fiscal relationship at q nor
nal and a very wholesome rate.
This program OF municipal eX-
pansion is entirely separate from the
very large Federal program involving
nearly se2 600 900. recently adopted by
Congress for the purchase of land ana
the construction of Federal buildings
for housing the various Government ac-
tivities. all Of which program has its
place in the Identification and expan-
mon Of Washington and the District Of
Columbia The committee Is Of the
opinion. therefore, that the lump sum
OF So 600 COO recommended in the bill
for the fiscal year 1929. represents a
fsi. and Just Federal contribution 70
the District OF Columbia toward the ex-
penses OF the city during that year"
District employees have not been given
as much recoenition in salary adjust
ments as their status under the Law
would warrant by comparison with the
department Of Government. the Sim
mons subcommittee concluded. and ex-
planned It's action on the salary sched-
ule as follows:
The committee. during the hearings
upon the estimates for the next fiscal
year went particularly into the ques-
tkHxA ia ak SA1hk ~ [AAktsSa1S va s<A%
District Of Columbia under the CLASH
hcation act. which does not include
teachers. hremen and policemen. A
comparison was made with the salaries
being received by employees in the
executive departments and independent
establishments In the Federal Govern
ment under the same act. In making
this comparison the committee had
before it the statement appearing on
page ALTO of the budget for 1929.
which shows the average number OF
employees, the average salary rates and
the total salary obligations for all en-
pioyes in the District OF Columbia.
listed under the different Federal estab-
Ekhments, including the District OF
Columbia. for the years 1927. 1928 and
1929 With the exception OF employees
Ender public buildings and public parks
o. the National Capital. which service
IL hardly comparable. as most OF those
employees are grouped under the Gus
todizi grades. the average salary for
the enploYes Of the District Of Column
hia vas the lowest Of the SO depart
rsents and bureaus listed. The District
OF Columbia employees are not only re-
Ceiying the Lowest rates IN comparison
" the rates received by employees In the
Federal Government under the same
Law. but q very large proportion OF
them are and have BEEN for some time
81 the minimum rates OF their yespec-
TIE grades.
Sought Fair Companion.
In order 10 bring the employees Of the
District Of Columbia Up 70 fair com
psFlson with the otner department,
specified In the tabulztior the commit.
tee zscertalned the total amount that
would be necessary 10 bring the salaries
o. the District employees up 10 thf
acreage salary rates o. those grades
This amount ysa 124o.75o as shown tr
the statement on psges 96s and S67 o.
the hearings upon the Dill. The com
nlutke then oiYicec this amount into q
tSo-year program of salary readlus
merit. one-ns1 W be included and dis
trIo1tfd among the various DIVISIONS 81
the DiAtr1ct sos efnmtnt in the &C.
eomps nying bill for 1929. and the SEC.
orc half 10 BE- included In the DigtricI
Of Columbia appropriation bill for tn
snlount necessary would Yepresen
si1o.31s The estimates submitted u
the committee originally contained
ta7 SIS for salary increase. The esti
mated saving ANTICIPATED during tn,
fiscal year 1923 due " lapses In saisriel
represents $3.50 This LEI. b balanc'
necessary W he included IN the 1872.
bill Of ti2l .243 II cns-h2jf u the tota
amount ii $40 $50 for salary feacl1Et
nssnts was " be Appropriated tor thi
year The committee mas included t!l
anditioilzi amount IN ezcess .! tn
budget estimate snc distributed
uncer the respective divisions NJ tn
Dlstfict government Appearing IN tn
bill ynlk val allow Total. therefore
for ,hf purDosF u salary Increase 70
1873 ~ sl1i 400 which ID about & 1z
mos 'hsn or isf 81 tne amount ~
culstc IniE is c4t " the tat ths
btyessl divisions already Heft slight
over the uytsi amount NECESSARY y
meet salary stc0mHfncst tons
NE.niE LIZ I'm Re- rNEI.ntLIZEE d 4