Evening star., 1928-04-09
No Lump-Sum Payment,


June 90. 1922. was agreed upon by
House and Senate that the act was
a compromise measure diSpoSing for
many years of troublesome fiscal re-
iation issues. The Districts contribution
toward Capital upbuilding was in
creased from so TO 60 per cent; its tax
on intangible personality was increased
IS % per cent, and the foundation was
laid for increasing its realty tax; it was
deprived of exclusive credit for large
sums Of miscellaneous receipts hitherto
solely enjoyed, this action infiicting a
heavy loss, and it was compelled to ac-
cumulate from Its tax money Of present
years (every cent of which was needed
70 meet the urgent municipal needs of
todayl a fund of millions to provide in
advance for meeting the first half-year
expenses Of 1928. In partial compenSa-
tion for these drastic exactions the Dis
trict was to enjoy for five years and in
definitely thereafter the benefit Of ap-
proximate certainty as to its ratio of
uroportionate contribution: 1t was
through increased respect TO be Shown
20 the Commissioners estimates TO have
in substance the privilege of influential
participation in shaping appropriations
of which it should pay 60 per cent, and 1t
was to be spared for long period the
hurtful deadlocks over ratios between
House and Senate which annually en-
dang red the District appropriations
and Indeservedly prejudiced House sem
timea { against the Capital community.
But no sooner was the definite 60-4o
ratio fixed by compromise agreement,
leaving only the surplus question 10 be
decided eQuitably by Congress, and al
most before the Capital community had
adjusted itself to its new fiscal organic
act and had begun to enjoy the prom
ised bliss Of fiscal peace, than propo-
sstion appeared to repudiate the agree
ment upon the 6o-40 ratio, to substitute
g system of indefinite contribution by
Capital and Nation and to precipitate
washington taxpayers into the fiscal
chaos from which they had emerged.
The vital feature Of the act Of 1922,
carried over from the act Of 1878. is
that it fixes a definite equitable stand
ard Of national participation in Capt.
tal making, related to the contribution
exaeted in taxes from the Capital COM
nunity. and does not leave this stand
ard to the shiftings Of caprice.
Two practical questions in respect to
financing the Capital have been OF vital
importance from the beginning: Cd
Shall the national and local contribu-
tions be definite or indefinite. related or
independent? 90 Who shall determine
the relation Of the amount OF these
contributions. respectively?
The history Of the Capital has dem
onstrated distinctly that these con-
tributions should be definite and re-
lated: and that If indefinite and unre-
lated to insure justice each contrib
utor should have voice in determin-
ing the amount Of his contribution.
Since the day Of the creation Of the
Capital the Nations obligation toward
the Nations City has been the same
primary, exclusive and dominating.
Not the obligation itself. but the de-
gree in which u has been recognized
and met has been the huctuating fac
tor in the equation
From 1900 20 l874-S the national and
local Capital contributions we're In
definite and unrelated. Each contrib
uted whaa IL pleased toward Capital
Bpbgiiding The Nation measured It's
own obligation In terms of dollars as
next 70 nothing The local community
raised and disbursed its own taxes at
sts pleasure. II measured its Capital
obligation considerably beyond the linn
isa u It's neager taxable resources and
twice became practically bankrupt IN
performing almost unaioec the Nation e
tssk Of Capital building.
In 1873 the Nation confessed It's Yio-
iati0n or groas neglect Of its Capital
obligation. IL gave practical expression
% lts revived sense " this obligation
in rs undertaking 70 pay one~half the
accumulated funded indebtedness VI
EfSE kl@Ek& ~ G%SS AyA&t ~S4AA4A VI s@%AFH 70
Ienses II took from the District the
power u self-tazation and assumed
completely exercise u tas right 70 flz
the loeaI contribution a. we'll ~ IT.
own In thus exercising taxation with
cot representation 0YeT the District the
Nation safeguaTded the national com
Knunity By the pledge that 10 every dol
lar collected in taxes frona the local tax
pa yers should 5e added a dollar from
tgas National Treasury and that the az
Fregaas revenue sheuia be expended f0i
Capital upbUiIding.
The law oi 1917 retains the DFinclpa
o. definite related C8p5tai contriDa'
asog3s. 81 which the law II 1919 Wal
Tgqbed That tne Fatlo ot this relation
sss changed tram s0~50 ~ 69-49 dif
g!lg alter tie bahlc pfipcip!s involved
The Jump SUM payment plan destroy
- relation betsesB the national sns
tseal contributions, and, leaving all tax
Sag power ia the hands Of the tnitsE
states. deptiyss the nnrspssseDte'
Capital " is Safeguard against 81
eessiye taxation by taxing body -
which IL is Dot represented.
Whenever. If eyer, the United State
Vhsu relieve itself from ~ seif-impose'
obligation aud promise ~ conUlblt
fot Capital UpbDilding sn sn1ns
roqoltt. definitely related 70 the Ioca
AZ contribution, a8a shall Leave tha