Evening star., 1928-03-26
Abandon LmpSum Payment Plan
Restor Definite Proporionae Contribution

upon appropriation bills no substantive
legislation can be disobeyed unless
Uncle Sam repudiates some financial
obligation or otherwise makes money
by the change.
The rule thus misconstPued and mis-
applied. while barring equitable in
creases in appropriation, facilitates the
denial or evasion of legal indebtedness:
il invites violation with good or bad
motive of existing substantive law;
and ii tempts TO dishonest reputation
of just debt.
UnfairneSs in Respect to Surplus.
(b) In appropriating for National
Capital purposes the Districts five mil
lions surplus, it robbed this fine action
by Congress of much OF its merit.
1t caused reputation of equitable
contribution by the United States in
appropriating and expending the Dis
trict's accumulated treasury surplus.
The tax money creating this surplus
was collected by authority of the half
and-half law solely TO apply upon the
Districts half Of District appropri-
ations. Whenever 1t came 70 be eX-
pended it would be equitable to spend
1t under the half-and-half Law, the
United States duplicating it,
Under the demoralizing influence OF
the lump-sum payment practice the
surplus has been expended without par
ticipation by the Nation under any per-
centage of obligation to enlarge the
surplus fund for the upbuilding Of the
Capital Decision that the tax surplus
collected under the $3.50 law, existed
unayoidably involved the decision that
a proportionate payment by the Nation
was eQuitably due whenever the tax sur
plus should be expended. But the
lump-sum payment practice, as applied
repudiated this equity.
Talnts With Unfairness Expenditures
for Parks.
tcj The lump-sum payment expert
ment. as practically applied, converted
the Park Commission law from bene-
fit and blessing TO the National Capt.
tai community into a curse.
On its face the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission Law
is broadly National. The terms OF the
law suggest the patriotic interest in II
10 the extent OF cent year contri-
button Of every man. woman and
child in the Republic. The title TO al
the land purchased by the Park Com
mission Is vested In the United States
The Park Commission can under II
purchase land in adjacent Maryland
and Virginia, as well as in the Dis
trict
The annual appropriation Of more
than a million dollars a year, author
lied as supplep :ntal and extraordi-
nary expenditures by the District OF
Columbia Park Commission Law, is
directed By the law itself 70 be paid
from the revenues Of the District OF
Columbia and the general funds Of the
Treasury I'm the same proportion ~
other expenses Of the District Of Co
lumbia"
The current ratio was and Is G0-40
flZeG IN the substantive law by the
/ new organic act Of 1922. and etill un-
repealed The wholesale exceptions u
J the 60-40 ratio involved In the tempo
yary lump-payment plan Of 1925. 1926
1927 and 1923, merely suspend the sub
/ slantiye law " 1922 for the year dur
/ Ing which the exceptions apply and DC
not repeal or permanently amend the
substantive law
The lump-eum payment plan. b.
I ignoring the laws specific direction oI
G0-40 division Of the cost. and by
falling " make 4 specific increase oi
/ The lUmp-sum payment " satisfy the
+ laws direction of National 40 pei
cent contribution. has practically
! thrown The whole cost of PARK Com
mission expenditures upon the loca
/ taxpayers II has converted a fine
! wise, broadly National project, which
/ the self deceived District enthusiast.
/ cslIy Endorsed. into an unjust and un
/ enduFabIe increase Of the local tax,
I payers tax burden against which ths
baBeOed District taxpayer vigorOusI,
protests. n Congress will this year
merely cease " write into the DistTic
! appropriation bin the annual lump,