Evening star., 1928-02-18
Sucerseding the Substantive Law.

In reporting the District of Column
BIZ appropriation bill to the House Of
Representatives the appropriations COM
m.ttee Of that body adl1eres to the
lcrp-su-a provision and sets forth its
reasons for thus continuing to ignore
the substantive law. which provides
for division Of District expenses on
the sixtyforty basis of definite proper
ton. II declares that Congress. by its
adoption OF the lump-sum plan in
1925. has definitely adopted the prin-
c.ple as the Federal policy to super
seoe the former percentage Of division
OF expenses" 1t bases its action OIL
the assumption that the present rate OF
taxation, sl10. in the District is lower
than the tax rate in comparable cities
and that under the definite ratio Of
sixty-forty it ~ould fall to sl20, far
below that obtaining elsewhere.
1nasmuch as the House has hereto
fore followed the recommendations of
It's appropriations committee in this
matter. il will probably do so again and
thus in sIl likelihood the bill viii be
passed With the lump-sum provision as
the appropr;at!re principle. II will then
60 to the Senate. which has throughout
this process Of "supersedine" the SUBJ
stantive Law resisted the attempt to
make the lump-sun provision either
temporary or basic and has succeeded
In preventing the inclusion of the word
Thereafter" which would effect the re-
peal of the definite proportion pro-
vision.
Ii is confidently expected that the
Senate viii pursue this course on the
present occasion and that 1t viii support
the contention of the District that the
cost Of municipal operation should be
divided proportionately between the
Government and the Capital munich
patty. The District Commissioners.
rno have been heard but not needed
by the House committee. together with
representatives OF organized Washing
ton. viii again be heard by the Senate
committee and II is hoped needed by
that body. sz73.
Eventually this matter Of the appro-
priasive basis for the maintenance Of
the District OF Columbia must be de-
termineG in a more satisfactory man
ner than through conferences between
the two houses and to more satisfac-
tory conclusion than by compromise
which leaves the hnp-surn provision In
effect standing from year to year with
out repeal or amendment o! the SUBJ
sta.tsve Law. Already proposals have
been made that instead Of continuing
70 ignore the substantive Law. which
was based fifty years ago upon thor
oagh inquiry into the ascai equities
and tie tax-paying capacity Of the
Distract property owners. and amended
after another such inquiry. Congress
should proceed TO ascertain by exact
Investigation whether in fact the Dis
trict is rightly assessed and taxed in
comparison with other communities.
The House committee On appropria-
: tons declares that il ;s. and the House
fellows its conclusion. The Senate COM
r.Ittee On appropriations and the Sen-
a.s believe that il is not, but the best
they can 90 In practice is 70 hold the
suppression" Of the substantive Law
tc year-by-year status.
Against this method OF fiscal legisla-
ton the District protests. II has no,
been granted its DAY in court" on this
question IN the House. although in the
course of the hearings On the appro-
priation bill officials and residents Of
the Cspt.Al community have been al.
lowed 70 state their views OF the equity
cf Nation District relationship, but
with the distinct understanding that
thslr views would not prevail. Should
tss Ef1ate tris year present a more
determined front Ia this matter and in
ss upon fair. fun consideration Of
ths equities os Federal District rela-
t;onsn.p q more tcieysble situation
would result