Evening star., 1929-06-10
Threats to the District.

Threats to the District.
The way has been prepared for ap-
propriations at this session of Congress
Of $50o,0Oo out of the Federal Treasury
to start acquisition of land for the
Capital airport and of s3,o00,O0 out of
unappropriated funds to the credit of
the District in the Treasury for the
purchase of part of the site for the
municipal center.
After the long delay on starting the
airport, the suggested appropriation of
the half million dollar fund can be
construed AS an emergency appropria-
ton Just as the authorization to spend
the three million dollars of surplus rev.
enue for immediate purchase of sites for
the municipal center can be construed
as an emergency appropriation.
Delay in starting either or both Of
these projects can be figured in dollars
and cents as long as the delay con-
tinues. With that argument there is
not now and there never has been
logical cause for difference.
But the insertion in the legislat ton
for airport purchase of the clause
that any further appropriations for
the acquisition of land or options to
purchase land or for the development
Of such airport or airports shall be paid
out of the revenue of the District of
Columbia and the Treasury of the
United States in the manner prescribed
for defraying the expenses of the Dis
trict of Columbia by the District of
Columbia appropriation acts for the
fiscal years for which such sppropria-
tions are made"-conveys potent
warning to the District of what it may
expect in future steps toward airport
building
The Federal Government, which in
1921 decided that forty per cent consti.
tuted its fair share in District appro-
priation bills, will be contributing
approximately twenty per cent plus in
the 1880 appropriations; about eighteen
per cent plus In the 1891 appropriations
and about twenty per cent plus in the
1882, 1888 and 1884 appropriations,
provided Auditor Donovsn's tive-year
financial program is followed generally
and Congress continues the nine -miilion-
dollar lump-sum principle Of the last
I've fiscal years.
Estimates for an airport range as
high as 100000. If this maximum
Is spent. the Federal Governments
S500,0 appropriation at this session of
Congress will be followed by appropria-
tions Of approximately 100000, while
the District will be called upon to pay
$4,800,000 toward construction of the
Federal airport. If the airport is to
cost 100000, the Federal Govern
ment's original 100000 will be followed
by an appropriation of $30O,0O0 addi-
tional, while the District must make up
the balance of s., zoe, 900 for the airport
The cost of the municipal center is
set at about Sill 900 900. OF this cost
the District is now paying $3,O0O,o00
outright, taken from it's tax-raised
revenue and representing not one penny
of Federal money. If the pernicious
lump-sum principle is followed in. build
ing the municipal center, the District
can expect from the Federal Govern
ment approximately $2,200,000, leaving
it. with balance to pay, after this
$4,000, 900 appropriation. of $500 900.
These rough calculations are made
on the basis of the manner prescribed"
now, by a small and determined group
IN the House, 'for defraying the ex-
penses Of the District of Columbia
The manner prescribed, actually.
legally and never lawfully changed. is
for the Federal Government to pay
forty per cent of these expenses and
the District sixty per cent.
The next step in providing for
financing both airport and municipal
center is to return to the fixed ratio
policy of appropriation. Unless there
is return 10 this principle, or unless
the intent Of that principle is accom-
plished by generously increasing the
lump sum. this Federal airport now about
to be authorized will represent grossly
unfair burden, resulting from tyrannical
treatment of unrepresepted taxpayers;
the municipal center will represent an
extravaganza wished on these taxpayers
who must take it as a luxury and let
their necessities slide by the board.