Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-02

to 40 per cent of the total sum car
ried BY the bill If the appropriations
subcommittee and committee wish to
recommend II. t2) That the amount
of the annual lump-sum payment
should be increased in some roughly
approximate relation to the increase
of the District budget. If justice re-
quires the Nation to contribute SO
much when the Districts annual bud
| get is so much. the same justice re-
nUires 1t to contribute more when the
District budget is doubled. The prac-
teal suggestion is that the amount
| Of the fixed payment should be read
| iusted If there is any notable increase
| In the National Capitals annual ex-
penditure. An immediate increase of
the basic lump-sum appropriation of
| nine millions would, for example. be
| in Just relation to the steadily increas-
| ing current taxes and annual expend-
| itureS.
Increase Specifically Lump Sum.
(3) The amount of annual payment
| should be increased specifically in
proportion to National projects includ-
ed in the District appropriation bill.
Whether or not there Is a general re-
adjustment Of the lump sum contribu-
ton there should be specific increases
in that sum representing In each year
the placing in the District budget of
primarily National projects which it is
conceded should be paid for wholly or
in part from the National Treasury.
but which by inclusion in the District
bill and under the lump payment
al nAft Hxx tAA
solely by the District taxpayers from
current taxes.
A separate and distinct increase Of
the basic nine millions should be
made to prevent Congress from VIC
Iating It's own statutory provisions that
the Nation shall contribute in large
and definite proportion to the appro-
priations for certain great National
or semi-National projects, as for
example the appropriation for expendi-
lures under the jurisdiction of the
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission. The law provides in re-
spect to appropriations for this con-
fessedlv National project that the Ma
ton shall pay its definite proportion
Of total expenditure. III Congress
makes appropriations for this National
project without providing for National
participation i'm the cost on the sixty
forty basis. which Is the existing
statutory ratio Of substan tive law, or
by making a specific lump-sum in
crease Of the basic lump-sum appro-
priation in lieu of the definite proper
ton which the law directs. both the
letter and the spirit of the law will be
violated and the inequity will result of
exacting entirely from the local tax
nm 4NnRU &rpn de 20
which may, in the discretion of the
commission, be expended outside of
the District in Maryland and Virginia.
The annual appropriations of more
than a million dollars year, author
lied as supplemental and extraor-
binary expenditures by the District of
Columbia Park Commission law, are
directed by the law itself to be paid
from the revenues of the District of
Columbia and the general funds of the
Treasury in the same proportion as
other EXPENSES of the District of
Columbia"
The current ratio Is 60-40, fixed in
the substantive law by the new or
gsnic act of 1922 and still unrepealed.
The wholesale exceptions to the 6O-4O
ratio involved in the TEMPORARY lump
payment plan of 1925 and 1927 merely
suspend the substantive law Of 1922
for the year during which the excep-
tons apply and do not repeal or per-
manently amend the substantive law.
Add 100000 to Basic Lump Sum.
The Park Commission law clearly
contemplates land provides) that the
authorized annual appropriation of
million dollars shall be made. 5000. 900
from the District revenue and $400. 900
from the National Treasury. II the
District appropriations for 1928 were to
be made at the 60-40 ratio in ac-
cordance with existing substantive law,
this apportionment of the parks ex-
nenditure would result automatically.
But since. tentatively and for only the
year. lump-Sum payment is to be
substituted for the National 40 per cent
contribution, the Nations contribution
nf S400.n00. or Whereabouts OUGHT law
fully and eauitably TO be added specif-
ically to the nine millions Of basic
lutnn-sum Dayment.
The Park Commission appropriation
is made unmistakablv as a supplement
to the current maintenance and de-
velopment appropriation, with its nine
millions of lump-sum payment in ac-
cordance with the original tentative
precedent. II the 60-4O ratio is not
applied to the whole appropriation and
II the lump-sum payment is not in
creased as suggested, it Is generally
recognized that every cent of the Park
Commissions million dollars per wear
Tor whatever part of this amount is
appropriately will come from the Dis
trict taxpayers.
Congress will not permit any tenta-
tive juggling with the ratio of National
and local community contribution to-
ward Capital development to throw
the whole burden of Park Commission
expenditure upon the local taxpayers
1. The law specifically forbids this
procedure by directing a division Of
the cost.
2. The project Is broadly National.
The terms of the law suggest the
patriotic interest In It to the extent
Of a cent . year contribution Of every
man. woman and child I'm the Republic.
Congress will detect the gross perver-
sion Of law and equity which results
in a denial to 1O9.500.000 Americans Of
all participation In the patriotic priv
ilege of parks contribution and exacts
the entire 100000 pennies, repre-
senting the whole Nation, from the
half million Americans lat more than
81 annually per head Of the District Of
Columbia.
3. The title to all the land purchased
by the Park Commission is vested in
the United States. The Park Commits
sion can purchase land in adjacent
Maryland and Virginia as we'll as in
the District. II the whole cost falls
upon local taxpayers. their tax money
will buy for Uncle Sam exclusive title
,, to land outside of the District in Mary
land and Virginia.
If there Is to be lump-sum pay
ment contribution for 1929, approx
imately $400, 900 should clearly be added
TO the basic nine million lump-sum
| payment
There are several other National or
SemiNational projects which, as a
| result OF appropriations on the District