Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-21
Bill Reported to House Pro-
vides for $4,000, 900 Con-
tribution From Federal
Treasury.
TOTAL OF $575,842 GAIN
OVER CURRENT FIGURE
Proposed Act Does Not Contain the
Second Installment of Two Year
Program to Bring Salaries of
Local Employees Up to Level of
Workers in U. S. Service.

The District appropriation bill
for the fiscal year beginning July
1, next, was reported to the House
today. For current expenses OF
the National Capital as a munich
pality, with appropriations on ac-
count of park areas under the
jurisdiction of the Director of
Public Buildings and Public Parks,
the National Capital Park and
Planning Commission, the Zoolog-
ical Park and for certain work
being performed under the super
vision of the Engineer Department
Of the Army, the bill carries a total
of $38.213,150. To this is added
$3,052,500 in permanent annual
and indefinite appropriations.
The bill is based on continuance
of the policy of having the Federal
Treasury contribute lump sum Of
100000 as the Federal Govern
ment'S share of maintenance of
the Capital City. 1t provides for
taking from the District revenues
100000 for the fiscal years 1929
and 1880, and $150,000 year
hereafter as the Districts share of
the accrued liabilities in the Civil
Service retirement fund.
S1.7O Tax Rate Provided.
It provides for continuing the present
$170 real estate tax rate and the same
tangible presonal- property taxvwith a
provision that registration card and
auto tags shall not be issued where
taxes are due on an automobile.
1t includes the supplemental esti-
mates sent TO Congress the other day
by the President, amounting to 81 ,674,-
600 for major municipal development
projects, and promises continuation of
this program of betterments. 1t also
recommends early legislative action on
the bill providing for acquisition of a
site for new municipal center
1t does not contain the second INSTALL
nlent on two year program started
last year to bring the salaries Of Dis
trict employees to a level with those
service, contending that this has in
effect been done by the Welch pay act.
The S38,2l3,150 total is an increase
of $575, ,842 over current appropriations
and a decrease of S343, ,972 of the Bud
get Bureau recommendations.
$I,565,6OO From Gas Tax.
OF the total, $1,565, 800 is payable
from the gasoline tax fund.- 81 ,495, $3.50
from water revenues; $26, ,l52, ,220 from
District revenues and $9,000,000 from
the Federal Treasury.
Chairman Simmons, of the subcom-
mittee that drafted the bill, explained:
1.-THE regular annual appropriations,
under which the District of Columbia
government Is operating for the fiscal
year 1929, total $37 1887 .308, which in
cludes sl2,1O0 contained in the second
deficiency act of 1928. The amount
recommended for the fiscal year 1880
as contained in the Presidents Budget
land including the supplemental esti-
mates amounting to 81, ,674, ,000) total
1885,, 1922 The amount that has been
recommended by the committee in the
accompanying bill is $38,2l3. $50, an in
crease of S575, ,842 over the 1929 appro-
priations, and a decrease of 1894 972
under the total Budget estimates SUBJ
mitted for the next fiscal year"
distribution Of funds between the va
Tious divisions and services OF the
municipal government.
$9,00O,000 Lump Sum Sustained.
In announcing the continuance of the
S90000 900 lump sum policy, the present
tax rate and a program of municipal
bettermentS Chairman Simmons said
The committee has recommended
the Federal contribution of $4,000, 900
which amount has been carried for the
past several years. No increase in the
current tax rate of $l.70 is made neces-
Sary by the total of the appropriations
recommended in the accompanying bill
There has been recommended in the
bill provision continuing for the fisca
year 1880 the same tax rate on rea
estate and tangible personal property
as has been maintaine during the cur.
rent year. The 11port made recent!
by the United States Bureau of Eff
cheney, at the request of the COMMITTEES
on Appropriations, upon the fiscal rela
tons of the District of Columbia in th'
opinion of the committee clearly dis
closes. first, that the contribution o
the Federal Government meets fairl,
and generously all obligations towart
the District government by the Unitet
States, and. secondly, that it shows tha
when compared with other cities of sim
liar size the District is in very ad
Vantageous situation as to its tax bur
den and general fiscal condition. TIL
committee finds no reason for changing
the method of the Federal contribution
in increasing the amount, or decreasing
the Districts tax rate. Rather, as ha
been indicated by the committees ac
ton in its recommendations in thi
bill it feels that the District should YER
properly go ahead with a program O
municipal betterments."
S150,000 Annually for Retirement.
Explaining the new proposition @
having the District taxpayers contribut
$l50000 a year, retroactive for on
year, as their proportionate share c
the approximately $20.000,00 a yea
which the Federal Government he
started paying on its accrued liabilit
to the Civil Service retirement funC
Mr.. Simmons said:
Officers and employees Of the mu
nicipal government of the District {
Columbia are eligible to the retiremer
provisions Of the act Of May %, 1921
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