Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-02
Citizens Petition Also Re-
news Appeal for Return to
the 60-40 Ratio.
ARGUMENTS FILED BY
CITIZENS JOINT GROUP
Fiscal Relations Organization Re-
views History of Question and
Gives Basis for Its Contentious.

The Citizens Joint Committee on
Fiscal Relations Between the United
States and District of Columbia today
filed with the Senate subcommittee
drafting the local appropriation bill a
petition urging return in practice to
the 60-40 ration provided by sub
stantive law in 1922, and also adyocat-
ing an increase in the s9,00o,O 600 lumu
sum as long as the lump-sum policy
continues.
The petition emphasizes that the
definite proportionate contribution pro-
vision of 1922 is the existing substan-
tive law, but that Congress since 1924
has provided annually for lump sum
In lieu Of the 40 per cent. After re-
newing the appeal for return to the
60-40 ratio contemplated by the sub
stantive law, the petition makes the
following plea in support Of increasing
the lump sum, as long as that method
Of appropfiating is retained:
"To prevent glaring inequity, your
petitioners therefore urge, for reasons
stated in the argument hereto attached
as part Of this petition, that Congress
should % increase substantially, both
on general and specific grounds, the
basic lump-sum payment; (2) exclude
great national or semi-national projects
from the District bill and finance them
on some other supply bill, so wording
the items thus excluded as to set forth
the exact method Of financing In rela-
ton to the amounts of contribution
by Nation and Capital that Is thought
to be Just, or (3) provide for a local
as well as national maximum Of con-
tribution, on the assumption that 1t Is
the inpotent local partner who alone
needs this protection, or a., by ref
erendum or otherwise, permit the local
taxpayers to have some effective say
In regard to the amount Of local taxes
and the purpose for which the tax
money Is to be expended"
Arguments Incorporated.
Incorporated In the petition are the
arguments advanced by the Joint com-
mittee In support Of It's position. The
petition bore the signatures Of the fol-
lowing members: Edward r. Colladay,
chairman Of the joint committee on
District OF Columbia fiscal relations;
Theodore w. NoyeS, chairman Of the
executive committee of the Citizens
Joint Committee: William w. Everett,
president Of the Board of Trade; George
G. Havenner, president Of tae Fedora
ton Of Citizens Associations; Ivan G.
Weld, president of the Chamber Of
Commerce; Gen. Anton Stephan, presi-
dent Of the Merchants and Manufac-
%NxwA Ace do ~. Y..1l.. -
Peyser, president Of the District Bar
the City Club: Wilmer J.. Waller, vice
president Of the District Of Columbia
Bankers Association; Ben r. Webster,
president Of the Washington Real Es-
tate Board; George M. Whitwell, presi-
dent OF the Rotary Club, and Edgar
Morris, president Of the Kiwanis Club.
The bill for the next fiscal year, as
passed by the House, continues the
$4,000, 900 lump sum as the Federal
share. A few days ago Senator Bing-
ham. chairman of the Senate subconn-
mittee, announced that, following q
study of the report of the Bureau of
Efficiency, he came to the conclusion
the Governments lump sum should be
increased by 100000. The Senate sub
committee has been holding hearings
during the week. but has not yet de-
cided what changes it will make In the
House bill.
Text Of Petition.
Petition to Congress by the Citizens
Joint Committee on Fiscal Relations
Between the United States and the
District OF Columbia urging return
In appropriation practice to the sixty
forty definite proportionate c0ntribu-
tiOn plan provided by the substantive
law Of 1922, and urging further that
while the lump-sum payment plan Of
National contribution toward Capital
upbuilding continues as the annual
exceptional appropriation practice the
amount OF this lump payment shall be
largely increased.
To the Congress of the United States:
Your petitioners, the Citizens. Joint
Committee on Fiscal Relations Between
the United States and the District Of
Columbia and the presidents and other
representatives of its constituent and
cooperating organizations, whose names
are subscribed below, respectfully rep
resent:
The platform of principles laid down
by the joint committee and adhered to
in the committees brief In the hearings
bCAOAC JOA1kt cCtcCb III
1915, the House District COMMITTEES in
December, 1919. and the Senate appro-
priations committee In April, 1920, Is as
follows:
We contend, first. that the United
States should contribute. largely to the
expenses Of the District: second, that
this contribution should be q fixed and
definite proportion: third. that this
proportion should be at least one-haif.
This platform was modified by the
Districts new organic act Of 1922. which
reafirmed the principle Of definite pro-
portionate contribution by local com;
upbuilding, but changed the fifty-fifty
ratio to sixty-forty. imposing the sixty
per cent burden upon the local tax
payer.
The committees platform Of prin-
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