Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-12
SIMMONS EXPLAINS
FINANCE VIEWPOINT
Attacks Editorials as Mis-
leading in Declaring Fed
eraI Contribution Adequate.

From the $50 Edition Of Yesterdays Star.
The question of financing the munich
pal airport for the District and the
new municipal center vas discussed IN
the House today BY Chairman Sim
mons of the subcommittee on District
appropriations, who took exception To
editorials in the Washington Post and
Evening Star. MIR. Simmons SAID tnat
Eve are In the initial stages Of an
other campaign to get more money out
of the Federal Treasury for the Dis
trict of Columbia" He cited these edi-
torials, the action Of the Citizens' Ad-
yisory Council last night, and the
action of the Board of Trade In pro-
posing to ask the President to appoint
a national committee OF economic ad-
visers to study fiscal relations between
the Federal Government and the Dis
trict Of Columbia.
every study of fiscal relations" he
said. has demonstrated that Wash
ington is now, If anything, undertaxed
and that the contribution OF the Fed
eral Government is not only fair but
generous"
Explains Funds.
In taking exception to the editorials,
Mr.. Simmons argued that the $7,O0o,OOO
surplus In the Federal Treasury TO the
credit of the District Is a surplus from
the Joint funds collected from the gen
eral revenues of the District plus the
SO 600 900 contributed by the Federal
Government. In order that it might be
said to be entirely local tax money 1t
would be necessary to spend first the
Federal Governments 100000. II
could Just as well say that before any OF
the 100000 contributed by the Fed
eral Government is spent they spend all
their own money and that TINS surplus
is all Federal money" In discussing the
present municipal building, Mr.. Sim
mons said: 1.-THE land on which the
building rests was bought and paid Tor
so per cent by the United States Gov
eminent and so per cent by the people
of the District of Columbia. The build
ing was paid for in the same way. 1t
costs approximately $4,000, 000-or in
other words. the present Distrlct Bulid-
ing. costing 50, SOC, 600, is owned equitably
so per cent by the District and so per
cent by the Government Of the United
States.
my proposal was that we not divide
it in that way. but that We pay the
present value of the building to the
district government and allow them to
build a new building from the proceeds.
The District has the user right in the
for the use of the United States. It Is
estimated that this value would be about
5.0O0, 900. / have advised the Secre-
tary of the Treasury that am Wiling
to accept value placed thereon by the
present District assessor. In other
words, am proposing to pay to the
District of Columbia $5000,000 on
whatever they agree upon as the proper
figure in return for their investment OF
SI,25O0O0 and their right of user In
the present building.
Challenges Statement.
He challenged the statement that
"the Federal Government. which IN
1921 decided that 40 per cent consti-
t1tes its fair share in District apprc-
priation bills, will be contributing ap-
proXimately 20 per cent plus In the
1880 appropriations" In answer, ne
said: I'VE are paying this year ap--
proximately % per cent OF the cost
of running the municipal government
in the District out of Federal funds"
The section Of The Star editorial re-
ferring to the matter Of financing the
Federal airport and the municipal CEN
ter through a return to the fixed ratio
policy of appropriations, or by gen.
erously increasing the lump sum ana
stating that otherwise the Federal air.
port will represent a grossly unfair
burden. resulting from tyrannical treat
ment Of unrepresented taxpayers. was
answered by Mr.. Simmons as not rep
resenting the sentiment Of the people
of Washington and that If 1t does the
municipal center project ought to stop
where it is"
In reply to a question from Repre-
sentative Underhill, Mr.. Simmons said
that The Evening Star was one OF the
first papers advocating municipal CEN
ter "They have asked for 1t, they have
urged it, until now when they think
they are going to get it they come out
and object to paying for 1t. The Federal
Government does not owe the DISTRICT
of Columbia municipal center. We are
led to believe by the Board of Trade,
the Chamber of Commerce, the District
Commissioners, by the newspapers and
others that the municipal center IS
needed. have been trying to help them
to get it. Congress has said they shall
have it. The House by unanimous con-
sent at this special session appropriated
for the purchase of lands for the
municipal center as necessity Tor the
District and not as luxury. We can go
ahead on the plan that has been advo-
Gated and develop municipal center In
washington which would be of use to
the city and thing of beauty without
increasing the tax burden unduly for
the people Of Washington, and without
increased contribution from the Federal
Government and without unduly cur
failing other expenditures.
But if it is not done by Congress it
will be because of the fact that few
who are self1shly trying to save some
thing for themselves in taxes miSrepre-
sent the sentiment of the people Of
in this matter as to what is
being and will be DONE