New Britain herald., 1930-07-09
SUPPORT BINGHAM
 ON ). t. EXPENSES
Senators Back Up Stand for New Division Of Burden
By GEORGE H. MANNING

Washington. July 9.-More than once during the hectic days of the session of Congress just ended, and particularly after the Eyanson cpl sode, did members of the senate seemingly take delight in turning down legislative proposals of their tall, handsome,t and erudite col league, Hiram Bingham. but once. at least, they turned about and sup ported him handsomely.
 That conspicuous occasion was when the annual bill appropriating funds for running the District of Columbia was before Congress. Bingham was chairman of the sen- ate conferees and thus, had charge of the bill from the senate view point after it had passed that body.
 To get little background, let it be explained that the government of the city of Washington is kept alive, financially at least, only by the an- nual congressional appropriations. Its citizens pay their taxes and these go into the federal treasury, 10 the credit of the District of Columbia. Not a cent. however, can be spent until congress makes an appropria- ton. This includes such work as street and sewer work, bridge building; in fact, every municipal activity which requires the spend ing of money.
 Once on 5O-5O Basis
 For many years, Congress adhered to a 5o-50 basis of appropriations for Washington. That is, of the money appropriated, 50 per cent came from the pockets of Washington taxpay- CTS and the balance from the federal treasury. or, in other words, from the pockets of taxpayers through out the country.
 About 10 years ago the basis was changed to 60-40; that is. 60 per cent of the money came from the Washington taxpayers pockets and 40 per cent from the federal treasury. Many members of congress were not satisfied with this, because Washingtonians paid taxes of only s1.70 per s1Oo, whereas their con- stituents paid more.
 Consequently, the basis was changed 10 that of an arbitrary lump sum about five years ago. The lump sum was s9,000,000 a year. At that time the annual expenditures of the District government were about sS1, 900, ,000 a year. This year they had increased to s44,000,00O, and the senate thought the lump sum should be raised,
 The senate suggested S12,0O0, 900, but the house refused to consider a. nickel over s9,000,O0O, and much oratory was spread upon the pages of the Congressional Record con- corning taxes and municipal affairs in general in the national capital.
 Senate Stands Pat
 By viva voce vote the senate authorized it's conferees to stand pat for an increase. This caused Representative Cramton, republican Michigan. to say in the house that the senate probably had given this authorization without knowing what 1t was doing. Representative Garner Of Texas, the democratic floor lead CT Of the house, said the senate was only bluffing. as usual. and that it would back down, as it always did.
 This was entirely too much for the senate to stomach. Senator Bingham demanded, and got, a roll call vote on a resolution he of 1ered stating that it was the sense Of the senate that the s9,O00.0OO lump sum should be increased. The senate supported him by a vote of 64 to 5.
 Glass Starts Fireworks
 Senator Carter Glass, fiery Vir- ginian. who is about as short as Bingham is tall, declared indignant ly that matters have reached such point that unless the senate of the United States wants absolutely to debase itself and to supinely con- fess that it is not a part of the legislative branch of the government of the United States, it must assert Its dignity and its right to legislate."
 For time the two houses were hopelessly deadlocked President Hoover called Bingham to the White House to tell the President what was what It looked as though the district would get no appro- priation for this year.
 Finally, however, on the last day or the session, the house grudging- ly yielded and approved an increase Of s5Oo,o00 in the lump sum, but specifically stated that the increase was not to be considered a prece- dent. As a further concession both houses passed a resolution author izing commission to study the fiscal relations between the dis trict and the federal government rms study will be made in time for a report to be submitted to the next session.