Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-19
While Lump Sum
Remains Plea Is
Made for Increase.
Federal Allotment
Should Show Gain
With Districts.

4 =@-------
We Of washington urge: ~ That
existing substantive law authorizes in
crease Of the nine million lump-sum
payment up 10 an amount equal TO
40 per cent Of the total sum carried
by the bill II the appropriations sub
committee and committee wish to
recommend It, ca That the amount
Of the annual lump-sum payment
should be increased in some roughly
approximate relation to the increase
Of the District budget. II Justice re-
quires the Nation to contribute so
much when the Districts annual
budget Is so much, the same justice
requires 1t to contribute more. when
the District budget is doubled. The
practical suggestion is that the amount
Of the fixed payment should be read
justed 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 (now $1,000, 000) would
for example, be in Just relation to the
| hIlQ
annual expenditures.
Increase Specifically Lump Sum.
CD The amount Of annual payment
should be increased specifically In pro-
portion to National projects included
in the District appropriation bill.
Whether or not there n q 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 IL ID
conceded should be paid for wholly or
in part from the National Treasury,
but which by inclusion In the District
bill and under the Iump-sum payment
plan as practically applied are paid
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
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 expenditures
under the jurisdiction Of the National
Capital Park and Planning Commission.
The law provides in respect to apprO-
1
project that the Nation 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 IL the
existing statutory ratio Of substantive
law, or by making q specific lump sum
increase Of the basic lump-Sum ap-
| preparation in lieu of the definite pro-
portion 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
payers funds for q National project,
| which may, In the discretion Of the
commission, be expended outside of the
District in Maryland and Virginia.
The annual appropriations of more
lied as supplemental and extraordi-
nary 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 CO.
| lumbia.''
The current ratio IS 6O-40, fixed in
the substantive law by the new or
| ganic act of 1922, and still unrepealed.
The wholesale exceptions to the 60-40
ratio involved in the temporary lump
payment plan in effect since 1924
| merely suspend the substantive law of
| 1922 for the year during which the
exceptions apply and do not repeal or
permanently amend the substantive law.
Add 100000 to Basic Lump Sum.
The Park Commission law clearly
contemplates (and provideS) that the
authorized annual appropriation of a
million dollars shall be made, $500, 900
from the District revenue and $500, 900
from the National Treasury. If the
i District appropriations for 1891 were to
| be made at the 60-40 ratio in &C.
! cordance with existing substantive law,
/ this apporttonment of the parks eX-
penditure would result automatically.
But since, tentatively and for only the
year, a lump-Sum payment is to be
! substituted for the National 40 per cent
| contribution, the Nations contribution
Of 100000, or whereabouts, ought
lawfully and equitably to be added
specifically to the nine millions Of basic
| lump-Sum payment.
| The Park Commission appropriation
i Is made Enthusiastically as a supplement
to the current maintenance and de-
! velopment appropriation, with its nine
millions or nine and one-half millions
of lump-sum payment in accordance
with the original tentative precedent.
If the 60-40 ratio is not applied to
the whole appropriation and If the
| lump-sum payment is not increased
as suggested, it is generally recognized
4 that every cent Of the Park Commits
| sion's million dollars per year Cor what
ever part of this amount is appropri-
ated) will come from the District tax
payers.
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 ex-
penditure upon the local taxpayers.
/. The law specifically fOrbids this
procedure by directing division of the
cost.
2. The project is broadly National.
The terms of the law suggest the
patriotic interest in 1t to the extent
of a cent a year contribution of every
man. woman and child in the Republic.
Congress will detect the gross per-
version of law and equity which results
in a denial to 1O9, 500, 600 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
So 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