Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-06
Facts for Mr.. Simmons.


Representative Simmons is quoted as
saying that the House, meaning Mr.
Simmons, will stick to the $4,000, 900
lump sum until there are facts pre-
scented to warrant change. The infer
ence here is that the Senate, which
increased the lump sum to $4,000, 900,
was in possession of no facts at the
time and based its action on empty
sentiment.
Mr.. Simmons knows it is a fact that
substantive law, never repealed by Con-
gress, provides that appropriations shall
Be shared between the District and tbs
Federal Government on the basis of so
per cent and 40 per cent, respectively.
while the current bill, as passed by the
House, divides these appropriations on
the basis of 1875 per cent for the Dis
trict and 21.5 per cent for the United
States.
Mr.. Simmons knows it is a fact that
II, in 1925, the lump sum payment of
$4,000 900 represented equitable partici-
patton in District financing by the Fed
eral Government, it does not continue
20 represent equitable participation
when set up against the amount of the
District bill In 1881, which carries
si2,000,000 more, in the so-called
"divisible appropriations, than the 1925
bill.
Mr.. Simmons knows it is a fact that
0HaN . thu ine st
Bureau of Efficiency made an exhaus-
tive inquiry into the question of fiscal
relations between the District and Fed
eral Governments, it found that Uncle
Sam as municipal taxpayer, whose in
tangible personal property value can be
computed only. on conjectural and
debatable basis, would have owed the
District for the fiscal year 1928 a tax
Of $7,44o,s3s and that this amount does
not include Uncle Sans liability on
account of loss of revenue to the Dis
trict or on account Of extraordinary ex-
penditures demanded from the District
occasioned by the fact that Washington
Il the National Capital.
Mr.. Simmons knows it Is fact that
the balance between the $7,440, $3.50
(which, by the way, does not take into
account the vast acquisitions of taxable
property by the United States or the
improvements built and building on
account Of the Federal housing pro-
grAm) and the 100000 lump sum,
amounting to 1859, o61, cannot be con-
natxyad ~, any aaso,,a hIa' ,,areo, as nav
ering this liability, and that any In
telligent attempt to convert this liza
bfity into dollars and cents would per-
force increase the ss,ooo,00O lump sum
BY millions.
Mr.. Simmons knows it is a fact that
Of least two great semi-national projects
(the Cramton park bill and the Munich
pal CENTER, costing In the neighborhood
Of 100000 as at present estimated,
are being financed through the District
bill: that these two items alone repre-
sent financial burdens in addition to the
growing expenses of Capital mainte-
nance and normal development; that
neither Of them was represented in the
fiscal year 1925 when the $4,000, 900
hump sum was first devised, and that
failure to increase the lump sum in
reality means both must be financed
by the unrepresented taxpayers of the
District alone.
Mr.. Simmons knows it is fact that
every increase in the expenses of rum
ming the District since 1925 has been
met from the pockets of the taxpayers
Of the District, who have no rights to
voice in the expenditure of their money;
that his argument for continuing the
lump sum at SO, 100000 merely becomes
an argument for increasing the local tax
burden, as the District is now committed
By Congress TO a program Of expendi-
lures that demands either the increase
Of revenue availability or the drastic
eurtaiIment Of the program.
M. Simmons knows it is a fact that
30 American principles; that it imposes
a special and peculiar obligation upon
Congress that does not elsewhere exist,
and that the lump-sum practice. adopt
ed by legislative evasion OF the law,
removes the last vestige Of protection
against excessive taxation left to un-
represented taxpayers in the District.
Failure to recognize the necessity for
an increase in the lump sum Is fall
ure to recognize the just obligations
assumed by Congress in its exclusive
government OF the District of Columbia.
1t is not lack of facts that bothers
Mr.. Simmons. But it is the failure by
Mr.. Simmons and a few controlling
members Of the House to deal squarely
with the facts that lowers considera-
ton of equitable financial dealing with
the District to a plane Of personal
prejudice.