Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-15

while the tIed ratio II a,cal rela-
s.t Ia. Il the not p, tn s s
ssttgeen the conterees; RepresentGtive
cis,a Of the dTsd ratio and defended
the matter phich JoIiows below, dis
cusstHo the genesis OF the hred ratio
the Fundamental peakness Of the lump
Sun, Sun practice S Gnd stafes the points Upon
resisted tfs continu9tio NJ D''''''' "o''
The e1cerpts from editorial correspond
eHee o. The Star by Theodore W. Moves,
TIME partnership in the mainte
nance and development of the
National Capital between the
Il Nation represented by Congress
and the local tax-paying COM
munity took definite shape in 1878. The
national or active partner at that time
took to himself every particle Of power
in collecting municipal revenues, whether
from local or national taxes. and in
spending these revenues upon such n1u-
nicipal objects as he pleased to select
without limit upon his discretion. The
sole function of the silent partner, the
local tax-paying community, was to pay
for the Capitals upbuilding in taxes,
LICENSES, eIC., WIldJSNeI dHlOuIb IliC la
tional partner chose to exact. AS a safe
guard against unjust and excessive
exactions from the silent, impotent
partner. the dominant partner imposed
upon himself the limitation that he
would exact from the former only so
per cent of the total National Capital
appropriations; and to assure national
liberality in the upbuilding of the
Nations City, which was a basic intent
! - la, Af nn National rtner
agreed that he would pay for Capital
maintenance and development the re-
naming so per cent of the total OF
D. c. appropriations.
Progress Under Half and Half Law.
This wise and just arrangement was
maintained from 1878 10 1922, and in
this interval converted a Capital OF
which every American was ashamed into
Capital of which every American Is
proud. The congressional joint COM
Inittee of 1915 declared after protracted
and exhaustive investigation that the
local partner, the District, had under
the so per cent limitation contributed
adequately toward Capital upbuilding,
and that if either partner had not con-
tributed enough the delinquent was the
national partner.
In 1922 the definite proportion plan OF
contribution for Capital upbuilding was
indicated and retained, but the ratio
of contribution was changed from $3.50
to 6O-40. so from the local, and 40 from
the national partner. Under the law OF
1922 an up-to-date accounting of in
debtedneSs, legal and equitable, between
the national and local partners was
had, a new balance was struck, and the
national partner was found to be in
debted to the local partner to the extent
of more than $5,ooo,o0o.
Lump-sum Payment Experiment.
The 6o-4o ratio became the substan-
tive law in 1922, and Is still the sub
stantive law, one or two vigorous and
determined efforts to amend 1t having
failed in Congress In enacting the
appropriation law for the fiscal year
1925, however, Congress Experimental
with lump-Sum payment In lieu OF It's
10 per cent contribution, as sweeping
exception to the substantive law and IN
violation of the implied promise of the
substantive law that for five years at
least the 60-40 ratio should be main
tanned. The lump-Sum payment practice
of appropriation applied only to the
items of the particular appropriation
bill to which it was attached and was
not operative beyond the current fiscal
year.
For each year since the fiscal year
1925 Congress has repeated this tenn
financing the District which 1t had
itself enacted into permanent substan-
tive law in 1922 and protected ever since
against direct amendment.
Between this substantive law and this
| appropriation practice, which Is the
more honest. the more just. the better
for the welfare of the Capital COM
munity and the wholesome development
of the Nations City?
What are the considerations which
push the District irresistibly into des-
perate resistance to the lump-sum pay
nent plan?
UnsOUnd in Principle.
!. In the peculiar relations of ma
tional and local partners in the Nationa
Capital partnership the self-imposec
, limitation upon the national partner
: created by the definite proportion plar
: is essential to the welfare of the loca
partner as safeguard against excessive
: and unjust exaction of contributions fol
: Capital upbuilding by the nationa
partner.
The definite proportion plan relates
: the contributions for Capital upbuildint
by the national and local partners 81
!; that every increase Of compulsory con
tribution by the local partner involves
a corresponding increase of contributor
by the national partner; while undeI
! the lump-sum payment plan every IN
crease of compulsory and involuntar,
. contribution by the local partner IN
wolves a corresponding decrease of tn
amount of necessary contribution by tn
national partner.
The natural result of the removal @
: the self-imposed restraint upon the ex
clusively- controlling national partner
! TO cause him to collect more and NOR
: of necessary District revenue from hi
helpless partner and less and les
!. relatively. - from his own purse
' Authorized by substantive law Of HI
! own enacting to collect only so pc
E cent of District appropriation from hi
impotent associate the national part
ner under the lump-sum payment prac
. tice now exactS rs per cent and tn
z natural and actual tendency is towar
!. a continuing increase Of this percent
age.
The Iump-sum payment plan Is un
S sound in principle and unjust in praC
Q tice when applied 10 the peculiar rela
u tions Of national and local partners
y the National Capital partnership.
: q Our contention that the lump-sur
= payment practice destroys the unrer
D resented Capitals safeguard against eH
; cessive and unjust taxation, may VIII
n advantage be elaborated.
: Destroys Capitals Safeguard.
y The compromise law of 1922 couple
- with the imposition Of new and heavlt
10 tax burdens upon the Capital the vital
70 important ofsetting benefit of refer
g ton of the principle Of definite prt
% portionate contribution, the District
4 safeguard against excessive and unJu
& taxation by a taxing body in which
50 is not represented. The lump-sum pay