Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-27
Emphasizing Helplessness.

The plan Of submitting the annual
estimates to the various trade and civic
organizations Of the city and inviting
their criticism and comment was ini-
tiated several years ago by the Commits
sioners. 1t started, of with a bang and
for time promised a new era in civic
representation in the business Of franz
ing the budget.
But experience showed that there
were certain difficulties in connection
with the procedure that were not APP
parent III the beginning The trade or
CARNATIONS, for instance, gave up the
study OF each item in detail, as the
labor seemed superfluous in view Of the
fact that the Commissioners, the Blu
reau of the Budget and the committees
Of Congress would be doing the identi-
cal thing. Again, the list of estimates
was submitted so shortly before 1t was
due to go TO the Bureau Of the Budget
that lack of time alone prevented
careful appraisal of each item. In this
connection, the Board of Trade and the
Chamber of Commerce united in an APP
peal to the Commissioners that, instead
Of submitting the estimates to each or
ganizatiop, public hearings be held, at
which representatives of the organiza-
tions would be present to give their
views. 1t was pointed out that the
trade organizations had already drafted
their programs Of general legislation de-
sired and favored. and that they could
best serve by leaving the details to the
Commissioners and expressing them
selves on general principles.
The Chamber of Commerce received
and studied the 1882 budget, and went
on record against an increase In taxes,
setting forth number Of other recon-
nendations and renewing its former
suggestion that programs for long-ter
financing of needed projects be adopted
by the city. The Board Of Trade did
not make any report on the 1882
budget
The Citizens Advisory Council, fol-
lowing its practice, devoted several eve
nings at the District Building to as
careful study of the estimates as time
would allow. submitting suggestions for
more than hundred tten1ized changes,
and going on record against any in
crease In the tax rate.
But 1t became more apparent than
ever that the system set up for obtain
ing the reaction Of citizens to the bud
get was unwieldly and rather tirne-wast-
ing. After all, the citizens were merely
being allowed glance at all the esti-
mates submitted by the department
heads at the District Building. The
budget itself, after being approved by
the Commissioners and, sent to the
Bureau Of the Budget, became a sacred
thing shrouded in secrecy and shielded
from prying eyes.
The Commissioners in the mean time
discarded recommendations from the
citizens against an increased tax rate
to support the budget, and based their
estimates on an increased tax rate
While the tax rate has not been set
and will not be set until Congress de-
cloes on the ratio OF sharing expenses
between the District and the Federal
Government as well as the size of the
appropriations. the Commissioners could
not very well have taken any action
more cordially inviting increased taxes
than by baSing their budget on q
higher tax rate.
1t is question whether the citizens
will find it worth while TO continue
their examination of the annual esti-
mates. unless there is more favorable
response to their recommendation at
the District Building. Denied any
oficial status in expressing their views
on city finances, the threat Of q higher
tax rate minimizes the Importance Of
their unof1cial accommodations The
pitifully futile efforts Of the taxpayers
TO express their wishes on what taxes
are to be paid and how their money
should be spent are successful only In
the emphasis they give to unrepresented
Washington and the political impotence
Of its citizens