Evening star., 1930-05-23
M'LEOD FAVORS
MOORE PROPOSAL
District Committee Chairman
Reports Commission Plan
Would Be "of Value"

The commission proposed by Repre-
sentative Moore to study the fiscal re-
lations between the Federal and Dis
trict governments would certainly be
entitled to the confidence of Congress
and the people," and would prove OF
great value to Congress in deciding
what annual payments in fairness to
the Government Of the United States
and the local public should be made
from the Federal Treasury" it Is
stated in the report by Acting Chair
man Mcleod Of the House District
committee.
All of the amendments suggested by
the District Commissioners and the one
suggested by Representative Reid. Re-
publican, of Illinois, to meet an OBJ
lection by Chairman Simmons OF the
House subcommittee on District appro-
priations were accepted by the Dis.
trict committee and are included 1r
the bill reported today.
Commissioners Favorable.
Mr.. Mcleod includes in his report
quotation from the District Commits
sioners who said that they believe
permanent commission such as Is pro-
posed by this bill is highly desirable
and that the results to be accomplished
fiscal relations between the United
States and the District of Columbia.
"This subject has been a matter ol
contention and conflict of opinion for
a number of years and 1t is believed
that q commission such as Is proposed
in this bill can ascertain definite facts
and furnish valuable information in
order that the present situation may be
remedied."
Continuing, the Commissioners further
state, as quoted in the Mcleod report,
that, Under the provision Of circular
No. 40 as amended by circular No. 273
Of the Bureau of the Budget, the Com
naissioners submitted the bill to the
director of the budget. asking to be ad-
vised whether or not the proposed legis-
lation amended as recommended, was in
accord with the financial program CT
the President and under date of April
25, 1880, the director of the budget adj
vised the Commissioners that In so far
as the proposed legislation affected the
financial program of the President, there
was no objection to favorable report
on the bill"
Long Controversy.
Representative Mcleod, in his report
states: 1T Is true, as the CommiS-
years and Is now controversy with re-
spect to the matter in question, the
history of which Is set forth in various
public documents which are available
This controversy has stirred the peo.
pie of the District, who are without
representation in Congress, and 1t has
marked the action of Congress itself a:
illustrated by the continuing difference:
between the Senate and House.
There have been many advocates o.
the contribution Of the Federal Govern
ment being determined on ratio basis
and, on the other hand, many advo
Gates Of lump-sum appropriation. ant
now and then some of the latter have
urged that the lump-sum appropriated
without change during the last severa
years is in excess of the amount witt
which the Federal Government Is prop
erly chargeable, while it has been op'
posed by others as inadequate.
1.-THE Moore bill does not rest on @ss
preconception as to what amount should
be annually contributed by the Fedora
Government, on what basis or whether
more or less than 100000. 1t Il
simply an effort to have a thorough
investigation and an ascertainment ol
all relevant facts which should be taker
into account, conclusions reached as tC
what should be the fair and just divi-
sion of the total expense of conducting
the District government and recommen-
dations to Congress biennially, since
conditions vary quite rapidly, which i.
circumstance at least suggesting that
the contribution of the Federal Gov.
ernment should not be a rigid and in.
flexible amount
ITO this end, it contemplates the
creation OF q commission to be com.
posed of eight members of the ap-
preparations and District committees
OF the Senate and House. one of the
commissioners of the District of Column
b1a, the director of the Bureau of the
Budget, and three citizens of the Dis
trict, to be appointed by the President
and to serve without compensation
The commission as thus constituted
would certainly be entitled to the con-
fidence OF Congress and the people.
InaSmuch as its recommendation
would be- of course, subject to the ap-
proval or disapproval of Congress, it
could, by no possibility, have any harm
ful effect and 1t is easy to believe that
it would prove of great value to Con-
gresS in deciding what annual pay
ments, in fairness to the Government
of the United States and the local pub
lie. should be made from the Federal
Treasury. Should the work of this
commission, which is to be so largely
made up Of members of Congress, be
satisfactory, it might be expected to
grow in usefulness because of being