Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-28
GROUP TO DIVIDE
DC. EXPENSE URGED
House Bill Calls for Regular
Report on Federal
Responsibility.
FROM the $50 EDITION Of Yesterdays star.

TO advise Congress at regular periods a
to the proper division Of financial re-
sponsibility between the District gov
eminent and the United States is pro-
vided for in a bill introduced in thu
House today by Representative r. Wal
ton Moore Of Virginia.
The commission would be specifically
empowered to determine the amount
Of the Federal contribution to the ex'
penses of the District Of Columbia gov
eminent and would investigate and re-
port the whole subject of fiscal relation.
every four years, beginning next De-
cember.
The commission would be composed
Of the chairInen of the Senate and
House District committees and of the
Senate and House appropriation COM
uittees, a member of the Board OF Com
nnissioners Of the District desig-
mated by that board, the director Of the
Budget Bureau and three citizens OF the
District appointed by the President.
The bill was referred to the House
District committee for consideration.
Under the wording Of the measure
the proposed commission Is directed AS
soon as possible and from time to time
thereafter to inquire into the fiscal re-
iataous Of the United States and the
Digtrict of Columbia with a view to
ascertaining and recommending to
Congress the amount Of the annual con-
trfbTtion of the Government OF the
United States toward the expenses OF
the District of Columbia"
The commission would be instructed
N make "a thorough investigation OF
ali the conditions and circumstances
which should be considered IN deter
mining what, in justice and fairness
should be the division Of the appropr1a-
tons between the Government ana the
District" :,
The proposed law would make II
compulsory on officers and employees Of
an administrative agencies Of the Dis
frict government to supply the commits
atom any information it may require
regarding powers. duties, activities
Examination and methods Of business
The commission would be given the
ffRht to examine any books, documents,
pepers or records of the municipal gov
ernment needed In the prosecution OF
its work.
Tne uSCdl ISldllOQS COA11AAAAo0AOA WSN.~A
have the authority to employ experts
and clerical help without subjecttne
them to requirements Of any existing
ernnloyment laws and to fix their COM
nMnsation, Congress would appropriate
sums needed to cover all expenses o.
TIE commission, the money TO be paio
"a equal proportions from the 1unos o.
Ae Federal and municipal governments
Committee chairmen assigned 70 the
Admission would continue TO serve un'
IN new committees are created py
subsequent Congress. Members OF tnt
commission may designate suoSututes
10 act In their places In the event tneI
are not personally able TO attend meet
tnRs of the commission.
IA It's discretion the commission woulc
have the authority at any time 70 MAKE
other recommendation to Congress rel
alive 70 legislation and adminiSua tlof
pertaining TO the District of Columbit
and the commission could conduct IT
work while Congress Is in session or Il
recess.
Outlines Long Fight.
Taking the floor In support Of hi
hill. MFR. Moore outlined to the HOUSE
flIa long controversy that has existed q,
to the proper division Of municipal
costs.
"since entered the House more thar
10 years ago." the Virginian said, "tner'
has been almost constant agitation OF
the question as to how the cost OF con
Quoting the District government shoulc
be divided-wl1at part should be paiS
from the Federal revenue and what par
from the District revenue. At That TIM
q fifty-hfty ratio basis was in enect
Later the ratio business was modihed *
&c to impose so per cent on the Distric
and 40 rer cent on the Treasury. Still
later. when the District appropriation
bill was under consideration, the rati'
basis was abandoned and the annua
contribution of the Federal Government
fixed at S9.OOO,O 900. That figure Is still
used, with the result that at this tim
the Federal contribution is said to b
less than 20 per cent of the total. Mn
million is the amount carried IN IN
present bill.
Was Held Illogical.
Those who opposed the ratio plar
argued, among other things, that 1t wa
illo1ical and wholly unwarranted, II
view of the fact that conditions var!
from time to time, 50 that in some year.
heavier liability and expense are cas-
on the District government, because o
the value and care of the property be
longing to the Federal Government
than In some other year. Accordingly
they commended that any inflexible ratit
plan 70 incapable Of being defended
On the other hand, it was contendet
the ratio plan had long received the ap
proval of Congress, and that it has thu
effect Of insurlng stability ana relieving
the situation Of uncertainty.
IT do not see how those who oppoS
that plan as too rigid and as posSlbl
sometimes imposing on the Fedora
Treasury o greater liability than i
could bear can deny that their argu
rnent applies with the same force to tn
lunp-slm appropriation method. A con
tribution Of 100000 Is arbitrary.
few years ago it might have been more
or it might have been less than tn
Federal Government should pay. Toda
there are many who assert the amour
Is too small, and perhaps there ar
some In the House who assert 1t Is to-
large.
Cannot Be Overlooked.
There Is thus a controversy whicl
cannot be appreciably Quoted, so lon
- q view of any one member of tn
House or Senate, however able and wei
informed, or the view of any small sub
committee of the House committee o.
appropriations, however able and we
informed. is to be accepted as fina
The character and practices Of the Dis
Grtct government are determined eXclu
sively by Congress, in which the peopl
OF the District are unrepresented, an
it must be admitted 1t is the. duty Q
Congress to make the government q
satisfactory as possible and to remove
II it can, any ground for continus
doubt and agitation in respect to
matter of major Importance.
I'm order to proceed in that directio
] entertain the opinion that Congress
should have the benef1t of the opinio
and advice Of some agencies constitute
and equipped to investigate all Of tn