Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-10
Fact Finders or Tax.Findsrsi

Not much comfort Is to be derived
by the District taxpayers from the rec
ords Of the members of the House of
Representatives who have been named
BY the Speaker as the Committee of
Seven for inquiry into the fiscal rela-
lions between the District and the Fed
eral Government. So far as their past
performances are disclosed, a majority
Of the seven are addicted to the view
that the District is entitled to GER
tainly no more than the nine millions
adopted by the House as the arbitrary
lump sum of Federal contribution, per-
hAps not "even to nine million" as
Representative Cramton said in the
House last Thursday. And 1t is some
what dispiriting TO note that members
who have in the past spoken and voted
ia favor Of a larger equity for the Dis
Frict in its treatment by Congress are
eonspicuously absent from the Commit
tee Of Seven.
But 1t is even yet possible that the
Committee of Seven may attack its task
N q true spirit of fact-finding, taking
It's mandate from the following some
what cumbersome language of the au-
thorfzihg and directing resolution:
Whose duty 1t shall be to investigate
the various elements. factors and con-
ditfons which may be deemed pertinent
and essential to the accumulation Of
data and information bearing upon the
question of fiscal relations between the
United States and the District of Co.
fumbia." This phraseology is suscepti-
Die of a flexible Interpretation. The
committee is to investigate various ele-
Hnents, factors and conditions" Just
what elements, factors and condi-
lions? Those that may be deemed
pertinent and essential Deemed by
whom? BY the committee. Pertinent
and essential" to what? ITO the ac-
emulation Of data and information
bearing upon the question of fiscal re-
lations between the United States and
the District of Columbia" Strict in
depreciation of this clause signifies that
the Committee of Seven is TO decide
NIAab AoCtS dlC CSSCAeldA
10 the accumulation Of data and infor-
nation. Then, when it has sifted out
the pertinent and essential from the
compartment and non-essential-per-
hAps In accord with point Of view ia
Vorable to the fixed idea of the House
heretofore-it is to recommend TO the
House what amount in their Judgment,
the United States should contribute an
nually toward the development and
maintenance Of the municipality"
This is all rather complex. There
must be decision first as to what facts
and data are essential and pertinent
Heretofore many facts and data bearing
On this question have been submitted
to the House by the District in support
Of ito plea for fiscal equity, all quite per-
tinent to the determination of the prop.
er amount of the fiscal contribution of
the Federal Government, only to be
swept aside and ignored. Is that to be
The course now Of the fact-finding Com
mittee Of Seven? Perhaps the Commit
tee Of Seven will take its mandate from
VAC NAAAHA NAoAoC Va tAAC cCCOllu ScCJlOIl OF
the resolution, which authorizes and
empowers t.:
To investigate fully the various forms
OF municipal taxation and sources of
revenue of the District of Columbia and
20 recommend TO the House such new
forms Of taxation and sources of rev.
enue and/or such changes in existing
forms OF taxation and sources of rev.
enue as to them may seem just and fair
The Committee of Seven may thus
be both fact-f1nding and a tax-fnding
body. The District hopes that it will
md the facts so fully and completely
that it will decide that it is unnecessary
10 find new taxes, as indeed it is neces-
sary If the equity Of Federal contribu-
ton to District administration is main
tanned