Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-19
Ask for Restoration
of Proportionate
Contribution Plan.
No Ofsetting Bene-
fits by Evasion of
Law of 1922.

Tert of argument accompanying
petition to Congress from the Citt-
ze1ls' Joint Committee on Fiscal Re-
ldttonS in the District of Columbia:
1. The lump-sum payment practice
destroys all relation between the Ma
tiOnal and local contributions and Ieav-
ing all taxing power in the hands Of
the United States deprives the unrep-
resented Capital of It's safeguard
against excessive taxation by a taxing
body in which It is not represented.
Under the lump-sum payment prac-
tice additional dollars of tax exacted
from the District no longer increase,
but correspondingly reduce the Ma
tional contribution, actually or rela-
lively.
Teaches a False Theory.
2. 1t teaches q false theory concern
ing the relation Of Nation to Capital.
It obtrudes annually upon the atten-
ton of Congress the suggestion of a
large cash donation to the Capital, as
If the primary obligation of National
City upbuilding we're upon the local
taxpayers and the Nation were only
u
and benevolent donor. Since the Ma
ton in 1878 recognized and assumed
its National Capital power and obliga-
ton, its responsibility in respect to the
Capital has been primary and dominat-
ing. AS late as 1916 this relation Of
Nation to Capital was fully recognized
and clearly set forth In the report Of
the Joint Select Committee of Congress,
which made the most thorough, ex-
- -
relations Of Nation and Capital that
statesmen had given to the subject
since 1913. AS long as all the assets
and revenues Of the National and local
joint contributors toward Capital up
building are in the hands of the Ma
tional joint contributor, and as long as
all decisions concerning the amount to
be paid by the joint contributors re-
spectively and concerning the expendi-
ture of the joint revenue are to be made
by the National contributor, the latter
must, in equity. and will in~fact bear
the primary responsibility of Capital
and the local taxpayers will
be recognized in their true relation as
incidental contributors of tax
money, not fixed in amount by them
selves, but exacted at the pleasure Of
the other Joint contributor. Since all
the taxing power remains in the hands
upon the amount of National payment
is required, but the self-imposed limi-
tation upon the amount to be exacted
from the tmpotent partner is essential.
Is not the superlative inconsistency,
the climax Of tOpsy-turvydOm attained
by a financing plan which places a
limit upon the amount of his own
which may be spent by the
OmnipOtent National partner, with
90 ~Nnx
in his hands, and removes
all limit from the amount which the
partner may exact for Capital
from the impOtent local
partner, the District taxpayers? Pro-
lection against himself for the power
full partner who needs no protection! A
denial Of protection for the weak part
ner who Is absolutely helpless and i'm
potent and who desperately needs to be
protected!
8. II taints with unfairness or bad
faith nearly every understanding or
transaction which 1t touches.
Unlawful Offspring Of Holman Rule.
(a) II came into existence as rider
on an appropriation bill in defiance OF
law under strained con-
struction of the Holman rule.
This misapplication of that rule tends
to put the National appropriation for
Capital upbuilding in a position where
it may not be increased, however
without running the gantlet
of the. House District Committee and OF
District day limitations and delays, but
may be decreased, honestly or dis
honestly, without the sanction OF any
committee by hasty, unthinking pro-
posals from the floor of the House,
adopted by mere majority OF the ut
A.. - Iaerie1ofAPS
House who take an interest, friendly or
hostile, in District concerns.
Under its vicious influence the, rule
seems 70 say in effect that IN action
unon appropriation bills no substantive
legislation can be disobeyed unless
Uncle Sam repudiates some financial
obligation or otherwise makes money
by the change.
The rule thus misconstrued and mis-
applied, while barring equitable m
creases in appropriation, Facilitates the
denial or evasion of legal indebtedness;
II invites violation with good or bad
motive Of existing substantive law;
and it tempts to dishonest reputation
Of just debt.
Unfairness In Respect 70 Surplus.
OBJ In appropriating for National
CAPITAL purposes the Districts five mil
by Congress of much of its merit.
It caused Reputation Of equitable
by the United States IN
appropriating and expanding the DIS
trict's accumulated treasury surplus.
The tax money creating this surplus
was collected by authority of the half
and-half law solely TO apply upon the
Districts half of District appropri-
ations. Whenever it came to be ex-
pended it would be equitable to spend
it under the half-and-haf law, the
United States duplicating it.
Under the demoraliZing influence OF
the lump-sum payment practice the
surplus has been expended without par
ticipation by the Nation under any per-
centage of obligation TO enlarge the
surplus fund for the upbuilding OF the
CAPITAL. Decision that the tax surplus,
collected under the $3.50 law. existed
unavoidably involved the decision that
proportionate payment by the Nation
was equitably due whenever the tax sur
plus should be expended. But the
lump-sum payment practice, as applied,
repudiated this equity.
Taints With Unfairness Expenditures
for Parks.
(c) The lump-sum payment expert
ment, as practically applied, converted
the Park Commission law from bene-
fit and blessing to the National Capt.
tai community into a curse.
On its face the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission law
is broadly National The terms Of the
law suggest the patriotic interest in 1t
10 the extent of a cent a year contri-
button Of every man, woman and
child in the Republic. The title to all
the land purchased by the Park Com
mission is vested in the United States
The Park Commission can under it
purchase land in adjacent Maryland
80 Tytrot,rfa mall fy, k1an ME