Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-17
MTn Be Rather Careful"

The cost Of the Municipal Center de-
Velopment is now estimated at $21 ,oOo,-
900, but the chances are that several
millions will be added to this figure be-
fore the project is completed. Discuss
ing the Municipal Center item in the
Senate yesterday, Senator King of Utah
remarked that "the people of the Dis
trict of Columbia will have to pay this
enormous sum and think we ought
20 be rather careful before we embark
upon a project to cost $21 100000, the
greater part Of which will be saddled on
the backs Of the taxpayers Of the Dis
trict. They ought to have some voice,
It seems to me, In the determination OF
Shis matter"
The District Of Columbia has already
been embarked on this project. But
The time 'tto be rather careful" has not,
fortunately, passed. There still re-
mains opportunity for the Congress
20 exercise the care that is necessary to
prevent the Municipal Center project,
and many other semi-national projects
now under way in the Capital, from I'M
posing the grossly unjust tax burdens
that are threatened. BY agreement
fhe two houses of Congress have post
poned their discussion Of fiscal rela-
lions until next year. One OF the I'M
portant tasks facing the new Congress
win be the adoption of policy In financ-
ing the Capital that will avoid the
dangers mentioned by Senator King in
connection with the Municipal Center.
The Municipal Center, OF course,
affords one of the best examples OF the
need for q change in the method now
followed under the lump sum, although
there are others Here is an under
taking that has been assigned TO the
taxpayers of the District OF Columbia
without consideration OF their own
wishes In the matter, without consider
alton Of its relative. importance as
local necessity, and without consider
alton Of the eventual tax burden that
it win entail. It is being constructed
because Of the Federal Governments
own housing program. It is being con-
gtructed on a scale that Is determined
by the Federal Governments building
program. It viii cost several times
more than the mere unitarian needs
Of q municipality the size Of Washing
ton would ordinarily justify. And 1t Is
only one Of several projects, similarly
conceived, to which the municipality is
being committed because this happens
to be the Capital of the United States.
The point Is not that the taxpayers Of
the District of Columbia are opposing
these fine improvements in the Federal
City, nor Is it, as unfairly charged, that
they are unwilling to contribute large
proportion Of their cost. The point Is
that they are being committed to these
expensive undertakings without any as
eurance that the planning and govern
ing United States will pay It's just pro-
portion and with obvious indications
that the decorative embellishments OF
the National Capital are to be bought
ct the price of neglecting some OF the
Less impressive. but none the less i'm
portant, needs Of the local municipality.
Senator King and others may well ask
whether any city Of the size and re-
sources of Washington would voluntarily
burden itself with $1s,ooo,0 900 park de-
veIopment debt and a $21 100000 Getty
hall" debt when many of the children
lack proper educational facilities. And
1t is far from comforting TO realize that
nearly every year sees the inclusion Of
more National Capital undertakings to
be financed through local appropriation
measures with little thought given as to
whether the local taxpayers care to or
should be forced to foot the bill.