Evening star., 1931-12-24
CITIZENS JOINT COMMITTEE TO.
FIGHT FOR FINANCIAL EQUITY
Urges Return to e0-40 Ratio in Appropria-
ton Practice, and Meanwhile Substan-
tial Increase of Lump-Sum Payments.

Plans to go before the Senate Dis
trict Committee in opposition to the
four Mapes bills, designed to increase
District taxes and cut down the amount
of the Nations lump-sum payment and
to repeal the substantive law providing
a 60-40 ratio of fiscal relations, were
laid yesterday by the Citizens Joint
Committee on Fiscal Relations between
the United States and the District of
Columbia.
At it's first meeting since the passage
of the bills in the House last week.
the committee adopted a resolution
which urges retention of the 60-40
ratio in the substantive law, a return
to that ratio in appropriation practice
and as long as the lump-sum payment
practice continues substantial increase
in these annual lump-sum payments.
The resolution also urges that no in
crease of the Districts, present heavy
tax burden be made. solely or pri-
marily to facilitate the cutting down
in the amount of the lump-Sum pay
ment; or unless after thorough eXami-
nation it is found that such additional
taxation is absolutely necessary to meet
urgent municipal needs which cannot
otherwise be satisfied.
The group, which Is composed of
leaders of Washington's trade, civic
and financial organizations, will make
careful preparations for its concerted
drive on the Capitol for financial
equity for the people of the District
The committee plans to assemble a
mass of authentic facts and figures on
which to base its plea to Congress.
The meeting of the committee held
in the board rooms of the Washington
Board of Trade in The Star Building,
was presided over by Theodore w
Noyes. chairman of the Executive Com
mittee of the group.
The text of the resolution which
was introduced by E. c. Brandenburg
follows. in full:
whereas, there are now pending in
the Senate and before the Senate Dis
trict Committee H. R. bills numbered
1921, 1922 and 1923, which impose new
and increased taxes amounting annual
ly, 1t is estimated, to three million dol
lars for the apparent purpose Of reduc-
ing by that amount the annual lump
sum appropriation from the Treasury
for the maintenance and development
Of the Nations city;
oiltS ohoIlSiy IIotSsttu.
And, whereas, there is also pending
before the Senate District Committee
House bill 6285. which repeals the pro-
vision of substantive law of 1922 that
established the 60-40 ratio of definite
proportionate contribution by the Nation
and local taxpayers toward the main
tenance and municipal development of
the National Capital, repudiates any
continuing financial obligation on the
part of the Nation toward the Nations
city, and permits the national payment
on this account to be reduced to little
or to nothing in accordance with the
changing views of successive appropri-
alton committees;
Resolved, by the Citizens Joint
Committee on Fiscal Relations between
the United States and the District of
Columbia,
That the committee vigorously pro-
tests against any increase whatever in
the District taxpayers already heavy
tax burden solely or primarily to facili-
tate reduction by millions of the lump
sum payment by the Nation toward
Capital maintenance and upbuilding,
That the committee urges that no
additional increased tax be imposed un-
less after thorough examination it is
found that such additional taxation Is
absolutely necessary to meet urgent
municipal needs which cannot other
wise be satisfied;
That, in framing any new tax legis-
lation, care be taken 10 give assurance
that the proposed form or method OF
taxation is sound in principle, and that
the legislation Is so Worded as to be