Evening star., 1931-12-20
Bill AnnulIing Fundamentals
OF Substantive Statute Goes
Tomorrow to Senate.
MEASURE is APPROVED
WITHOUT ANY DEBATE
Lump-Sum Contribution Would Be
Written Into Each Years
Appropriation.

BY unanimous consent. at the close
OF the session last night, the House
passed, in less than two minutes. the
proposal to repeal the 6O-40 provision
OF substantive law affecting the Federal
contribution in support of the National
Capital. The vote was on motion OF
Representative Carl E. Mapes. chair
man of the Special Committee on
Fiscal Relations.
This is the fifth piece of legislation
bearing on the financial set-ups Of the
District which has been passed on
recommendation of the special COM
mttee. 1t substitutes for the 60-4o
proportion principle Of substantive
law, provision that the Appropriations
Committee will write into the District
appropriation bills from year to wear
Whatever lump-sum contribution the
committee may see fit
In making his motion under unani-
nous consent Representative Mapes
said The 6040 law has been mop
eratiVe Tor several years-practically a
oeao letter, but 1t is still substantive
law. While the lump-sum provision oi
In order. 1t was thought advisable bv
our Special Committee on Fiscal Rela-
tlons that this substantive law should
oe repealed, lnaSmuch as 1t is in
operative, to avoid the possibility of
argument regarding it."
There was no objection and the
measure was declared by Speaker Gar
ner to be passed. The Mapes bill was
presented to the House on Friday
To Senate Tomorrow.
The measure will be sent to the Senate
tomorrow to Join the four other tax
bills, but indications last night were
that none of these bills will receive
committee attention at the Senate end
OF the Capitol until after the Christmas
holidays
The Senate decided yesterday that
the regular District of Columbia Com
mlttee. Of which Senator Arthur Gamer
Of Kansas l., chairman, should handle
all four Of the bills which seek to i'm
pose increased taxes on the city. When
the tax measures first reached the
Senate the two bills relating to income
ana estate taxes were sent to the
Finance Committee. which deals with
Nationwide tax problems. The Accent
gas tax bill and the bill to tax auto
mobiles by weight went to the District
Committee as soon as they reached the
Senate, and Senator Smoo. of Utah,
chairman OF finance, requested yester-
day that the other two bills be sent
also to the Capper Committee.
Senator Capper announced later in
the day that all of the tax measures
would be subjected to full and careful
inquiry, adding:
Every one in the District who wants
to be heard will be given that oppor-
tunity," he said.
The views of District officials. citi-
zens' organizations and trade bodies
will be sought before any action is
taken on the bills. Senator Capper said
He indicated at the same time that he
saw no need for hurried action.
Another member Of the District Com
mittee, Senator Carey. Republican, of
Wyoming, announced his intention yes
terday OF making a thorough study of
the teX-LnCreaSe bills and also made
known his belief that ample time
should be taken to g. into them care
fully.
viii Go to Committee.
When the bill seeking to repeal the
60-40 substantive law reaches the Sen
ate tomorrow the only immediate step to
be taken will be its reference 10 COM
nittee for consideration and report.
When the House first departed frcm
this ratio by writing lump sum Fed
eral contribution of 100000 into the
appropriation bill for the fiscal year
1925, the Senate advocated either ad-
herence to the 60-40 law or a Sl4,00O.-
900 lump sum. A temporary compro-
mise was reached in S9,000.00O lump
sum for that year. For the next five
fiscal years the House insisted on hold
ing the contribution to that figure de-
spite the fact that the total appropri-
ated each year for the city was mount
ing steadily Although the House has
renewed the lump sum provision in
each annual District bill the substantive
60-40 law has never been repealed
Just before the Mapes Committee
Continued on Page Column IL