Evening star., 1932-10-24
N.mher of the Associated Press.
One Possible Solution.

The District Commissioners, already
b,,rdened with worries over balancing
their budget for 1884, process now
In progress at the Bureau of the Budget,
face a problem of no small proportions
In deciding upon the source Of the mil
lion dollars or so that must be appro-
priated as soon as possible after Con-
sress convenes for local emergency un-
employment relief.
The money must be appropriated IN
the current fiscal year, and 1t has al
ready been shown that if the District
can complete the current fiscal year
without incmring a deficit 1t will only
be by the skin of its teeth. Where an
extra million dollars is to come from
has not been explained by the Com
missioners, who are yet to decide exact
" how much is needed and whether the
appropriation will be requested by joint
resolution or through deficiency bill.
The Commissioners, with the expert
advice of Auditor Donovan, may have
IcdCll6u q oOluIlOll tiidt may Aios NJ
divulged for some time.
But one logical method to obtain the
million dollars or the part Of it needed
for relief during the remainder Of this
fiscal year would be to request Con-
gress to permit the District to skip
payment of the million dollars due the
United States on the last day Of this
fiscal year, June 80, 1893, as reim-
bursement for money advanced under
the terms of the Capper -Cramton park
legislation. The amount due this year
would be the second payment. The
District has already paid back one mil
lion dollars.
The District was obligated to repay
the authorized advance Of $16,000,000
for park purchase and development in
the District at the rate Of million
dollars a year. Only $5,000,000 OF
the authorized total has been appro-
priated. Nothing would be lost to the
United States by granting the District
q years moratorium on this repayment
for ultimate repayment is as sure as
death and taxes. On the other hand
much would be gained by the District
The local tax burden must be kept
down. And at the same time suffering
from unemployment and distress must
be relieved through the appropriation OF
local public funds. The Districts park
debt to the United States-which was
placed as an obligation on the people
of the District with small consideration
of the equities involved in making them
shoulder it-can certainly wait year
or so.
The District Is peculiarly helpless IN
meeting the emergencies of this period
It cannot borrow, as other cities bor-
row. It is denied recourse, except
through congressional action, to the
Reconstruction Finance Corporations
funds It's taxpayers have no voice 1r
how they may save on expenditures IN
order to meet relief responsibilities
Everything must wait on Congress, ano
the unhappy failure of Congress last
Spring to recognize its responsibilities
and even permit the appropriation
from local revenues of the full amount
asked for relief has precipitated the
present tragic situation. With all OF the
aid being extended the people OF the
States and the numerous grants OF
moratoriums, the people OF the District
certainly have the right to expect tne
favor represented in permission te
transfer into the channels for immedi-
ate relief of distress the amount set
aside to meet a non-interest-bearin
nhlinra ton for future marks.