Evening star., 1932-01-27
While Lump Sum
Remains Plea Is
Made for Increase.
Federal Allotment
Should Show Gain
With Districts S.

We of Washington urge: l. That
existing substantive law authorizes
increase of the $9,500,0o0 lump
sum payment up to an amount equal
to 40 per cent OF the total sum car
ried by the bill If the appropriations
subcom littee and committee wish to
recop,mend 1t. 2. That the amount
Of the annual lump-Sum payment
should be increased in some roughly
approximate relation to the increase
of the District budget. II justice re-
quires the Nation to contribute so
much when the Districts annual bud
get Is so much, the same justice re-
quires 1t to contribute more when the
District budget is doubled. The prac-
tical suggestion Is that the amount
Of the fixed payment should be read
JdSted II there is any notable increase
in the National Capitals annual ex-
penditure. An immediate increase Of
the basic lump-sum appropriation Of
s9,500,0O0, for example, would be IN
Just relation to the steadily increasing
current taxes and annual expenditures.
Increase Specifically Lump Sum.
8. The amount of annual payment
should be increased specifically in
proportion to National projects tnclud-
ed in the District appropriation bill.
Whether or not there is general re-
adjustment of the lump sum contribu-
tion there should be specific increases
in that sum representing in each year
the placing In the District budget of
primarily National projects which 1t is
conceded should be paid for wholly or
In part from the National Treasury,
but which by inclusion in the District
bill and under the lump-sum payment
plan as practically applied are paid
solely by the District taxpayers from
current taxes.
A separate and distinct increase
OF the basic S9,500,000 should be
made to prevent congress from vio-
Iating Its own statutory provisions that
the Nation shall contribute In large
and definite proportion TO the appro-
priations for certain great National
or semi National projects, as for
example the appropriation for expendi-
lures under the jurisdiction of the
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission. The law provides in re-
spect to appropriations for this con-
fessedly National project that the Ma
tion shall pay its definite proportion
of total expenditure. II Congress
makes appropriations for this National
project without providing for National
In the cost on the sixty
forty basis, which Is the existing
statutory ratio of substantive Law, or
by making specific lump sum in
crease of the basic Jumps appro-
priation In lieu Of the definite proper
tion which the law directs, both the
letter and the spirit of the law will be
violated and the inequity will result of
exacting entirely from the local tax
payers funds for a National project.
The annual appropriations Of more
than million dollars year, author
lied as supplemental and extraor-
dinary expenditures by the District of
Columbia Park Commission Law. are
directed by the law itself to be paid
from the revenues Of the District of
Columbia and the general funds of the
Treasury In the same proportion as
other expenses Of the District of
Columbia"
The current ratio is 60-40, fixed in
the substantive law by the new Or
ganic act Of 1922, and still unrepealed.
The wholesale exceptions to the 60-4O
ratio involved In the temporary lump
payment plan Of 1925 and other years
merely suspend the substantive law Of
1922 for the year during which the
exceptions amply and do not repeal
or permanently amend the substan-
tive law.
Add 100000 to Basic Lump Sum.
The Park Commission law clearly
contemplates (and provides) that the
authorized annual appropriation of
million dollars shall be made, 100000
from the District revenue and 100000