Evening star., 1933-12-17
Commissioner Also Advo-
Gates Permanent Fiscal Pol.
icy-S5, 100000 Too Low.
UNCERTAINTY OF FUNDS
HANDICAPS FUTURE PLANS
1885 Budget Studied for Hearing.
Disapproval of Piling Up
Surpluses Voiced.

more equitable fiscal relations
policy between the Federal and District
governments will be urged by the Com
missioners when they appear before
the House Subcommittee on Appropria-
tionS next month to support the 1885
municipal budget.
commissioner Hazen made this dis
closure last night in an announcement
OF his plans to make detailed study Of
the 1885 budget in advance of the hear
ings before the Appropriations Sub.
committee.
The Commissioner said he is COM
pletely in the dark ABOUT the items in
the budget for the next fiscal year be-
cause it was prepared by the former
Board of Commissioners, and he has
not had time since his appointment to
go over the estimates with Mai. Daniel
j. Donovan. auditor and budget officer
His study of the budget will be made
primarily to familiarize himself with
items he must defend before the Ap-
propriationsS Subc bcommittee-items which
he does not now know whether he
wants to support.
S5,700,oO0 Unfair.
Mr.. Hazen, however, said he is aware
Of the fact that the 1885 budget was
predicated by the former Board of Com
mlssloners on a Federal contribution
of $500 900, the same as for the cur.
rent fiscal year, and he does not believe
this amount represents a fair and
equitable share of the Governments
participation in the expenses of the
Nations Capital
There has been same talk at the
Capitol of joint meeting of the COM
mitteeS handling the District budget for
the purpose of working out a definite
and permanent fiscal relations policy
and think that should be done by all
means" the Commissioner declared.
The present lump-sum arrangement
is not only unfair to the District, but it
prevents future planning, because the
Commissioners do not know from year
to year the amount Congress will ap-
propriate from the Federal Treasury
toward our municipal expenses.
IF the Commissioners knew definitely
at this time the amount Of the Federal
contribution in 1885. 1886, 1897 and sub
SeQuent years, they could 90 ahead and
plan for the construction of the Mu-
nicipal Center and other important
projects"
Pay Restoration Figured.
The budget for 1885 as submitted to
the Budget Bureau by the former Board
of Commissioners called for appropria-
tions totaling S39,484,858. Approx
mately S3,750,000 of this amount rep
resentS an increase in salary items in
contemplation of the restoration OF the
Is per cent pay cut.
Commissioner Hazen pointed out II
Congress does not restore the full pay
cut in the 1885 fiscal year surplus
will be created, and he is opposed to
a surplus in District revenues, particu-
larry at this time when the money
could be used on needed projects that
would create work for the unemployed.
He also declared his service in the
District government had taught him
that it is unwise, in view of the exist
ing fiscal relations policy, to create
surplus. In recent years. he said, the
surplus in District revenues has served
to give Congress an excuse to reduce
the Federal contribution.
IT have not given enough attention
to the fiscal relations question" Com
missioner Hazen said, Ito say what I
think the Federal contribution to the
District should be- but I am confident
S5,700,0 900 does not represent a fair
and equitable share.
Definite Settlement Sought.
ct think the fiscal policy between the
District and Federal Governments
should be definitely settled at this COM
ing session of Congress, and propose
to urge that this be done when the
hearings begin on the 1885 budget be-
fore the House Subcommittee on Ap-
preparations
Although there may be some items in
the budget which may not meet his
approval, Commissioner Hazen said he
did not believe there is sufficient time
left to present his views to the Budget
Bureau. He will, howe. er. discuss these
items when he appears before the
House Appropriations Subcommittee.
The Budget Bureau, it is understood,
has virtually completed its work on the
1895 District budget, and has 1t in
tentative shape for transmission to Con-
greSS early next month. Hearings
probably will begin soon after Chairman
Buchanan of tine House Appropriations
Committee turns the budget over to the
subcommittee.
The budget, as framed by the former
Board of Commissioners, Is designed to
continue the $1.50 tax levy on real and
personal property, but Maj. Donovan
has expressed the opinion this rate may
be lowered by the amount of the Fed
eral contribution in 1885 and the reve-
nue. derived by the District from the
sale of liquor.