Evening star., 1933-04-22
Sharing Benefits of Economy.

Sharing Benefits of Economy.
Park purchase and development in
Washington, Maryland and Virginia
along the broad lines provided for in
the Capper-C -Cramton legislation have
been shelved and 1t may be many a
long day before they are resumed. The
Budget Bureaus order impounding un-
spent balances Of the National Park
and Planning Commissions park and
playground purchasing fund-amount-
ing to 40,000-marks an indefinite
postponement in realizing one Of the
great dreams for the Washington of the
future.
The question now Is whether the local
taxpayers are going to receive compen-
satory benefits from the economies to
be achieved by halting a scheme for
which they are being taxed. A brief
summary Of the history Of this legisla-
ton and its subsequent workings should
demonstrate the right Of local taxpayers
to whatever benefits are to accrue from
halting park purchase and development
at this time.
The original plan Of developing the
national and semi-national park sys-
tenn in and around the National Capt.
tal-a scheme Of far greater proportions
than any municipality Of this size would
Of a m
carry out this development as part and
-1nrcel of the National Governments de-
velopment Of its own Federal City.
Written into the original authorizing
legislation was the thought that its
financing would represent contributions
OF . penny apiece from the people Of
the United States.
But the Capper- Cramton act as finally
written split the cost four ways between
tn National Government, the States of
Virginia and Maryland and the local
taxpayers-the latter being assigned
far heavier share of the load than any,
body else to pay for projects which,
generally speaking. everybody but local
taxpayers would take part in planning.
Outside the District, and along the
shores Of the Potomac, Virginia and
Maryland were to pay half the cost, the
Federal Government paying the other
half In development Of Maryland's
valleys adjacent to washington the
National Government was to make an
outright gift Of one-third of the money
required, the Marylanders to furnish the
balance. But, to carry out the scheme
without delay, the National Government
was willing to lend the citizens Of Mary
land their two-thirds OF the total.
Maryland's share Of the fund will be
raised to repay what has been advanced.
Virginia's Legislature authorized an ap-
preparation Of $25, 900, contingent on
like sum being furnished by Fairfax and
Arlington Counties for Potomac river
park development, but none Of this
money has been raised.
For parks and Fairgrounds in the
District the National Government was
Ito advance $16,o0O,o0O. The people of
the District were to pay it back at the
rate Of million year. The National
Governments contribution was to be
that proportion Of the annual repay
ment represented by the Federal lump
sum contribution to the District bill
say twenty per cent. One inequitable
feature here was that the lump sum
varies-the proportion decreasing.
OF total Of s5,ooo,ooo appropriated
under the Capper-Cramton act, slightly
more than $3,OOO,oOO has been spent in
the District. Two millions have been
repaid, and another million is included
for repayment in the pending 1884 Dis
trict appropriation bill.
When the scheme was proposed it
was understood that the District would
repay its loan at the rate Of one-six-
teenth year for sixteen years. AS mat
tiers stand now, the repayment is de-
manded at the rate of one-third year,
for the National Government ceased ad-
vancing money two years ago. The item
OF a million dollars for repayment of
the National advance was about the
only item in the 1884 bill that was not
reduced by the Budget Bureau.
The District needs that revenue now,
either for application toward reduction
OF local taxes or to meet necessary rum
ming expenses. 1t would be the part of
wisdom, and certainly the part de-
manded by equity and fair-dealing. to
reduce the arbitrary demand for this
million in the fiscal year 1884, or to
postpone its collection until the park
and planning work is resumed with re-
sumption of Federal advances. The
Senate recommended that course in the
District bill which died in the last
session. 1t has been recommended
again by Auditor Donovan as a means
of supplying needed revenue. 1t is
unreasonable to believe that Congress
will decline to extend to local tax
payers at least part of the benefits of
economy which result from sudden halt
ing of park purchase for which local