Evening star., 1934-05-11
The District Bill.

IllItee HAS ItpOi A1iStiANs VIII
vastly improved over the measure
passed by the House. The bill utilizes
all available revenues, instead OF
creating surplus funds at the cost of
neglected local needs, and provides
not only for relatively adequate main
tenance but for some of the more
pressing construction projects. As
far as utilization of available revenue
goes, there can be little criticism of
the bill as whole, and, on the con-
trary, hearty popular approval
1t is unfortunate, however, that the
Senate Committee did not take the
occasion to correct the inequity repre-
sented in the reduced lump sum OF
S5.70O.00O. The Senate Committee
declined to agree with the precipitate
action taken on the floor of the House,
when. as reprisal against other moves,
the lump sum was reduced to s4.364,-
295, and the explanation advanced
that the District was in theory in
debted to the extent of seventy per
cent of sewer allotment. extended
and accepted as grant. The Senate
Committee restored the budget figure
of S5,7OO 900. But at the same time
it increased appropriations of local
revenues by something more than
100000, and raised the total of the
bill about $4,000 900 above current ap-
propriations.
Assuredly, this should justify pro-
portionate increase, as the very min
imum. from the base lump sum figure
Of s5,700,00O. When the lump sum is
reduced in proportion to reduction in
appropriations Of local revenues, as
was done last year, simple equity
would demand that the rule thus laid
down work both ways, and the lump
sum be increased proportionately as
the appropriation of local revenues
increases.
The Senate committee had received
from Assessor Richards figures to
show what the lump sum would be if
based on the factor Of Government
real estate holdings alone. Only
few years ago unfriendly critics in the
House Of the amount of the lump
sum as too liberal were demanding
that the lump sum be held to
some such figure, although it would
represent merely one of the consid-
erations which should enter into fix
ing the size of the Federal contribu-
ton. But now the lump sum of s5,-
100000 is almost two million dollars
short Of theoretical tax" on Gov
ernment real estate, tax exempt,
holdings alone.
Expediency, Of course, plays a large
part in the consideration Of the Dis
trict bill. This bill is the last OF
the regular appropriation measures.
1t will be passed by the Senate when
all the legislative machinery is being
speeded toward adjournment and
when every move is calculated to
avoid last-minute tie-upS. The Sem
ators obviously wish to avoid a wran-
gle with the House But it is unfor-
tunate that adequate maintenance
and development of the Capital City
should depend on such considerations.
Aside from the lump-Sum issue,
which the Senators have chosen to
avoid rather than to meet, the local
community is naturally gratified at
the treatment the bill has received,
rejecting as it does the sympathetic
and intelligent interest of our local
legislators in Capital needs. The bill
corrects the gravely injurious blow
at the Public Utilities Commission
contained in the House measure. 1t
recognizes the imperative demand for
adequate facilities in care and treat
ment of the victims of tuberculosis
It carries the funds to revive the
too-much- delayed program of school
building construction. 1t avoids the
demonstrably dangerous and uneco-
nomical proposal to turn out the
street lights to cut bills for electricity.
It remedies other wrongs resulting
from hasty action taken in the heated
atmosphere of House debate.