Evening star., 1934-12-30

plus revenues for additional parkway
land purchase. The Senate amended
the bill to provide for sharing the
$500, 900 cost on o 60-40 basis between
the United States and the District, on
the ground that the undertaking had
been thus far carried out rs q Joint
enterprise. The conferees on the bill
were unable to agree, and fearing in
definite delay should the bill fail in
conference, the Senate conferees final-
ly yielded. A large part of the cost
Of the land acquisition, originally
planned rs . joint enterprise between
the District and the National Govern
ment, was thus placed on local tax
payers.
National Geological Park. This
scientific enterprise was begun as .
branch Of the Smithsonian Institu-
ton, and expenses were shared under
the $3.50, and later 60-4O, division
Of expenses between the National Gov
ernment and the District. 1t is now
maintained wholly, in upkeep and de-
velopment (such as new buildings) =,
out Of revenues Of the District, to
which the Federal payment has de-
creased from 40 to about II per cent.
Water Plant. The District water
system was in the beginning con-
structed TO supply Federal needs alone.
Later the District was permitted to
supply its needs from the system,
provided no expense would devolve
upon the United States (l85S). Later
still. the District was taken into part
nership in maintenance and develop
ment OF both supply and distribution
systems, and the capital investment in
water system by the District dn ad-
diton to maintenance finally ex-
ceeded that of the United States.
Both supply system formerly main
tanned and improved out Of general
revenueS and the distribution system
are now maintained by the water tax
water rent) payers Of the District,
while the United States Government
and the District government dts
agenD obtain their large supply of
water free. The fact that cost Of
plant development as well as mainte-
nance Is placed upon water tax payers
prevents q consistent policy Of regular
rate reduction toward that desider-
atum, on sanitary and other grounds,
OF maximum water Use ut next-to-
nothing cost by the community and
the National Government.
Gasoline Tax (street impreyemenO .
The Capitals street system was laid
out on . grand scale, befitting . nom
industrial, beautiful Capital. The
Government in the beginning prom
ised, through implication, to main
tain the streets. Under the National
Capital-National Government partner
ship Of 1878 development and improve
ment of streets was shared, the gen.
eral tax fund meeting the greater
part OF the cost. The gasoline tax,
originally proposed as q substitute
for the personal property tax on auto
mobiles. was enacted as additional, in
stead OF substitute, taxation. Its reve-
nues have increased until the greater
burden of street land recently bridge)
Improvement has been shifted from
the general fund (to which the United
States contributes) to the gasoline tax
fund. with constant pressure to in
crease unnecessarily the gasoline tax
rate and to extend the expenditure
OF gas tax revenues to uses other than
streets. As the National Government
pays no gasoline tax, the burden for
street improvement, impliedly as
sumed in the beginning, in the opinion
OF commentators, Is o Federal respon-
sibility and later divided between
Nation and community, is thus gradu-
ally shifted from the National Gov
ernment to the shoulders Of automo-
bile owners and the general taxpayers
OF the District.
p. w. A. Loans. In order to secure
funds for urgently needed construc-
ton work of various sorts, the Com
missioners, backed by public senti-
ment. sought from Congress the right,
enjoyed by every other American mu-
nicipality, to borrow funds from the
Public Works Administration. The
act was passed public No 465. Sew
enty-third Congress) containing the
provision that Ten cents of the as
sessed valuation Of all real and tan
gible property subject to taxation
In the District of Columbia shall be
deposited in the Treasury =. for
creation of . special fund for re-
endorsement Of 10 per cent of the
loan. The section eliminates par
ticipation by the United States,
through its lump-sum appropriation
as q participant in National Capital
expenses in such semi-national under
takinss as the sewage disposal plant,
and guarantees protection only to
the controlling. exclusively govern
Ing partner in P. w. A. loan agree
ments.
National Obligation in View of Fact
That the District Is Compare
lively Heavy Contributor to
National Taxes.
4. Obligation based upon heavy
national internal revenue) taxes paid
BY people Of the Capital compared
with corresponding payments by the
States. The District contributes to
the national taxes from which the ma
tional contribution Is derived more
than any one Of half Of the States,
more than nine States combined and
more per capita than 40 States. (See
lS33-34 internal revenue report.)
The District not only contributes
more than any one Of "a Of the
States to the maintenance and up-
building Of the National Capital, but
pays more than one-half Of the States
to national expenditures In the
States, including salaries Of Repre-
sentatives. Senators and President.
Washington's heavy burden, exceed
ing that Of half Of the States, Ii cou-
pied with denial to Washington Of
participation in fixing, collecting and
spending this tax money.
Few, even of our own people, realize
how substantial q contributor to ma
tional taxes the District really Is.
Many believe that Washingtonians
pay no taxes, either national or mu-
nicipal, and that the Capital Is sup
ported by the Nation with money
wrung from the meager earnings Of
millions of Americans and flung as
beggars' aims to . mendicant people.
Others know some Of the facts, but
do not know all.
Heavy National Tax Payments.