The Washington times., 1934-10-13
Statements of Fact )
Not Appeals to Sentiment

Not Appeals to Sentiment
District officials are being criticised for announcing
that they will insist upon equitable sharing of
the local budget expenses between the Federal and Dis
trict governments
It is asserted in some quarters that they should not
make such statements until they prepared to back
them up with figures ustfyng the demand which they
make
That it seems to u.s. is false ground for criticism
It is obviously impossible for District Commissioner
every time he makes declaration of policy to expound
all of the facts which led to the formation of that policy
Yet that is what those who oppose the recent statement
of Commissioner Melvin Hazen apparently would insist
that he do.
COMMISSIONER HAZEN AND HIS COLLEAGUES
IN THE DISTRICT BUILDING ARE ON SOUND
GROUND WHEN THEY DEMAND THAT THE FED
ERAL GOVERNMENT MEET ITS OBLIGATION TO
SHARE IN THE SUPPORT OF THE NATIONAL
CAPITAL.
The facts and figures in support of that stand
readily available and the very base of the contention
which is made for more equitable division of the cost
of supporting the CITY,
CONGRESSIONAL RECORDS AND CONGRESS
SIoNAL HEARINGS ABOUND WITH FACTS WHICH
JUSTIFY THE STAND OF THE COMMISSIONERS
THESE ARE NOT "APPEALS TO SENTIMENT"
They are simple statements of figures of the Federal
Governments obligation
The Federal Governments own agency the late Bureau
of Efficiency, acting upon the request of House COM
ittee which very apparently hostile to the District
made study of the situation few years ago.
ALTHOUGH THE BUREAU FUNCTIONED IN THIS
REGARD WITH THE ANIMUs OF THE COMMITTEE
IN MIND, IT PROVED THAT THE FEDERAL GOV.
ERNMENT's SHARE AT THAT TIME WAS AP-
FORTUNATELY TEN MILLION DOLLARS.
Unrepealed law provides that the Federal Government
should bear 40 per cent of the cost of the local budget
YET THERE ARE SOME WHO WOULD HAVE US
BELIEVE THAT THE DISTRICT MAKES ONLY AN
"'APPEAI TO SENTIMENT" WHEN IT URGES
THAT THE CONGRESS DO THE JUST THING BY
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
It u.s. of course easy to stir up local sentiment by in
directly promising low taxes through forecast Of in
crease in the Federal Governments appropriation for
support of the Capital
That apparently, however, is not the purpose of Com
missioner Hazen and other local officials.
They have simply pointed out the justice of the claim
which the city, as the National Capital has upon the
Federal Government
They have served notice that armed with the proper
supporting testimony they will place the Districts claim
before Congress when it convenes.
SUCH A PROGRAM INSTEAD OF DESERVING
CRITICISM MERITS CONTEMPLATION
AND DISTRICT CITIZENS WHO ARE BEING
CALLED UPON TO MEET FINANCIAL CHARGES
WHICH THE CITY INCURS SIMPLY BECAUSE IT
Is THE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT WILL GIVE TO
THESE OFFICERS THE COMMUNICATION AND EN-
TIRE SUPPORT WHICH THEIR COURSE WAR
RANTS.
Once Monday Was Wash-Day
Now It's Tax Day
These remarks by Percy H. Johnston, New York
banker, should interest you:
"Taxes today are taking OUer 21 per cent of our
national income, as against only IL per cent in
1922. In other uUOrds, directly or Indirectly the
average American 1OOrkirg full fiveday week
1UOrks ALL OF MONDAY AND PART OF
TUESDAY TO PAY HIS TAXES.