Evening star., 1934-11-25
Federal Allotment
Should ShowGain
With Districts.

Suggested to Give
DC. New Deal"
We Of Washington urge: I. That
existing substantive law authorizes In
crease Of the $500, 900 lump-sum
payment up to an amount equal to 10
per cent Of the total sum carried by
the 1886 estimates pending before
the Bureau Of the Budget II
the President wishes to recommend
1t. 3. That the amount Of the
annual lump-sum payment should be
increased In some roughly approx
mate relation to the increase Of the
District budget. II justice requires
the Nation to contribute 20 much
when the Districts annual budget Is
50 much. the same justice requires 1t
to contribute more when the District
budget Is doubled. The practical sus-
gestion Is that the amount Of the fixed
payment should be readjusted If there
Is any notable increase in the Ma
tional Capitals annual expenditure.
An immediate increase Of the basic
fump-sum appropriation Of IS, TOO 900.
for example, would be in just relation
to the increased estimates proposed by
the Commissioners to care for the
minimum improvements and main
tenance funds required by the Capital.
In transmitting to the Congress the
estimates for the District for the fiscal
year 1884 the President included In
his special message the recommended
ton from the Director Of the Bureau
Of the Budget TO reduce the National
contribution to $s.7oo,o 900, the Direc-
tor Of the Bureau explaining In this
connection:
The estimate Of appropriations for
1894 for the Federal contribution TO
the District Of Columbia herewith sub
mitted Is 5,7o0, 900, which Is reduc-
ton Of approximately ass per cent
from the Federal contribution for 1888
Of S7,775,0 This reduction Is ap-
proximately the same percentage Of
reduction which the total Of the esti-
mates herewith, both annual and
permanent, for 1894 1881, 2,s9s, 70O
bear to the total OF the same appropri-
ations for 1898 (s45. .l22. SD"
It Is contended by your petitioners
that In reducing the Federal contri-
button by the same proportion that
the estimates for the District had been
reduced, the Bureau OF the Budget
established precedent which likewise
should be followed when the total Of
these estimates Is increased. The total
estimates submitted by the Commb-
sioners for the fiscal year 1895 have
increased by approximately one-third
over the appropriations for 1884,
which, In substance, were those recon-
mended by the President through the
Bureau Of the Budget
Increase Specifically Lump Sum.
). The amount Of annual payment
should be increased specifically in
proportion to National projects includ-
ed in the District appropriation bill.
whether or not there Is general re-
adjustment Of the lump sum contribu-
tion there should be specific increases
In that sum representing in each year
the placing in the District budget Of
primarily National projects which II ID
conceded should be paid for wholly or
in paft from the National Treasury,
but which by inclusion In the District
bill and under the lump sum payment
plan as practically applied are paid
solely by the District taxpayers from
current taxes.
The past Congress authorized the
Public Works Administration to lend
to the District Of Columbia . total Of
sl0,75O, 900 for the execution Of certain
projects which are specified in the
act. Funds have been advanced or
tentatively allotted to the extent OF
IS 500, ,0oo but participation by the
United States in repayment OF 10 per
cent Of the money borrowed is specifi-
cally prevented by the requirement
that 10 cents Of the tax levied and
collected upon each 500 Of the as
sessed valuation Of all real and tangi-
bic personal property subject to tax
alton In the District Of Columbia shall
be deposited in the Treasury Of the
United States to the credit Of . spe-
cial account for such reimbursement
to the Federal Emergency Administra-
ton Of Public Works and shall not be
available for any other purpose"
While the projects. Is, for instance,
the sewage disposal plant, are distinct
ly semi National in purpose and scope,
serving both the local community and
the United States Government, the
repayment Of the loan Is placed en-
tirely upon the local community.
There are several other National or
semi-National projects which. as
result Of appropriations on the District
bill to finance them with an infiexible
Mmp-sum National contribution, have
been In effect paid for solely by Dis
trict taxpayers. Included in this list
are the appropriation Of the accumu-
any corresponding contribution OF any
kind or amount from the National
Treasury, and the appropriation solely
from local taxes Of the money to COM
plete the parkway connection between
Potomac and Rock Greek Parks. An
other threat Of imposing an expend-
iture, equitably National upon the
local taxpayers, il found in the COM
pulsory substitution Of the new Mu-
nicipal Center for the present District
Building. This substitution is made
in order that the municipal buildings
may harmonic in magnificence with
the new National public structures
and involves total estimated expendi-
ture Of over twenty-five millions OF
dollars. It Is submitted that this excess
Of expenditure on the Nations City over
that necessarily expended for q SINH
lar purpose in the comparable Amer
lean commercial city canhot In equity
be exacted to the extent Of three
fnairfhs ris. 1,oxe fraxsa the faYnaVerS