Evening star., 1935-03-26
SENATE GETS PLEA
FOR LARGER !. s.
FUND FOR DISTRICT
Garner Submits Petition of
Citizens for Definite
Ratio Plan.
RESOLUTION TO REPEAL
60.4O LAW OPPOSED
Joint Committee on Fiscal Rela-
tions to Present Views to Sub.
committee at Hearings.

committee al 4ACdAAA6S'
A plea that Congress return to
more equitable share In the annual
expenses of the National Capital IS
contained in a petition from the
Citizens Joint Committee on Fiscal
Relations between the United States
and the District of Columbia, laid
before the Senate today by Vice Presi-
dent Garner. 1t was referred to the
Appropriations Committee where the
1886 District supply bill Is under
consideration.
The petition urges that the definite
ratio plan of substantive law be ad-
hered to; or, that as long as the lump
sum plan of Federal contribution Is
followed as temporary annual de-
parture from the unrepealed 6O-40
substantive law of 1922, the lump sum
should be largely Increased. The
petition also opposes the House reso-
luton seeking to repeal the 6O-4o law.
Subcommittee hearings on the pend
ing appropriation bill will be resumed
later in the week. at which time q
special committee from the Citizens
Joint Committee will be heard on the
fiscal relations issue. As the bill came
from the House the Federal payment
was held down to the present figure
of SIS, TOO 900 toward a total appropr1a-
ton for next year Of more than s39,-
o00, 1000.
TEXT of Petition.
The petition follows:
To the Congress OF the united
States:
Your petitioners, the Citizens Joint
Committee on Fiscal Relations be-
tween the United States and the Dis
trict of Columbia and the presidents
and other representatives of its con-
stituent and cooperating organiza-
tions, whose names are subscribed
below, respectfully represent:
The platform of principles laid
down by the joint committee and ad-
hered to in the committees brief in
the hearings before the joint select
committee in 1915, the House District
Committee in December, 1919, and the
Senate Appropriations Committee in
April, 1920, is as follows:
We contend, first, that the United
States should contribute largely to
the expenses of the District; second.
that this contribution should be a
fixed and definite proportion; third,
that this proportion should be at least
one-half
This platform was modified by the
Districts new organic act Of 1922.
which reafirmed the principle Of
definite proportionate contribution by
local community and Nation toward
Capital upbuilding, but changed the
so per cent burden upon the local
taxpayer.
Principles Quoted.
The committees platform of prin-
ciples, thus modified, was announced
by the Executive Committee of the
Citizens Joint Committee october 81,
1923. as follows:
We contend, first, that the United
States should contribute largely to the
maintenance and upbuilding of the
National Capital; second, that this
contribution should be a fixed and
definite proportion; third, that this
proportion should be 60-40-60 by
the District taxpayers and 40 by the
United States.
While Congress has refused all
propositions to amend the definite
proportionate contribution provision
of the law of 1922, and while the
60-40 provision is the existing sub
stantive law, Congress in 1924 pro-
Nded as a temporary provision on the
annual appropriation act for the
fiscal year 1925 lump-sum payment
contribution, in lieu of the 40 per
cent contribution provided by SUBJ
stantive law in each annual appro-
priation act since that date.
Urges Rejection.
The Citizens Joint Committee urges
in appropriation practice to the 60-40
definite proportion appropriation plan,
as provided by existing substantive
law. for the reasons set forth in the
argument appended to and made a
part Of this petition.
II. r. 4245 and several bills increaS-
Ing the tax burden Of the District and
cutting down or elimination of the
annual lump-sum payment have been
proposed on the theory that District
taxpayers are not bearing an adequate
tax burden. The Citizens Joint Com
mittee contends that the District tax
payers are now reasonably, and, in
view Of their peculiar disabilities, even
heavily, taxed, and that no increase
of their tax burden should be con-
sidered unless 1t Is clearly demon
strated that such additional taxation
b absolutely necessary to meet urgent
municipal needs which cannot other
wise be satisfied At congressional
hearings, especially those on the Dis
trict Of Columbia appropriations bill
III. r. 3970 for the fiscal year 1896,
now pending before Congress, and
that on H. r. 4245, the committee
will ask the privilege of submitting
the facts and reasoning upon which
ID based its contention that the Dis
trict Is not undertaxed.
Would Correct Injustices.
Your petitioners further respect
fully represent that as long as a lump
sum payment is the appropriation
practice temporarily on annual ap-
preparation acts immediate correction
should be made of some Of its grosser
and more obvious injustices.
To prevent glaring inequity, your
petitioners therefore urge, for reasons
stated in the argument hereto at
tached as part of this petition, that
Congress should CD make substan-
tial increase in the basic lump-sum
payment by the United States in the
pending 1886 supply bill for the Dis
trict of Columbia; (2) that great ma
tional or semi-national projects be
excluded from the District bill and
financed through some supply bill
other than the District supply bill,
30 wording the items thus excluded as
to set forth the exact methods OF
financing IN relation to the amounts
of contribution by Nation and Cap
ital that is thought to be just, or Cd