Evening star., 1935-01-07
The District Budget.

Citizens Of the District have their
first opportunity today to study the
local estimates for 1896, as sent to
Congress by the Bureau of the Budget.
But publication Of the estimates to-
day occurs after they have already
been reviewed in detail and sub
jected to change by the House Sub
committee on District Appropriations,
which has prepared the District
bill for submission to Congress, per-
haps this week. What changes the
committee has made will not be
known in detail until the bill is re-
ported from committee-a fact which
serves to accentuate the utter lack of
voice by local taxpayers in the ex-
penditure of their own money.
AS for the estimates themselves. the
significant reduction is in the Com
missioners' recommended figure of
$8,31700O for a lump sum which
would more nearly approximate the
Federal obligation to the District.
The Commissioners presented a con-
vincing case to the Bureau Of the
Budget as to why the increase in the
lump sum was justified. The budget
figure of s5,7OO,OOO is inadequate
both as regards the extent of the
national obligation to Capital City
maintenance and development and as
regards the real needs of the District
which should be financed.
The resulting loss to the District of
revenues which would be secured
through an increase in the lump sum
again restricts the District to a pro-
gram chiefly representing mainte-
nance. The outlays for permanent
improvement remain curtailed. While
the budget represents a total in
crease in proposed expenditure of
about $2,50O,0OO over the current
years appropriations, about half of
that amount is represented in the res
toration of full salaries for the next
fiscal year. Another portion of the
increase will come from revenues of
the gasoline tax, to be utilized in
grade-crossing eliminations, and an
other part is applied to beginning or
continuing construction on six new
school buildings or additions.
The estimates this year were for
warded to Congress and have been ex-
amined and revised by the House
committee while an examination of
the local tax burden is in progress un-
der the direction of the President.
What this examination of tax burdens
alone will reveal remains to be known,
and the results will depend largely
upon the Interpretation of the figures
In the light Of Washington,s peculiar
oloIAo oo CAlC OCdU VI IUfSILIlleIlC Oh |
The Nation, exclusively controlled by
he Nation. Certainly the results of !
the tax comparison, standing alone,
can mean little In an attempt to make |
more equitable system of appropriate |
ng for the Capital that leaves impor-
,ant needs unmet, and which shifts a
burden of what |
should be q joint, fixed responsibility !
70 the shoulders of the local taxpay-
ers. The President will doubtless !
extend his examination of fiscal rela-
ions beyond the comparison of taxes.
Washington's hope is that the
budget transmitted to Congress is to |
De merely the foundation for an |
bill which in final shape !
will reflect greater recognition of |
obligation to its Capital by the ma |
tional, exclusively governing United |
States, With more funds available for |
the permanent improvements which |
have been postponed for many years.