Evening star., 1936-10-25

24e-page brief filed with the Fiscal
Relations Committee by the Citizens
Joint Committee in support Of fiscal
equity. It referred to the partnership
between the United States and the
District.
THE uncertainty, the confusion,
and the general dissatisfaction over
the financial relationship now exist
ing" Colladay read, indicates that
one or the other Of the two partners
has been remiss in meeting his full
obligation"
I'VE have examined at length the
obligation which equity imposes upon
both partners.
I'VE have shown that the local
community, the politically impotent
partner, denied voice in the coun-
cils Of the partnership, has met and
is meeting the obligation represented
in assumption of q local tax burden.
which. measured by fair standards. Is
adequate.
I'VE have discussed some of the
tax-paying disabilities Of the local
partner. which make this tax burden
unusually heavy.
Recalls Early Crisis.
TN pointing to the obligations Of
the exclusively controlling partner.
the National Government, We have
shown that In the beginning. when
the Capital City was planned and
laid out, his exclusive power was to
be closely coupled with financial re-
sponsibility. And after nearly a CEN
tury of neglect Of the Capital City.
during which the local community
more than once faced bankruptcy.
through the assumption Of burdens
it could never hope to bear alone. .
partnership principle with fixed obli-
cations on both partners was writ
ten into the substantive law Of 1878.
I'VE have shown how the terms Of
this partnership were put to the test
in nearly so years OF Capital City
development, during q period which
witnessed the transformation Of
Washington from . sprawling, over
grown, ugly village-bringing disdain-
full reproach upon America from
those who visited it, into one Of the
most beautiful cities of the world, q
source of patriotic pride to all Amer
leans, a symbol Of the spiritual as
pirations and the material achieve
ment of America.
I'VE have shown how these years Of
rapid development under the wise
partnership principle Of 1878 have
been followed since de facto abandon
ment of this principle by the con-
trolling partner, by increasing difhi-
culties in adequate financing Of the
needs of the community and the
Capital City until, today, annual ap-
preparations are not adequate fol
maintenance and needed improvement
have been postponed from year to
year.
Principle Temporarily Abandoned"
THE partnership principle has been
temporarily abandoned in favor Of
what President Roosevelt once dis.
paragingly characterized Is . hit OF
miss system Of appropriations which
imposes no limit upon the contrlpu'
ton to be exacted from the politically
impotent, silent partner-the local
community-but arbitrarily limits
and has steadily reduced the contri-
button of the exclusively controlling
National Government.
I'VE believe that the path te
equitable adjustment Of the fiscal
relations issue lies in study OF thu
various sources Of the very tangible
obligations Of the National Govern
ment in maintenance and support o1
the Federal City"
The statement then called atten'
ton to Parts and II Of the briel
which discussed the local partnert
obligation and the manner of 1t.
fulfillment," and the mature OF thu
Federal obligation and the manner o.
its evasion" and continued:
I'VE have shown that this oblisa'
ton is susceptible Of tangible meas.
urements in dollars and cents baset
on appraisal Of the obligations Of thu
National Government as the holder