Evening star., 1936-06-07

the District.
Since the advent of the lump
sum payment by the Federal Gov
eminent, with the annual con-
troversy. there have been numerous
proposals for all impartial commits
sion to definitely ascertain the
equities and recommend a business
like method for determining the
Federal share.
The Federation of Citizens Asso-
Citations in 1925 sent a memorial to
Congress asking the appointment
of an official commission, con-
sisting of an equal number Of men,
bers Of Congress and bona fide
residents and taxpayers Of the Dis
trict of Columbia, to make proper
inquiries and report to Congress
and the people of the District Of
Columbia permanent plan for
the equitable apportionment be-
tween the Federal Government and
the District of Columbia of the ex-
penses of the Nations Capital. This
was supported by showing Of the
Districts available taxation areas,
exempted property and Federal
holdings. There was included a
listing Of numerous benefits enjoyed
by the Federal Government and
chargeable to the District budget.
The Citizens Advisory Council in
1926 outlined a bill ito provide
permanent plan for the equitable
apportionment of the fiscal obliga-
tons between the Federal Govern
ment and the government Of the
District of Columbia"
A commission of five members
was proposed. A Senator. appoint
ed by the president of the Senate;
a Representative, appointed by the
Speaker of the House; two bona
fide residents and taxpayers in the
District of Columbia. to be ap-
pointed by the President-who had
resided continuously in the District
for at least five years prior to ap-
pointment and not to have claimed
residence elsewhere during such
period. The fifth member, selected
by the other four, it was stipulated,
should be possessed of special pro-
fessional training and qualifications
for the work of the commission.
He should not be a member OF
either the House or Senate nor a
resident of or property holder in
the District.
The duties Of this commission
were to assemble all pertinent facts
of property holdings of the United
States. the District of Columbia. of
private citizens and private cor
porations-looking to a fair and
thorough understanding of the re-
spective interests involved. From
a study of this information, the
commission was to determine the
requisite fundamental factors to be
annually considered in determining
the equitable apportionment Of the
expenses of the Capital. In making
such study. the commission was
to be specially charged with taking
into consideration the essential
magnificent scale of development
and maintenance required by reason
of the national and international
character of the District OF
Columbia.
The commission was to be further
required to devise comprehensive
formula to be annually applied to
the assembled essential funda-
mental facts in determining the
equitable proportionate share to be
borne by the District Of Columbia
and the United States.
The most recent proposal for a
commission on fiscal relations orig
mating with the citizens of the
District came from the Federation
of Citizens Associations at its meet
ing on April 4, 1886. This was
through adoption of report of its
Committee on Fiscal Relations. 1t
follows the plan of the Citizens
Advisory Council in 1926. Each Of
these civic body proposals have pro-
vided for District of Columbia
citizen representation on such COM
mission.
Through civic circles there Is a
strong feeling that whatever may be
the composition of such q commits
sion, there should be full oppor-
tunity offered for the organized
citizens of the District of Columbia
to present evidence and competent
witnesses in the Districts behalf.
battle-ground National Cemetery
Exercises Of Local Interest.
THE Memorial day exercises held
L on the afternoon Of each May
80 at the battle-ground National
Cemetery on Georgia avenue have
a particular local interest. The
soldiers buried in the circle around
the Flagstaff fell in the defense Of
the National Capital from the Con-
federate invasion. Near this spot
took place the only military action
at the National Capital since the
invasion by the British during the
War of 1912.
For many years the Brightwood
Citizens Association has assumed
the responsibility Of active CO.
operation with the Grand Army of
the Republic in arranging for these
Memorial day exercises. AS the
ranks of the G. A. r. have thinned
out, the responsibility of the asso-
citation has been materially in
creased.
The exercises last month were
unusually impressive and pic
turesque, but the attendance Of
adults much below what it was some
years ago. A number of those in
attendance expressed the opinion
that there should be aroused local
civic pride in the perpetuation OF
this patriotic homage to these de-
tenders of the National Capital.
1t was suggested that the commend
able efforts of the Brightwood
Citizens Association should be sup.
plemented by the active co-opera-
ton of the Association of Oldest
Inhabitants, the Society of Natives