Evening star., 1936-04-23
RISING D. c. TAX
CITED TO SENATORS
CoIIaday Traces Higher
Levies to Reductions in
Lump Sums.

The story Of how Washington's per
capita tax burden increased over q
recent period of years while the
Federal share of the cost of maintain
ing the Capital has been going down
is emphasized in the Senate hear
ings on the pending supply bill.
While Edward F. Colladay was pre-
senting the data showing Washing
tons high per capita tax burden, as
compared with the 43 other largest
cities, and how the Districts per
capita has increased, Senator Capper
Republican, of Kansas asked what
brought about the increase.
Cites Share Decreases.
Colladay explained it was brought
about by the reduction in the Federal
share from $3.50 to 60-40 and then
by adoption Of the practice of vary
ing annual lump sum payments as a
departure from the fixed ratio called
for by unrepealed substantive law
After pointing out that the lump sum
has gone down in few years from
ss,50O000 to s5,70o,000. he added
that this year we have the amazing
situation in the bill as it passed the
House of cut of $4,000, 900. down tc
S2,700,0 ,000."
Colladay, who is chairman Of the
Citizens Joint Committee on Fisca
Relations Between the United State.
and District of Columbia and heao
of the Municipal Finance Committe.
of the Board of Trade, continued a!
follows:
Now, gentlemen, we are here. o.
course, urging that the least thai
could be done in fairness would b
to restore the s5,7Oo,000 and to ash
that the Senate committee and tn,
Senate restore the District of Colum'
bia to the provisions of the existing
law: the existing substantive Law
which provides that the Federal Gov
ernment shall pay 40 per cent ane
the District of Columbia taxpayer.
so per cent.
Urges Fixed Basis.
1--WE do not, under present f1nancia
conditions confronting the Govern
ment, expect an appropriation on thai
basis at this time; but We do ash
that in your report you make it cleal
that the Senate adheres to the Law
and we ask that you lay down a re-
animation of the principle that the
Federal Government should contribute
literally and largely to the main
tenance of this. the capital of the
Nation, and that that contribution
should be on a definite fixed proper.
tional basis.
"As long as the lump-sum method!
of contributing by the Federal Gov
ernment is in operation we ask thai
the lump sum be fair one. taking
into consideration all of the elements
in the picture.
"The District Commissioners have
asked at this time, as they did last
year, for $8,317.o00. That was based
upon an average of the acts of Con.
gress over the period of 10 years
averaging the appropriations for II
| years and 10 appropriation bills pro-
duced that figure. That would seem
to be a fair and reasonable figure
| for a lump sum and we would ask
that this committees report so state
and that the very minimum for the
Fzieral Government to pay in the
appropriation bill for the fiscal veal
ending June 80, 1887, be $5,70o,000
and under no circumstances should
there be any reduction below that
figure"
Colladay previously had analyzet
the factual report of L. H. Parker.
widely recognized tax expert, com.
pairing Washington's tax burden with
| the 43 other large cities.
Senator Thomas, Democrat, Of Okla.
homa, chairman, took the view during
the hearings that Washington's ia,
burden for city purposes only is thu
highest in the country.