Evening star., 1936-03-22
The Districts Case.

HoCldCOA 41lOllldc, CIldlIIIldn Vi IIlG
Subcommittee on District Appropriations,
has said more than once that he be-
lieves his committee should give strong
and sympathetic support to the appro-
priation recommendations of the Com
missioners when they present a con-
vincing case.
Thomas and his subcommittee in the
hearings on the District bill which begin
tomorrow. Outlined in brief the case
is this:
If the House bill is enacted unchanged,
the Federal lump sum payment will be
reduced $3000,0O0 below budget recon-
mendations, representing a contribution
of only six per cent to National Capital
expenses, whereas unrepealed substan-
tive law directs a payment of forty per
cent of the appropriations divisible be-
tween local taxpayers and National Gov
ernment. At the same time, $697 900 in
items recommended by the Budget
Bureau have been eliminated. Other
items inserted by the House, plus esti-
mated supplementary and deficiency
appropriations yet to be made, mean
shortage of local revenues to be met, on
the basis of the House bill, only through
increased taxes on real and personal
property.
Under any conditions the Senate COM
mittee would be expected to restore the
budget recommendations, as to both
lump sum and appropriations.
But in line with Senator Thomas
principle, the recommendations of the
Commissioners should be considered
The Commissioners originally recon-
mended total appropriation of about
SAT 100000 Gas compared with the House
bill total of s42,5oo,Oo0) in order to meet
absolutely necessary operating expenses
and urgently necessary public improve
ments, particularly for purchase of sites
and erection-of new school buildings"
To balance this budget, confined to press
ing needs the Commissioners proposed
the fair and equitable" contribution of
$8317 500 in the lump sum.
Examination of the Commissioners
justification of their recommendation
will demonstrate its necessity. The
money they seek is required to give the
National Capital not adequate msinte-
nance, but absolutely necessary main
tenance; not adequate public improve
ments, but urgently necessary" public
improvements.
Does this basic, total appropriation of
47,500,0OO they seek impose an unfair
or exorbitant drain on the National
Treasury?
OF this total the local taxpayers would
supply $39 9,182,500.
Should the local taxpayers be required
to supply more?
Let the Senators determine that after
fair comparison of tax burdens borne by
the people of representative American
cities, with due allowance for certain
handicaps and disabilities peculiar to
local taxpayers.
Is the proposed $S,317,5oO contribution
by the National Government dispropor-
tionate to the Nations financial obliga-
tion in maintenance and improvement of
the National Capital?
Only in that it does not meet the full,
equitable obligation. On the basis of its
untaxed realty holdings alone, the Ma
tions obligation would be more than
that. According to former Assessor
Richards formula, it should be at least
a fourth of total appropriations, repre-
senting the support that a normal, self
governing and self-supporting city would
obtain from its heavy industries, source
of support lacking in Washington.
Would an appropriation of $S,317 500
impose an unduly heavy obligation on
national taxpayers not living in Wash
ington?
If this proposed lump sum payment
we're taken out of national taxes paid
by Washingtonians alone, the Treasury
con the basis of 1885 returns) would
still retain $4,320,644 for other national
expenditures.
There should be no issue over the
expenditure of local revenues. All
money derived from local taxation
should be spent. The only important
issue concerns the amount of the United
States contribution-or, more accurately,
obligation-to Capital City expenses.
And that issue involves relatively small
amount of money, less than the total
National taxes paid by the District. 1t
means, however the difference between
adequate support and deplorable neglect
of such important functions as public
health protection and public school edu-
cation, not to mention many other
undertakings confronting the Capital
City which are being ignored.
The Senate should resolve that issue
by insisting on recognition and honorable
fulfllment of its obligation by the
National Government.