Evening star., 1936-03-30
Local Relief and Taxes.

First-Recent history has demon
penditures has little If any appreciable
effect on the sort of need represented
in applications for relief. In the space
of about four years public relief expendi-
lures here have increased from a little
over a million dollars to over eleven
million dollars annually. If next years
appropriations were doubled, instead OF
being reduced as proposed, there is no
doubt the money would be spent. In
the opinion of many, it might be wisely
spent But the more money available.
the greater the apparently demonStrable
need for it.
Second-The local relief problem has
been shaped altogether through applica-
tion of the national relief policy, wise or
unwise as that may be. The Federal au-
thorities wholly responsible for National
Capital relief policy. have begun another
experiment, tapering off the Federal funds
and throwing larger burden on the local
communities But Congress, exclusively
responsible for local appropriations. has
definitely not been impressed by the
argument of local officials as to the need
for the funds they request; or, if such
arguments have been impressive, Con-
greSs has been even more impressed
with the advisability of cutting down.
The responsibility for what may happen
rests with Congress. But with the Presi-
dent supplied with funds to be used for
relief at his discretion; with the presence
here of Federal authorities shaping the
whole relief policy and observing its
effect, it is rather far-fetched to con-
jure up the spectacle of starvation and
widespread suffering in the Nations
Capital as the result of this most recent
experiment. Should such an emergency
be the result of a national policy, it will
be met, and promptly. by the Federal
authorities.
Third-If an increase in local taxes
was the only thing that would prevent
starvation and widespread distress, there
would be no question about increasing
taxes But is this the case? Let us
look a little more closely at the whole
picture Why is the District suffering
from an apparent shortage OF local
revenues now? Why are its schools
undermined and fearfully over
crowded? Why is nothing substantial
being done to take care of school ex-
pansion? Why are the Capitals public
health facilities, in the opinion OF COM
petent medical authorities, wholly in
adequate? Why are the Capitals streets
dirty, it's alleys Uttered with uncollected
refuse, its police courts and correctional
institutions disgracefully congested and
lacking in proper facilities, its police
force seriously inadequate?
From any deficiency in local tax reve-
nues? No. But because Congress is pur-
suing the blind policy. dictated in part
through the prejudice of a few and the
lack of interest of majority, of seeking
to place the extraordinary burden OF
maintaining and developing the Capital
of the richest Nation in the world on the
shoulders of local taxpayers whose tax
paying ability is sharply restricted by
conditions peculiar to this Capital. II
the Nation was meeting, not the lawful
obligation imposed by unrepealed law.
but the minimum obligation imposed by
even its ownership of untaxed real estate,
the threatened revenue shortage under
the pending District bill would not exist.
Fourth-Those interested chiefly in the
health problem say, I'VE shall gladly
assume the extra taxes involved if you
will only give us what we need" Those
interested chiefly in the school problem
say the same thing. Those interested
chiefly in the relief problem say the
same thing. So it goes. What would
happen if these various propositions were
met? The Capital community would be
threatened with bankruptcy under an
overpowering load of taxation-just as
when the residents of an earlier Capital
in desperation undertook the same thing,
to be rescued finally by enactment OF the
fixed ratio system of appropriations.
The problem of financing local relief is
not essentially different from the whole
problem of adequately financing the needs
of this politically unrepresented Capital.
Under the present policy, local taxes
go toward reducing the Federal pay
ment, not to meeting the crying needs Of
the Capital City. The Commissioners are
merely sticking their necks out, and ask
ing willing executioners to WELD the ak.
when they begin talking about boost
ing local taxes in advance of the slightest
assurance that any net increase of avail
able revenue will follow.