Evening star., 1938-01-06
The District Budget.

District budget pictures definite con-
tinuation of the trend toward increasing
the local taxpayers financial respon-
slbility In connection with maintenance
and development of the Capital. while
decreasing the financial responsibility of
the National Government without any
lessening of its exclusive political control.
The lump sum, it is true, remains at
the inadequate figure of s50OOO00 under
budget recommendations. To have pro-
posed another decrease at the expense
OF local taxpayers would be to threaten
them with bankruptcy. As it is, the in
crease in budget demands-the respon-
sibility for preventing a deficit between
revenue and expenditures-is charged to
the local taxpayer exclusively. And that
means another boost in local taxes on
top Of the boost applied in the current
fiscal year.
The cost of street lighting, hitherto
borne as charge divided, though un-
evenly, between the National Govern
ment and the general taxpayer is trans
ferred exclusively to the automobile
owner. The cost of streets has already
been placed almost entirely on the auto
mobile owner, with consequent relief to
the National Government which designed
and has embellished a costly street sys-
tenn beftting the National Capital. The
fantastic additional result of this move
may be further discrimination against
the District in the allotment of Federal
highway-aid funds, on the ground that
highway funds will not be given to local
governments which practice gasoline
tax diversion.
The entire cost OF the expensive tunnel
treatment at Dupont Circle-an under
taking peculiarly associated with the
problems resulting from the design of
the National Capitals placed on the
automobile taxpayer. with no participa-
tion by the National Government pri-
n1arily responsible for creation of the
problems.
The budget estimates contain funds
for starting the first unit of the elaborate
Municipal Center. an undertaking many
times revised at the expense of the local
taxpayer: But no extra participation by
the National Government, responsible
for the Municipal Center project, is pro-
Nded although such participation was
tacttly guaranteed at the time of the
approval of the Municipal Center plan.
Local taxpayers by now should be
familiar with the various steps, too COM
plicated and extensive to repeat here,
by which this process Of unloading the
lions share Of expense on the local tax
payer has been accomplished The cur
rent budget is merely a continuation OF
that process. How long can 1t continue,
without saddling the local taxpayer with
a burden far heavier than his resources
permit him to carry? It will continue
as long as the local taxpayer is able to
pay. He may be forced into bankruptcy
In the process He may be forced to
seek residence outside the heavily taxed
District, as increasing thousands are
doing now. He may be forced to other
extremes-unless he demands and fights
for the right Of representation and equal
participation In the Government which
taxes him. If the local taxpayer does
not realize that now, he will realize it
later on when continued misgovernment,
taking high tribute in taxes without
commensurate return in services finally
drives the lesson home.