Evening star., 1939-06-11
0verton Appeals
To Congress for
D. {. Fiscal Plan
Senator Undeterred
By Opposition Of
Budget Bureau
BY ]. A. O'LEARY.

on its merits his plan for settlement
Of the fiscal relations problem be-
tween the Federal and District gov
ernments on land area basis, Sen
ator Overton, Democrat of Louis
lana. announced last night the ad-
verse report of the Budget Bureau
will not deter him from seeking
action on the measure
Word from the Budget Bureau
that the bill ''is not in accord with
the program of the President" was
contained in report from the Dis
trlct Commissioners, who. however,
presented strong arguments in sup
port of the bill and recommended
its passage.
Under the Overton formula the
Federal share of the expenses of the
Capital City would be fixed automat-
ically each year at the percentage
of the Federally owned land area of
the District required for national
purposes, but counting only the ex-
cess of park area here over COM
parable cities.
Would Make L. S. Share $4,000. 900.
In their report to Chairman King
OF the Senate District Committee
yesterday, the Commissioners said
that at the present time this ma
tlonal land acreage under the Over
ton formula, is 1896 per cent of
the city's area. and applying that
ratio to estimated general fund ex-
penses for next year of approx
matelv S40000,000, would make the
Federal share about $4,000 900. in
stead of the present lump sum pay
ment of S5.O0O,OOO
After congrat atulating the Commits
sloners on the data in their report
and their approval of the bill, Sena-
tor Overton said
Il believe all the arguments are
IN favor of this bill and 7 hope Con-
gress will consider it on its merits
and not subordinate its own lude-
ment to that of the Budget Bureau.
Congress" the Senator continued
has exclusive legislative authority
over the District. It determines
what taxes the residents pay. and
they have nothing to say about it
1t determines how the revenue aris-
ing from such taxes should be spent.
and they have nothing to say about
that
Federal Share Once 80 Pet.
There is insufficient revenue to
meet the demands of our National
Capital and it was contemplated
from the beginning that there should
be a partnership between the
United States and the District
whereby each would bear it's just
proportion of the burden. For over
AZ years it was determined that pro-
portion should be $3.50, and the last
legislative expression was 40 per
cent. My bill contemplates about
20 per cent, according to present
United States holdings.
Congress has made the District
bear just proportion of its burden
in taxation and the taxes that have
been imposed on the District repre-
sent the average. or little more
than the average, of comparable
cities in the United States.
Throughout the history of the
city the demands upon the District
have been increasing, and since
1884 the Federal payment has been
decreasing"
Senator Overton pointed out that
/ under present lump sum practice
whenever Congress determines there
is need for more police, larger park
areas or other increases that helr
meet the requirements of a Capita
City. the added burden is placed or
the people here.
Meanwhile" he continued. "the
National Government is constantly
requiring more land for nationa,
purposes, and constantly exemptine
property from taxation, until it has
reached the point now that 55.8 pei
cent of the land area is nom taxable
and the resident taxpayers who owr
only 44.2 per cent are called on tc
bear the increasing burden Of
taxa ton.
Washington is not situated like
(See OVERTON, Page Alb