Evening star., 1939-06-28
Firm Stand Needed

Firm Stand Needed
Despite the latest evidence of the
unyielding attitude of the House,
voteless Washingtonians, who have
seen their tax burden mount under
the inadequate, unscientific lump
sum method of Federal payment,
find hope for a better deal in the
future development of a great Ma
tional Capital in yesterdays action
by the Senate.
When the Senate voted for the
Overton plan, as part of the local tax
bill, it was motivated by two wholly
defensible reasons:
l: The Senate reaff1rmed It's belief
in the wise and equitable principle
of definite proportionate basis Of
Federal participation in meeting the
expenses of city that belongs to all
Americans as we'll as to those who
live here. The latter now pay nearly
all of the cost, their share this year
amounting to almost 80 per cent of
the total.
2. 1t recognized the justice of re-
storing to basic law specific ma
tional obligation at the same time
that the specific obligation of the
local taxpayer is being laid down in
definitely in revenue measure.
The same sound reasons that sup
port the Senate's action on the Over
ton plan for permanent solution of
the problem, apply with equal force
to the commendable action of the
Senate conferees on the pending Dis
trict appropriation bill, when they
decided yesterday to stand by the
increase in the lump sum for the
coming year from $5,0O0,O00 to
$7,750,0OO, as a temporary step to-
ward fiscal equity.
Washington regrets that the House
saw f1t Immediately to instruct its
conferees to insist on holding the
Nations share to the $5,0O0000 fig
ure of the past three years, despite
the fact that it represents only about
10 per cent of the present total, and
undoubtedly will shrink to a much
smaller percentage if it is permitted
to stand unchanged while the cost
of maintaining the city on scale
bef1tting great world Capital in
creases.
The House vote yesterday prob
ably did not come as a surprise to
most District residents, because
throughout the flfteen-year period
of lump-sum practice that branch of
Congress has, with one notable ex-
ception, insisted on being the sole
judge of what this arbitrary pay
ment should be.
The lump sum has no mathemati-
cal yardstick or logical foundation
on which to rest. Nevertheless the
attitude of the House has been that
the Senate, although a coordinate
branch of the law-making body,
should have no other part in fixing
1t than to sign on the dotted line
once the House has acted.
But the one break, which occurred
In 1881 in the era of House domina-
ton, should encourage the Senate
now to stand by its right to have
some voice in settling this important
ISSUE On that occasion the Senate
stood firmly and gained compro-
mise.
In settling many detailed items in
the District supply bill yesterday the
House conferees met the Senate half
way. What is there about this one
question of the Federal lump sum
that gives the House an absolute
power of decision? The Constitution
does not say "The House of Repre-
sentatives" shall exercise exclusive
legislation over the seat of govern
ment. It says Congress" (Which
includes both Senate and House,
shall exercise that power.
This power will be exercised by the
Joint action of the two bodies only
If the Senate also expresses a de-
termination to have its Judgment
considered. 1t is to be hoped, there
fore, that the Senate will insist upon
q further conference on the question.
1t is to be hoped, also, that when
House conferees on the revenue bill
meet to decide on a continuation of
the local community increased tax
burden, they will weigh with an open
mind the merits Of Senator Overton's
formula to settle in a fair and per-
manent way this problem of fiscal
relations. To leave it unsettled in
vites annual controversy, and dis
courages that amicable partnership
between the Nation and the local
community essential to the proper
development Of the Capital.
n1