Evening star., 1941-03-23

into the Treasury to the amount
The 81 States paying less each
into the Federal Treasury than the
District ranged from $18,566,641, the
next below Washington, to ST 1885,
678. The Districts internal revenue
payments not only exceeded each of
81 States, but were greater than the
combined payments of seven States.
In making this comparison tax col
lections under the Social Security
and Carriers Acts were eliminated
both from Washington and the
States, in order to get the revenue
figures intended primarily for the
support of the Federal Government.
No Voice in Government.
And yet the notion prevails In
some minds that the Capital is sup
ported by the Nation with money
wrung from the meager earnings of
millions of Americans and flung as
beggars' aims to mendicant people
Others know some of the facts, but
do not know all.
In developing the Nations City,
Washingtonians are by far the
largest contributors. They are today
meeting nearly all of the expenses
of Washington as local tsXr~""-s
and are contributing more than
any one of 81 of the States as
national taxpayers toward the
S6,00O,00O constituting the Federal
payment.
Nevertheless. they are the only
Americans who have no voice,
through elected representatives, in
levying either the local or the ma
tional taxes, or in the distribution
of the funds to which they are such
large contributors.
This concentration of all power
in the hands of Congress is one of
the foundation stones on which the
obligation of the National Govern
ment to share literally in the ex-
penses of the city has rested
throughout the history of the de-
velopment of the Capital.
Obligation Once Recognized.
Washington always has con-
tended that political power and
financial obligation are inseparabiy
coupled; that if the Nation con-
trolls, it should pay.
When Congress by the Organic
Act deprived Washington of terri
terial representation in Congress,
territorial self-government and local
taxing power, it recognized the ac-
companying financial obligation by
establishing the equitable $3.50 basis
OF appropriation.
Under that wise principle, adhered
to for more than 40 years, the city
was developed along lines befitting
the Capital of a rich and powerful
Nation. And even when the ratio
was changed by reducing the Fed
eral share to 40 per cent, the prin-
ciple of definite, proportionate pay
ments was preserved.
That principle protected the vote
less and powerless Washingtonian
from unjust tax burdens and unwise
expenditures, because the national
lawmakers knew that there was a
Federal obligation to provide def
mite part of each dollar appropri-
ated.
Lump Sum Shrinks.
The history of what has happened
during the past II years of lump
sum departure from the fixed ratio
has proved the need for that safe
guard to avoid hardship on the i'm
potent local partner and has borne
out all the fears expressed in ad-
vance by Washingtonians.
When the lump sum started at
SO 900, 900 in 1925, it was applied to
general fund appropriations of $780,
908, 900, making the Federal share
20 per cent.
Today, with the general fund up
to SAL ,491, ,465 for the current year,
the lump sum has dwindled to So
000, 900, or Federal share Of IA per
cent.
Not Whole Story.
Nor does this tell the whole story
OF how the Federal Government has
relieved itself of nearly all of its
financial obligation toward the Cap
ital, because the lump-sum percent
ages are applied only to the general
fund. The District, in addition, is
meeting the entire cost of the high
way and water services directly out
of motor vehicle taxes and water
rents. For the current year these
two functions are costing more than
s7,400,000, and if added to the gen.
eral fund expenses the $4,000 900
lump-sum payment becomes only IL
per cent of the total.
These two special services are
financed entirely by the District,
despite the fact that the highway
system is planned on broad scale
to meet the requirements of cap
ital city and in spite of the fact
that the United States Is the big
gest user of free water.
Engineer Commissioner McCoach
estimated at recent hearings on the
Overton plan that the free water
now furnished the Federal Govern
ment would cost more than $4,000
year at present rates. Neverthe-
less, the Federal Government has
not been required to contribute in
any form to the water service since
1928.
Water Plant. The District water
system was in the beginning con-
structed to supply Federal needs
alone. Later the District was per-
mitted to supply its needs from the
system, provided no expense would
devolve upon the United States
1859). Later still the District was
taken into partnership in main
tenance and DEVELOPMENT of both