Evening star., 1941-03-25

formula was conceived at a time
when no emergency existed in WASH
ingtOn and that its consideration
should be confined TO normal con-
ditions.
H. L. Colman of the Northwest
Citizens Council and Mrs. Mar
garet Hopkins Worrell of the Co.
lumbia Heights Citizens Associa-
ton added their Endorsement to the
Overton plan, as did Sarah V. Mont
gomery of Washington Peace
Mobilization and Evan H. Tucker,
veteran president of the Northeast
Washington Citizens Association.
Mr.. Tucker gave a brief resume
of fiscal relations between the Fed
eral and District governments and
said:
The present lump-Sum plan is
illogical, unreasonable and unjust" ."
Senate action on the Overton bill
late yesterday was unanimous with
out a record vote
Senator Overton explained its
purpose is to end the controversy
that has resulted from the practice
of making annual lump-sum pay
mentS as the Federal share of Dis
trict expenses during the past II
years. The Overton plan would fix
the Federal share by the ratio OF
Federally owned land to the total
area of the District.
The lump sum, Senator Overton
pointed out, has varied all the way
from Se50O,00O a decade ago to
S5,0O0,0 900 two years ago.
Permits Reductions.
To determine the area actually
required for national purposes. the
Overton formula would make these
deductions from the total acreage
owned by the United States: Land
embraced within Federally-oWned
streets. Federal land used by the
District government and 56 per cent
of the park area. This is the por-
ton of National Capital parks that
compares with the average in COM
pal SlClCO. anu IIiC GU
eral Government charged only with
the A per cent of excess park area
found in Washington.
At present, these deductions leave
the Federal area at 81 per cent of
the total land area of the District
and applying that ration to esti-
mated general fund expenses of
S44,714,000, would make the Federal
payment for next year SO ,389 $40, in
stead of the current lump sim of
S6,OOO,OO0
The Senate's action yesterday re-
affirmed the Endorsement 1t gave the
Overton formula when it was first
proposed two years ago. The House
at that time refused to accept it. but
compromised by raising the lump
sum from S5000,0C0 to s6,000,000,
Senator Overton told his colleagues
that ever since there has been a
District of Columbia the Federal
Government has recognized its OBJ
legation to share in the expenses of
maintaining and developing a Ma
tional Capital. From 1878 to 1924 a
definite percentage ratio was ad-
hered to-for many years $3.50, and
later so per cent from the local tax
payers and 40 per cent from the
United States.
Senator Ellender, Democrat. Of
Louisiana wanted to know if the for
mula would be equivalent to placing
an assessment on Government build
ings like the Capitol.
Buildings Not a Factor.
Senator Overton assured his COL
league it would not, pointing out
that it is confined to land acreage,
with no reference to building values.
The trouble with the valuation
plan is that there would be as much
controversy as to value as there
would be in reference to a lump
sum payment" said Senator Over
ton.
Senator Ellender also called at
tention to plans being considered in
the House for overhead or under
ground traffic arteries, and wanted
to know if the Government would
contribute toward these improve
mentS if the Overton bill passed.
Senator Overton said that would de-
pend on what Congress determined
should be done
Senator Ellender referred also to
the Gravelly Point Airport, on
which, he said, the Government has
spent something like Is or l8 mil
lion dollars and inquired whether,
under the Overton formula, District
citizens would contribute a share of
such an expenditure.
"Will this bill make it so that
the Congress will not be bothered
in the future as to what part of the
contribution for such improvements
as I have just indicated-that is
the airport and the building of this
overhead automobile road and so
forth" Senator Ellender began.
The contribution throughout the
history of the District of Columbia
has been for the upkeep of the Dis
trict. its development as National
Capital and it's Identification as
SUCH" Senator Overton replied
whether such a project as the air
port-which is entirely outside the
District of Columbia-Would be con-
sidered as coming within such a
classification, I am inclined to doubt
very seriously, but that is matter
which the Congress will have to
determine in the future"
The purpose of this formula. Sen
ator Overton said. is to take out of
the realm of controversy the pay
ment to be made toward the ex-
penses and upkeep of the Capital
City
The airport was undertaken by
the Federal Government as a ma
tional rather than local project,