Evening star., 1941-01-03
0verton Pushes
Land Area Basis
For Lump Sum
Insists Government
Payment to District
Is Inadequate
BY J. A. O'LEARY.

equitable basis of fixing the annual
Federal payment toward the eX-
penses Of the Capital will be made
in this Congress by Senator Overton,
Democrat, of Louisiana, who an
nounced today he will reintroduce
his land-area formula.
Shortly after his arrival from the
South, the chairman of the Senate
Subcommittee on District Appropria-
tions, declared his belief is an effort
should be made this year to settle
the problem.
Put forward originally two years
ago, the Overton formula would use
the land area of the District re-
quired for national purposes as the
yardstick for determining the
amount of the Federal payment.
When it was first proposed in 1888,
the formula showed the Federal land
area to be 20 per cent, and, applying
that ratio to the general fund eX-
penseS of the city, then s40OOOO 900
would have made the Federal share
approximately S8000000.
Report Awaited.
The result now would depend on
the extent to which the United
States may have added to its prop
erty holdings in Washington since
that time. The Senate recently
passed a resolution, requesting the
Commissioners to bring up to date
q report on all the taX-eXempt prop
erty in the National Capital,
For the past Is years Congress
has followed the practice of max
ing an arbitrary annual lump sum
payment toward the District budget,
which had declined from S9.000000
to IS 900 900 when the Overton plan
was first proposed in 1888. The
House refused TO accept the OvertOn
solution for settlement of the issue
but, after long struggle in con-
ference the two houses comprO-
missed on an increase in the tenn
porary lump sum to S6,000000.
That compromise was adhered 10
last year as part of the compromise
agreement of 1888. but. as the new
OvertOn said:
'I believe the time is opportune
for the House and Senate again to
consider the question of the Federal
payment to the District of Columbia
The present payment is inadequate,
and does not properly reflect either
the contribution which should be
mace by Congress to our National
Capital, or the payment for a null
titude Of services which the District
government renders free to the
Federal Government.
Justice for District Urged.
after giving further considera-
ton to the question, l know of no
better plan than the one I suggested
two years ago. The Senate at that
time was practically unanimously in
favor Of it, and l surmise it still is.
I hope the District Committees of
the House both legislative and ap-
preparation, will again approach the
problem with view Of doing justice
to the District
Senator OVertCn expressed hope
that some member OF the House
would introduce in that branch a
bill similar to the one he will offer
In the Senate.
Senator OvertOn said he was
happy to note that the Commission
ers have recommended an increased
amount for permanent improve
ments in the new budget, the de-
tails of which will not be known
until next week. He noted at the
same time, however, press reports
that they were compelled to elm
mate many requested projects in
order to maintain a balanced budget
on the basis of the present S6,000000
Federal payment and existing local
taxes.
The Senator pointed out that
more equitable Federal payment
would make possible some of the i'm
provements that have had to be neg
lected in the past.
Backs Food Stamp Plan.
In this connection, he announced
he will continue to work for the re-
placement of small, antiquated
school buildings.
He said also he would support a
proposed increase of 25 men for the
police force, and declared Congress
this year should begin the food
stamp plan for needy families in
Washington, which was eliminated
from the current District Appropri-
alton Act by the last Congress.
Senator Overton decided on the
land-area basis of determining the
Federal obligation because he re-
garded 1t as fair, simple and sci
entltlc solution of a problem that
has led to controversy for many
years. Land area. he pointed out.
can be determined with mathemati-
cal certainty, as distinguished from
the assessed value basis. which is
subject to varying appraisals of diff
ferent experts.
The acreage formula he explained
Is flexible and easily adjusted from
year to year as the Governments
area of taX-eXempt land increases
or decreases.
The Senate District Committee,
to which the bill would be referred.
hold ron, ,rrehenSiVe hearings M, tho