Evening star., 1946-08-24
Efforts 10 Solve D. T..
Financial Problems
Pledged by Mcmillan
By Harold B. Roqers

his best efforts in the new Con
gress towards solution of Washing
tons involved financial, taxation ant
fiscal relations problems.
Back in the Capital for a brie
stay after his overwhelming vic
tory in the South Carolina Demo
cratic primary, which assures hi
return to the Eightieth Congress
he strongly reiterated his belle
that the Federal Government shoult
increase the amount of it's paymen
toward support of its own Nationa
Capital.
Mr.. Mcmillan plans to return soo1
to his home State
To Study Development Plan.
He pledged TO:
Make a careful study during tn,
congressional recess of the S223.
100000 siX-year expansion program
for the District developed by Engi
neer Commissioner Gordon r
Young.
Reintroduce a bill for three ad
ditional judges in the Municipa
Court, which failed of enactment
in the last Congress.
Support appropriations to carry
out proposed slum clearance ane
hospital center programs, already
authorized by law.
Support the move for a nationa
memorial stadium here.
Mr.. Mcmillan emphasized that the
District, faced with steadily mount.
ing expenses and future burdens
will have financial problems which
must be met squarely.
To Study Problems.
To give himself a more detailed
understanding of District problems
than he has obtained during his
service as chairman of the District
Committee, Mr.. Mcmillan said he
plans to 60 deeply into taxation
and fiscal relations before Congress
reconveneS. He plans particularly
to study the Young plan for post
wa Washington.
Asked whether he would favor
the O'Mahoney bill for a new fsca
formula, basing the amount of Fed
eral payment towards support of the
National Capital On the ratio OF
tax-eXempt land, he said he wanted
first to look into the finances OF
the District.
Mr.. Mcmillan recalled that some
legislation for the District was per-
mitted to die last session because the
District Commissioners could not
find the money to finance it.
Chairman Mcmillan also heard
District Commissioner Guy Mason
declare after hearings on the pro-
posed new hospital center bill that
the city is stone broke" The city
will be called on to pay part of the
construction cost of the center.
Indicates Higher Taxes Needed.
A combination Of a larger Federal
payment and some kind of addi-
tional local taxes probably will be
necessary to help the city meet its
obligations, Mr.. Mcmillan indicated
Asked about local taxation, he re-
ferred to differences among factors
in the city's population as to what
kind of taxes should be levied, and
who could stand more taxes.
Il want to get clearly in mind
first" he said, who is overtaxed
and who is not taxed enough
The Districts financial prob
lems," he predicteJ. most likely
will take up the best part of our
committee time during the next
session."
He emphasized that District ap-
preparations are not handled by the
District Committee, but by appro-
priations subcommittee of the
House. He pointed out, however, that
taxation and fiscal relations ques-
tions come before the District Com
mittee.
Asked if he intended to work out
some kind of formula of his own
for increased Federal payment to-
wards the Districts expenses, Mr.
Mcmillan declared:
I'll wait till Congress gets back
end see what action the Senate will
take on their bill"
OMahoney Bill Died.
The OMahoney bill in the Senate,
sponsored by Senator O'Mahoney
Democrat. of Wyoming and Senator
Overton, Democrat, of Louisiana,
was passed over during the closing
days of the expiring Seventy-ninth
Congress, when time was considered
too short TO hope for its enactment.
Srnncnrc hnurouar
Gated it will be revived in the new
Congress.
Congress increased its lump-sum
payment toward it's capital from
$4,000, 900 to 100000 for this fiscal
year. This was a. compromise after
proposal had been made for slO.-
100000 payment. The formula would
have provided more than $4,000, 900
The Young plan still is being
studied by large local committee
appointed by the Commissioners
WITH view to formulating proposed
legislation.
1t is designed to help the Capital
overtake and keep abreast of war
and postwar growth. The program
contemplates new schools, libraries
bridges, highways, police and fire
stations, health and welfare insti-
tutions, sewage and refuse facilities
water supply and distribution items
and S60,000,000 subway for down.
town Washington.
Called for More Taxes.
To meet expenses of such a s228..
100000 expansion of public build.
ings and services during the mex
six years, Brig. Gen. Young called
for new and increased taxes, a boost
in "the grossly inadequate" Fed.
eral payment, ana borrowing from
the Treasury sums that could eX.
ceed s50,000,000. Gen. Young i.
chairman of the committee makins
further study of the plan.
Another committee, headed b,
Vernon West, corporation counsel
recently put forward a proposed
program of possible new local take.
for the city.
Mr.. Mcmillan pointed to accomp.
lishments of the Seventy-nintf
Congress for benefit of the Dis.
trict. He named legislation fol
IL Ia.