Evening star., 1946-04-05
Coffee, Stefan
.UrgeMoreU.S 5.
Aid for District
Ask Larger Payment
As House Takes Up
Supply Measure

An lmmeQldCe substantial IN
crease in the Federal payment
toward District expenses was ad-
vocated today by both Chairman
Coffee of the House District Ap-
preparations Subcommittee and
Representative Stefan, Repub-
lican, of Nebraska as the House
took up for action the city's
$72,585, 900 1947 appropriation
bill.
Mr.. Coffee said the present Fed
eral contribution of S600O,OO0 a
year toward the expenses of the
local government was unfair to the
taxpayers, who were required to
shoulder burden placed on them
largely because Washington is the
seat of the Government and houses
most of its activities.
Mr.. Coffee said the subcommittee
had heard convincing arguments for
increasing the Federal share of the
cost OF running the District, but
had not provided for any increase
because it was felt that this would
be violation of the legislative rules
'of Congress prohibiting the writing
in of such legislation into appropria-
ton bills.
Costs interviewer.
Il hope the House District Com
mittee, which properly has jurisdic-
ton over this matter. will consider
what should be the Federal Govern
ment's fair share and will report
such legislation to the House." Mr..
Coffee added.
Much of the cost which District
taxpayers are required to assume.
he told the House, is entirely Fed
eral or interviewer with Federal op-
erations.
Mr.. Coffee mentioned some of the
institutions and expenses which are
kept up by District taxpayers but,
in his opinion, should be paid for
by the Federal Government. Among
these, he mentioned the National
Geological Park, financed by the Dis
trlct. This institution, he said, is
national in nature, and should be as
proper an expense for the Federal
Government as the maintenance of
the Smithsonian Institution. He
spoke of the Soldiers Home as
national institution which District
taxpayers are required to support
He also mentiened the guarding of
Federal buildings which the District
Government must finance.
Sedition Trial Mentioned.
Mr.. Coffee mentioned the war
time sedition trial here, for which
the local taxpayers had to under
write SO per cent of the expense.
IF that trial had been held in
any other city," he said, ''the Fed
eral Government would have paid
the entire cost"
Mr.. Coffee also mentioned that
children of nonresidents are given
free schooling in the District.
Mr.. Coffee was interrupted by
Representatives Smith, Republican.
OF Ohio and Plumley, Republican,
of Vermont with questions about
the District real estate tax. They
wanted to know if it was not alb
normally low.
Mr.. Coffee said he did not think
so under circumstances existing in
Washington, and he pointed out
that the assessment here, unlike
that OF many other cities, is based
on valuation of 100 per cent.
The appropriation measure was
trimmed to its present size by the
Coffee subcommittee of the House
Appropriations Committee, by lop-
ping off nearly 100000 for prof.
ectS and employees, because of fear
OF financial crisis next year.
In an outline of the committees
action, Mr.. Stefan, ranking minority
member of the District Subcommit-
tee, declared the District could
prove a claim" to a Federal pay
ment of almost S15,OOOOOO for the
services it renders the United States
and the extra burdens placed on the
District by reasons of national pro-
grams.
Stop Gap Aid Suggested.
Suggesting a temporary increase
pending the adoption of a perma-
nenJ formula for annual adjustment
of the Federal share of costs here,
Mr.. Stefan stressed the fact that,
out of population of nearly 1,000,-
600, less than 100000 filed District
income tax returns last year. The
District income levy is limited to
those "domiciled" here.
Mr.. Stefan told the House new
revenue sources here could be tapped
which would not work hardship
on District residents. He said he
thought the taxpayers would sup
port a well-rounded tax program
which would make municipal serv-
Ices here second to none in the
Nation"
Sees Federal Obligation.
But, he added, there are com
pelling reasons" why the United
States should not permit District
residents to assume all the extra
financial burdens during the post
war years. He contended the United
States has an obligation which it
should meet as a separate respon-
sibility
while the appropriations for the
District, payable from the general
pa~r