Evening star., 1947-01-16

House District Committee ON
District matters appears on Page
Az.
By Don S. Worren
Joint House-Senate hearings on
the problem Of bolstering the Dis
trict's inadequate revenue may be
ordered.
A definite move to this end,
designed to assemble the most COM
plete evidence in the quickest pos
sible time, is expected to be made
before the end of the week.
As now contemplated, the sug-
gested joint hearings would deal
with both the 19,000,0 900 new Dis
trict tax bill now being readied by
the Commissioners and the proper
size of the Federal payment toward
National Capital costs.
Formula Bill Reintroduced.
The latter question was again
placed before the Senate yesterday
by Senator O,Mahoney, Democrat,
of Wyoming, chairman in the past
Congress of the Senate subcom-
mittee in charge Of the municipal
supply bill. He reintroduced for
himself and Senator Overton, Demo-
crat, of Louisiana, a bill to adjust
the Federal payment annually in
keeping with fixed formula based
on the extent of tax-free Federal
land holdings here. The measure was
referred to the District Committee.
Chairman Buck, about the same
time, conferred at length with Dis
trict finance experts and gathered
data showing how the pending $685.
100000 budget would exceed ex-
pected revenues by at least $10,-
100000.
Sees More Taxes Needed.
Later, Chairman Buck said he
was convinced there would have to
be new or increased taxes for the
District. Even with enactment Of
the fiscal formula plan proposed by
Senators O'Mahoney and Overton.
he said, the District was faced with
a deficit of well over s6,00O,000.
Taken alone, an increase of some
So, 100000 in the Federal payment
over the present $8,000,000 lump
sum-" he said, will not be enough,
with the budget now out of balance
by about s1o,000,oOo."
Planning an early beginning on
tax and fiscal bill hearings, he
voiced suggestion joint hear
ings with the House District Conn
mittee might prove of help.
The thought quickly was picked up
by Chairman Dirksen of the House
Committee, who said he would seek
a conference with Senator Buck
within a day or two.
"It is entirely possible the ar
rangement might be worked out" he
said.
Favors "Single Performance"
Mr.. Dirksen, who served last year
as a member of the La Toilette
Monroney Joint Committee which
drafted the Congressional Reorgani-
zation Act, said there were many
fruitful occasions" when joint hear
ings could be held on major legisla-
ton. The idea was suggested in the
La Follette-M Monroney reports, al
though not written in the new Con-
gressional rules.
Putting the District revenue bills
in the class of measures subject to
joint hearings, Mr.. Dirksen said he
could see no useful purpose in hav-
ing Congress "go through the per-
formance twice" He said he was
inclined to believe joint hearings
would give a continuity of thought"
and a better presentation of the
issues than to have separate hear
ings.
If joint hearing are ordered, OBJ
servers explained, each committee
and each house still would be left
free to render its own report and to
arrive independently at its own con-
clusions.
Senator O'Mahoney said he had
reintroduced the Federal payment
yardstiek bill with the conviction,
which has not wavered, that the
National Capital, to meet its re-
sponsibilities, needs a much better
income"
Helped Boost Payment.
The Wyoming Senator led a fight
last year for an increase in the old
lump sum payment. Congress finally
granted boost from the old S.
900, 900 sum to $8,000,000 Even with
this victory, however, the issue re-
mained on a temporary hand-to-
mouth basis and with the United
States still accepting no definite
proportion of the Capitals costs.
Under the O'Mahoney-O Overton
formula, the size Of the Federal pay
ment would amount to about 10 per
cent Of the budget, instead of the
present share of about 10 per cent.
Their study shows the Government
holds nearly 10 per cent of all land
in the District
Senator Buck began a study Of
District finances shortly after he
was named chairman Of the District
Committee. He conferred yesterday
with Budget Officer Walter L. Fowler
and his deputy, William G. Wilding.
Sitting with the Senator was James
r. Kirkland, committee counsel.
Later, Senator Buck told reporters
he had received considerable en-
lightenment." He said he had found
major reasons for the prospective
$4,000, 900 deficit in the budget were
the pay raises granted municipal
workers last year, the liberalized
teacher retirement system and heavy
increases in charges for District
patients at st. Elizabeth's Hospital.
Church Unit Sponsors Film
The Young Adult Department Of
the Francis Asbury Methodist
Church, 3146 Sixteenth street NV,
is sponsoring a showing of the movie,
"As You Like It." at the church at
8 pm. Friday and Saturday.