Evening star., 1952-09-29

OlSLrlcC OF COlumDla received
this 40 per cent from 1925 down
to date it would have amounted
to some $408 million and the
capital improvements so badly
needed could have been provided
through the years. Based on
the record. however, it would
appear that Congress has been
reluctant in past years to in
crease the Federal payment.
4. LOANS TO D. C.
BY CONGRESS.
We feel very strongly that
the $165. .665, 900 mentioned
above as the minimum amount
needed to complete the six
year Public Works Improve
ment Program should be pre-
sented to Congress as a one
package Capital program and
not as an addition or a supple
ment to the annual Federal
payment to the general fund
of the District of Columbia.
We believe that enabling
legislation should be passed
authorizing this work at a dol
lar value fixed now by the
Commissioners and approved by
the Congress. To implement
the authorization, appropria-
tions should be made from time
to time to pay for the work as
1t progresses.
We realize that the new i'm
provementS will increase the
operating expenses of the Dis
trict Of Columbia substantially.
We feel. however. that such i'm
provements eliminate the risk
of Washington business firms
moving to other areas, preserve
current tax revenues, and at
tract new businesses and new
residents to Washington.
If the Congress would agree
to cooperate with the District
Government in the handling of
the Capital Improvements Pro-
gram as outlined above, it is
reasonable to expect that the
District would be able to func-
ton with the funds normally
appropriated by the Congress
annually if prices hold rea-
sonably steady over the six-year
period.
Offers 4-POint Plan.
Accordingly, we recommend:
!. That enabling legislation
be passed authorizing the i'm
provementS to be made with all
reasonable speed. with the cost
of such improvements being
borne equally by the District of
Columbia and the Federal
Government.
2. That Congress, by appro-
priations from time to time, ad-
vance the necessary funds to
pay for the work as it pro-
crosses.
3. That if the Federal Gov
ernment supplies the whole
amount of $165, ,665, 900, the Dis
trict of Columbia be allowed to
repay to the Federal Govern
ment it's so per cent shares of
such appropriations over a So
year period without interest.
In summing up, it appears to
the subcommittee on finance
that the dilemma that presently
confronts the Nations Capt.
tai may be attributed to the
following:
The modest Federal payment
throughout the years has pre-
vented the city from making
the necessary improvements to
meet the needs of the expand
ing population Of Metropolitan
Washington. We receive little
revenue from the residents of
the surrounding counties in
Virginia and Maryland. despite
the fact that the District of
Columbia provides the neces-
sary facilities to get them to
and from their places of
employment.
It is abundantly clear that
the major improvements rec
commended by the subcommit-
tees cannot be made on a pay
as-you-go basis. The funds
simply are not available. It Is
likewise clear that the District
Of Columbia has tapped its
last major source Of revenue,
namely, the sales tax. As mem
toned above, we believe that
further increases in taxes on
real estate, income. sales, ex-
cises, etc, would do more harm
than good and would further
complicate what is already an
acute problem.
The committee views with
great alarm the trend coward