Evening star., 1953-07-25

for discussion of the Federal
payment issue by recalling that
while as recently as 1922 Con-
gresS granted Federal payment
of 40 per cent. it now had dwin-
died to less than 8 per cent as
the total city budget mush-
roomed. Under the bill for the
new fiscal year he said it would
be only 8.84 per cent, with the
full Federal payment now au-
thorized with a total of $12
million.
He reminded the Senate that
two former members had de-
voted much time and thought in
seeking a solution of the fiscal
problem by proposing fixed
formulas-the late John Overton
of Louisiana and former Senator
Joseph c. O'Mahoney of Wyo-
ming.
Senator Hill, Democrat, of
Alabama former chairman of the
District subcommittee in charge
of the District supply bills, said
he had long felt that the Federal
Government had not been carry
ing it's proper share of the fiscal
problem of the National Capital.
Case Calls for Standard.
Senator Case then came up
with declaration that he
thought the Federal Government
was not meeting its fair share
but he stressed that some proper
standard must be found to
measure this.
He reminded the Senate that
revenue measures must be origi-
mated on the House side. He re-
called that some spokesmen for
the House had vigorously chas-
tiSed the Senate" because it had
taken first action on a bill to
grant emergency pay funds for
the District rent control Office.
In view of that, he said he
feared that the House Ways and
Means Committee would scream
even louder" if the Senate were
to initiate a measure on an in
crease in the Federal payment.
However, he said he had this
subject in mind and that a study
could be conducted but suggest
ed this probably would be in
connection with the District
public works program if city Of
f1cials make a firm request for
action on that plan. This plan
now is awaiting action at the
Federal Budget Bureau.
In this connection, Chairman
Case said he had thought there
was a need for a District public
works program in which the cost
would be split $3.50 between the
Federal and District govern
ments.
More Tax-Free Land.
He argued, however, that there
was a need for a standard that
went beyond the question that
the amount of Government
owned tax-exempt land in the
District has now reached APT
per cent, an increase from 34.9
in 1885.
The same thing is happening
in numerous other areas of the
country, including New Jersey.
Georgia, Mississippi, California,
the State of Washington and
other places, he said. For in
stance, he added, in San Diego.
Calf, the amount of tax-exempt
Federal land holdings is about So
per cent.
Senator Hendrickson, Repub-
lican, of New Jersey, interjected
that he was very much con-
cerned about this question of
Federal ownership of land be-
cause of the situation in his
State.
Chairman Simpson of the
House District Committee, COM
mnting on the question of study
of the size of the Federal pay
ment, said he thought the next
step would be up to the District
Commissioners.
IF they need a larger Federal
payment. he said, they could
prepare a request to Congress
and send it to us in an official
communication. Let them sub
NIT such a recommendation Of
their own choosing, with docu-
ment justifying it. They could
submit a proposed bill for the
purpose"
The request, he said. probably
would go to the Speaker of the
House for reference to the proper
committee. If the proposal is
sent to the House District Com
mittee for consideration, Mr..
Simpson said, Il will be willing
to introduce their bill and refer
It to a subcommittee for a hear
ng."