Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-01-26

Appeal for Aid
On Works Plan
Action on Funds
For $305.2 Million
Program Urged
BY George Beveridee

The District Commissioners
today urged Congress to author
lie a far-reaching revenue bill
to pay for a $305.2 million public
works program to provide min
imum facilities to insure a Fed
eral city Of which all citizens
can be proud"
Commissioner Samuel Spen-
Ger opened testimony before a
Joint meeting of fiscal subcom-
mitteeS of the House and Senate
District Committees on the most
important revenue measure since
the sales tax was established in
1949.
Engineer Commissioner Louis
w. PrentisS then gave a thor
ough explanation of the 10-year
construction needs, how they
will be financed and why new
revenues are needed.
Other Officials to Testify.
He was to be followed during
the next four days by the chiefs
OF each city department, for de.
tailed explanations of their pro-
grams, and by a parade of more
than 80 citizen witnesses.
Gen. Prentiss stressed that the
program-fnanced jointly by in
creased taxes, Federal Interest,"
bearing loans and a higher Fed
eral payment-calls on the Fed
eral Government only for a fair
recognition Of responsibilities to
the city.
During the last three decades.
he said, the Federal Govern
ment has been enjoying a bar.
gain" Between 1920 and 1854.
ne noted. the Federal Govern
ment's contribution to city ex-
penses has increased only 20
per cent. from $40 million to
sl2 million. In the same period
he said, the Districts share in
the total budgets has increased
1850 per cent. from $40 million
to S136 million.
In addition to a 500 million
increase in the Federal paw
ment over the next 10 years.
the city is asking an additional
$40 million to SIS million from
the Federal Government in wa
ter and sanitary sewer bills and
lnterest-bearing loans totalinR
SLIP million.
Tax Rise Support Seen.
Also, Gen. Prentiss said. pro-
posals to boost District taxes by
about $40 million a year are
fair proposals." and predicted
they will gain citizen support.
In general" he concluded.
we are trying to raise the taxes
that do the least overall damage
to the city. We are aware that
every time we chase a citizen to
the suburbs, we lose real estate.
income and sales taxes"
Gen. Prentiss said that in thu
early planning stages of the
works program, the Districts per
capita tax was $127 as against
Sl24 for Montgomery County and
S102 for Arlington County. With
the new programs increased
taxes the Districts per capita
tax would be $144 a year, $50
more than in Montgomery County
and $42 above Arlington.
The tax increases, spread over
a wide variety Of items, would
put the city "in the median posi-
ton" Of Is cities with popula-
tons exceeding 900. he said.
Federal and Statistics
Questioned about Federal aid,
the Commissioner said Federal
aid represented 1875 per cent Of
the District budget as against
IT'S per cent or 10 per cent
averages throughout the coun-
try. The Districts 1875 per cent,
he stressed, includes the fiat an
nual Federal payment.
Gen. Prentiss praised wide
spread citizen participation in
the public works program devel-
opment. noting that it has had
more citizen study than any
legislation in many years"
He traced revisions in the pro.
gram from the time it first was
proposed by a citizens group
nearly two years ago at a cost Of
$3.50 million. The revisions, he
noted, have scaled down the cost,
extended the time from six to
ten years and imposed less bur-
den on the Federal government.
He stressed that individual ap-