Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-05-01
Budget Makers
.FaceDecision
On U. 5. Funds
Broad Fiscal Study
limited by Rubuut;
Plugs Home Rule


Plugs Home Rule
Congressional budget makers
for the District plan to decide
this week whether to recon-
mend the full, authorized $40
million Federal payment to the
city. their chairman indicated.
Chairman Rabaut Of the
House Appropriations subcom-
mittee handling the Districts
SITS million budget for the next
fiscal year, said his five-man
group has reached no decision
on whether to grant all or only
part. Of the Federal money.
Contending there Is no intent
or inclination in the group to
cut the presently authorized
amount, Mr.. Rabaut warned
that any lated bid to increase
the payment faces serious ques-
tioning.
Facing Trouble
Such an increase is being
sought by the District Commits
sioners. Facing trouble with
spiralling costs over the next
few years, and the possibility OF
the big pay raises now, they are
hunting some $13 million q year
in additional revenue.
They want to split the boost
half-and-half between the fed
eral government and local tax
payers, and have asked White
House backing for such a plea
to Congress. Their request is
now before the Budget Bureau
for decision.
Commenting on the prospect
of legislation to authorize new
tax increases and a boost in
the federal payment. Mr.. Ra-
baut suggested there may be
need for a great study of the
whole problem of fiscal relations.
He warned that the District
may be like a poor nephew to a
rich uncle. content to slet the
uncle fix everything.
Mr., Rabaut depressed to put
in a plug for San elected form
of government" under "two-
party system" for the District.
Such a home rule bill. providing
for an elected mayor, city coun-
Gil, school board and non-voting
delegate. In the House. is now
awaiting action by the Senate
which usually approves it. His
torically. though. similar meas
ures have died in a pigeon hole
of the House District Commit
tee.
To Decide Policy
OF the appropriations bill as il
stands now, Mr.. Rabaut said his
subcommittee will meet this week
to decide policy on the Federal
payment and determine. what
shall go into the bill they hope
to send to the full Appropria-
tions Committee next week.
Usually. the subcommittee now
headed by Mr.. Rabaut cuts more
or less deeply into the budget
approved by the Commissioners
before sending 1t to the full
committee. While there was NJ
indication Of what it might dt
this year. indications were thai
there is little chance for resto'
ration of any items previously
disallowed by the Commissioners
Restoration of a number o.
such items was requested re-
peatedly Thursday and Frida!
nights in testimony by public
witnesses.
| Mr.. Rabaut's strongest fire i
reserved for the lack Of rea
estate re-assessments in the Dis
trict.
| A similar complaint was mad
several months ago by the Gen
eral Accounting ONCE. The GA(
report urged the city to brinl
its assessment picture up to dat
with a sort of mail ballot cam
paign in which property owner
would be asked to describe thei
holdings for assessment pur
poses.
Turns Thumbs Down
The GAO said a one or two
year general reassessment woul'
be too expensive. District Assess
or James l.. Martin turnet
thumbs down on the mail reas
sessment. insisting that physica
inspection by trained assessor
was necessary.
He said a quick general re
assessment would cost severa
thousand dollars and would hav
to be done on contract by al
outside firm. However. he said
he could do the job in five II
10 years with some additions II
his staff If the Commissioner
and Congress were willing II
wait that long.
A quick reassessment, accord
ing to Schuyler Lowe, the Dis
trict's director of general admin
istration, probably would cos
nearly half a million dollars.
The District, he said. ha
about 100000 lots, and a con
tract fee for reassessment prob
ably would cost more than 5;
per lot-a total of at leas
$48o,000.
For many years. Mr. Martil
has pointed out. Congress al
lowed staff enough only to keel
up with assessment of ney
buildings.
Branded as Joke
Noting that Congress last yea
authorized Mr.. Martin to hir
three new assistant assessors, Nj
Rabaut branded as a "joke" tn