Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-05-24
u. S. and D. c. Budget

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contribute to District of CO.
lumbia costs is with us again.
The subject has Aeen known
to trouble the conscience of
some Congressman and some
opponents of home rule have
indicated that the variable
congressional conscience in
Federal contributions to the
District OF Columbia is an in
calculable and nonpreferred
risk.
With or without home rule
the problem of Federal contri-
buttons will be with us. But
where does the muddle begin?
Why the annual carping about
who is getting or giving more?
Is Congress fair or foxy? Or
does Congress prefer guessing
games to a fair formula based
upon a workable principle?
The background of the prob
lem stems from the peculiar
sovereignty of our city, in that
the taxpayers are guests in
the house" of the Federal Gov
eminent. Congress provides the
place. regulates the use thereof
and sets the tariff" Presum-
ably, We are tenants by
choice" whether as employees
or as businessmen. We have
the free and indisputable right
of squawking for what we con-
slider a fair deal or else.
Needless to say, there are diff
ferences of opinion as to what
is flair" and what is deal"
The District differs from
other municipalities. For, in
municipal operation, there are
usually two sides; those who
want something, services, i'm
provements, etc, and the others
who pay for it. In the District
of Columbia, added to this
tug -of-war is a big ques-
ton mark: Who should pay
for it? 1t is quite possible,
therefore, that Congressional
referees may be pulling at
both ends of the rope at the
same time.
congressman wrestling with
this problem of what's a fair
share over the decades have
been figuring percentage, per-
centage of total cost, lump
sums and just plain on the
cuff. But these are methods
and not Civilizations of fair
shares. There appears to be a
need to establish a formula
for fair shares. based upon
principle. a principle accepted
and honored.
The principle must state:
There shall be an equitable
sharing of the load of District
finances between the Federal
Government and other tax
payers. Equity shall require
that there be no basic distinc-
ton between private business,
property owners and the Fed
eral Government in the matter
of obligation for the upkeep.
operation and improvement of
the District of Columbia.
Inasmuch as the Federal
Government is a property
owner within the District and
conducts a sizeable portion of
its function within the Dis
trict, it shall pay it's fair share
toward municipal operation in
accol dance with the require
ments imposed upon residents,
businesses and property own
erS.
This is no mandatory con-
cept but shall become volun-
tary acceptance by the Fed
eral Government of a moral
obligation. Thus. Congress, for
the purposes of the District
of Columbia contribution shall
consider the Federal Gov
eminent business, doing
business in the District and
self-subjected to the same
or similar taxes" as are i'm
posed upon District sources.
Yes, let the Federal Govern
meht pay its share of the cost
in real estate and franchise
tax proportions.
Some will say this is inn
practical because the Govern
ment is a non-profit organiza-
ton and therefore not meas
ureable "tax-wise." 1t is here
submitted that the Govern
ment has at its disposal suf-
ficient talent in real estate
assessors and tax experts who
can come UP with a fair and
comparable asses sm n t"
based upon use, occupancy
and operations.
Whether such a formula will
increase or diminish the Fed
eral contribution to the Dis
trict budget should not be the
main consideration of the
Federal Government. 1t must
cq6cern itself with a fair