Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-07-11
D. c. Shortchonoed

Committee. in denying the Dis
trict the promised $3-million
increase in Federal contribu-
tionS, is acting like cantan-
kerous mother in-laW. The rea-
son given was that a surplus
would result land this is moot
and concern was expressed not
as to what's a fair share. but
that the District COR the SON.
in-law) might come up with
a bank account. Added to this
is the folkSy comment. equally
irrelevant, that Washington
businessmen have been riding
high on the hog.
1t is apparent that the
Appropriations mmittee
thought little of the paper
upon which the authorization
was written or the intent or
consensus of the House as a
whole. If it is true that District
taxpayers are partners in
shared expenses, it appears
that any sharing agreement by
authorization is whimsical to
say the least. For. first. the
partners" agree on what con-
stitutes fair share. Then the
more influential partner no.
tices that the other partners
wife has a new dress or some
money in the bank and de-
cides that said partner is liv-
ing too good and reduces OR
is it welshes onO the agreed
sharing.
The esteemed CongresSmen
are respectfully reminded that
it is bad manners to look and
see if there is a chicken in
somebody's pot. Regardless of
how fortunate Washington
businessmen have been land
this is still a free enterprise
SYSTEM, this fact does not
obviate the responsibilities of
the Federal Government to pay
a fair share of the Districts
expenses. 1t is here contended
that it is outside the province
of the Appropriations Commit
tee TO determine: What is a
fair share? 1t should concern
itself with whether the pur-
poses and needs of the au-
thorization are still proper and
valid. Otherwise, they place
themselves in the light of pic
ayunish bookkeepers who try
to void the contract because
there is a flaw in the invoice.
Certainly the constituents of
our statesmen would prefer
and expect them to deal with
the people of Washington on
a high plane and above petty
maneuvering to keep the mu-
nicipal operations in Wash
ington at the lowest possible
level. District citizens do not
want charity from the Federal
Government nor do they wish
to be treated like poor rela-
tions. To men who are fair
and open minded it will not
be difficult to determine a
sensible formula of what's a
fair share.
Milton A. Mandel.
The House Appropriations
Committee denied the District
an increase of So million in
the Federal payment. The
committee said, IF it we're to
approve the budget estimate.
the committee would be in
the position of recommending
an appropriation Of Federal
funds to create a surplus in
the general fund of the Dis
trict."
This is indeed paradoxical,
since the use to which this
money was to be put was item
lied in detail. 1t also empha-
sizes that recommendations
which have traversed the
tangled web of our city gov
eminent are turned down by
Congress. The committee is
apparently too busy with other
affairs to see clearly the needs
of the District. This bitter
pill must be swallowed by the
voteless nonconstituent tax
payers occupying the ala per
cent of the District land which
is subject to taxation. Most
of the revenue lost from the
tax-exempt Federal Govern
ment real estate will be made
up from sales tax levied
without regard to ability to
pay.
An interesting facet of this
problem reflects light on the
sometimes obscure motives OF
congressman saving money
without losing votes. This is
revealed in comments pertain
ing to the committees refusal
to grant funds for an urgently
requested increase in the pay
of interns and resident physi-
clans at the District Genera,
Hospital. The committee said
Testimony was presented that