Evening Star Newspaper, December 31, 1927, Page 19

ATURDAY, D EMBER 31 District Officials View Past Year as One of Continued Progress and Achievement 6040 CAMPAIGN MARKS 27 IN CITY GOVERNMENT Drive for Restoration of Basis, Begun Months Ago, Well Under Way—Other Achievements of Year. N energetic campaign initiated Ly the District Commissioners for restoration of the 60-40 hasis of fis relations between the District and Federal gov- nments 18 given precedence over the iy epoch-making events recorded for 1927 in the history of the municipal government The Commissioners waited until De- cember 5, the date of the convening of the new Congres, to formally sig- nalbize the movement, but in the few weeks that have followed it has been given encouraging impetus by the civic and trade organizations. The pians for the campaign, however, were prepared several months in advance by Commissioner Sidney F. Taliaferro, who has devoted considerable time 10 of the existing well as the District's | with a view to ng contrast to the preced- | Sl governme entirely . as far as the District sensational con or distre: devoid of gressional_investigations, ing and disturbing events irvolvi its administrative make-up. Only one incident approaching a stigma marred its o’ herwise unblemished record—the inveetigation by the Gibson subcom- mistee of the House District commit- 163 into the traffic signal light pur. chases, which ultimately resulted in a shake-up in the traffic department per- scnnel and the appointment of a_new | traffic chieftain, William H. Harland, who came from the Interstate Com- merce Commission with years of ex- perience as an electric signal engineer. Scandal Not Purpose. Although, after final adjustment nf the irregularities in the traffic light purchases, the Federal Bureau of Efficiency had its investigators in the District Building for several months, methodically ferreting into the affairs of the various departments, but mot | ‘with the intent, 1t was said, of produc- ing a scandal. If that was the pur- pose, then the investigations were an utter failure. The bureau did. how- ever. make a number of recommenda- tions to the Commissioners for in. creasing the efficiency of several de- partments, and some of them were adopted and put into effect. Notable among them was the plan for issuin ®sutomobile license tags which has ex- pedited this work tremendously. In retrospect, District officials view the year as one of continued progress. The appropriations, in general, were | more adequate than those for any previous year since the United States entered the World War. The five- year school building program made another advance toward its goal, de- spite the limitation placed by Con- grese on real estate purchases for school buildings, and the new water supply system was completed and put | into service. Material improvement was made in the condition of the | highways and several were widened, | but there is approximately 170 miles of thoroughfares yet unsurfaced. Modernization of the street lighting system also was continued on an ex- tensive scale under the personal supervision of Maj. Willam E. R. Covell, senfor Assistant Engineer Com- missioner. The beginning of the Federal Gov- ernment’s comprehensive public build- ing program on the triangle south of Pennsylvania avenue, forcing the re- moval of a number of municipal government _activities in this area, | presented District authorities with the most pressing problem of the year. Serious study convinced the officials that the most logical and practical solution would be to centralize all mctivities of the municipal govern- ment in one area, and accordingly a plan was worked out by Municipal t is concerned. was almost | Iside of Pennsylvania avende between | Third and Seventh streets. The Commission of Fine Arts sub- sequently placed its stamp of ap- proval on this project, which the Com- missioners prefer to call a municipal | center, and the draft of a bill now is in process of formation for introduc- tion in Congress which would author- ize an appropriation for the acquisi- {tion of the property, and preparation lof plans for the first of the buildings to be erected in the area. The relocation of the Farmers' Produce Market, another victim of the Federal building program, like- wise confronted the Commissioners |with a perplexing problem, partic- ularly in view of the action of Con- gress in directing them to recom- |mend a new site by December 15, not to exceed 600,000 in cost. After months of investigation and study, the Commissioners on the designated date recommended the location of the { market temporarily on a site in the rear of the Victory Memorial Build- ing foundations on B street, between xth and Seventh streets. The Pub- |lic Buildings Commission, however, disapproved of this location because it would encroach upon the Mall, and | suggested that the market be placed along the south side of B street be- tween Seventh and Ninth streets, directly opposite the Center Market. The Commissioners registered no ob- jection to the proposed change, and the market undoubtedly will be trans- | terred to this location within the next six weeks when work is started on he new Internal Revenue Building. Another major problem disposed of by the Commissioners was the selec- | tion of a permanent site for a muniei- pal airport at Gravelly Point. De-| velopment of this site has been indefi- | | nitely delayed, however, by the action of the Bureau of the Budget in remov- ing from the estimates of the Com- missioners an item of $150,000 for starting the work. This item was | eliminated, it is understood, because | the latest estimate for building the | airport, placed at $1,500,000, exceeded by $750,000 the original estimate of | District officials. Making Own Tags Now. | One of the outstanding innovations | | € | in municipal government activities in 1927 was the production of automobile license tags at the District nelarm»l atory at Lorton, Va. This came as | the direct resuit of the 1927 tag flasco, which delayed the final distri- bution until the early Spring. The entire supply of 1928 tags has been made and delivered to the District Building, a record unrivaled while the tags were being made under private contract. The year brought about a com- paratively few changes in the admin- istrative personnel of the municipal service. The most important was the return to military service of Lieut. Col. J. Franklin Bell, one of the most popular Engineer Commissioners who ever served the District. Col. William B. Ladue succeeded him at the direc- tion of President Coolidge and, although he has been the Engineer Commissioner for less than six months, he bas familiarized himself with every function of the intricate machinery of the municipal govern- ment and has established a reputation among his colleagues as a master of detail. The only department of the munici- pal government to be affected by a drastic reorganization was the cor- poration counsel's office. At the be- ginning of the new fiscal year, July 1, Willlam W. Bride, an Internationall known lawyer, took over the corpora- tion counsel’s chair, replacing Francis H. Stephens, who was given the post of second assistant corporation coun- Architect Albert L. Harris to group them in the triangle on the north sel. Ringgold Hart became the princi- pal assistant. OIL MISTRIAL OUTSTANDING IN DISTRICT'S COURT YEAR Unquestionably the outstanding feature during the year just ended, so far as the personal and official activ- ities of President Coolidge were con- cerned, was his electrifying announce- ment last August that he did not choose to be a candidate to succeed himself as President. This startling and unexpected atti- tude on Mr. Coolidge's part com- pletely overshadowed everything else incident to his administration in 1927, Not only did this pronouncement turn the political world upside-down, but it served as the principal topic of discussion and debate, generally, throughout the country, for a long period afterward. In fact, the in- terest in the subject has mnot yet subsided. President Coolidge personally looks upon the last 12 months as most gratifying and successful from an administrative viewpoint. The coun- try as a whole, according to him. had a prosperity never exceeded; there was domestic peace and tranquillity; there was virtually no unemployment and remarkably few industrial strikes; the country continued to progress, and there was a noticeable advance- ment in the social betterment of the people at large; wages remained at a W& E Top, left to right—Commissioner Proctor L. Dougherty, chairman of the board of commissioners; missioner Col. William B. Ladue, Maj. E. W. R. C Second row from top—Capt. H. C liam . Bride, corporation counsel; George S. Third row from top—Maj. Edwin B. Hesse, superintendent of M. Towers, tax collector; John W. Childress, chairman of the Public Utilities Bottom—Ralph B. Fleharty, people’s counsel before the Public Utilities George S. Watson, chief engineer of the Fire Departmen Frank W. Ballou, superintendent of schools; William H. Harland, traffic dir ector. PRESIDENT PROUD OF NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT the President to Congress to take into consideration in its enactment of re. lief and flood-control legislation. Several of the New England States suffered somewhat similarly from heavy rainfall and high water and the resultant damage was large. The President extended Federal assistance. Vacation Incidents. If the importance of things is to be measured by public interest, the President’'s vacation in the Black Hills of South Dakota could readily be recorded as the second most im- portant feature of the President's past year. It was the first time an Executive had set up a Summer White House in the West, and it was the first time Mr. Coolidge had had a real opportunity to know that section of the country and the peo- ple. The President and Mrs, Cool- idge left Washington for the Black Hills on June 13, several weeks earlier than he started on his pre- vious vacations since occupying the White House, and did not return to this city until September 11. During that period the President continued to conduct the affairs of lice; Albert L. Harris, municipal architec Dr. George T. Bowerman, libr: high level: crops were bountiful and |the Nation, and remained away from prices generally good; the Nation re-|the executive office very few days. mained at peace with the world. |He received many business callers, f Veto. among them being: Ma). Gen. Leot St i {ard Wood. Governor General of the The Government continued along | Philippines, who died a few weeks Case Unprecedented in History Here. Busch Killing Notable Among Other Recent Trials—Justice Hoehling Quits. acy trial, | which resuited in the discharge of | the jury and the citation of Harry | ¥. Sinclair and William J. Burns and four associates on charges of con- tempt of court for alleged jury tam pering, is the outstanding feature of | & review of the proceedings of the | District courts during the year 1927. | The Meclaring of » mistrial in the celebrated case ag clair and Albert B zetary of the Interior, and the sub. seguent hearings on contempt charges ar: unprecedented in District annals, hearings will be re- n. y and the retrial of the | g scheduled for | Per of them b #inclair case 1n The conviction of first degree mur- Ger of thr young men for killing of Policen les W, Busch s another notable trial of the past year. Two colored men ulso mre under sentence of death by elec trocution, one for murder und the other for u criminal sssault on white woman in the Capitol Grounds lsst February, Flectrocution has been mubstituted for hanging by act of Congress, but the new chalr has BN yet hsd a victim because of pending sppesls in sl the cames of the condersned yen The resiguation of Adolph A MHoehling from the bench of the Dis | 1rict Bupreme Vet surprise MHie was @ e had the Court e ax 1 the bar locsl wppointment 6od distinevion of belng the first persor, U huve the unanimous Indorsement of the Jar Sor @ position on the locsl hench Me wae appointed in June, 1921, snd vetired with the end of 1927, e presided st the Fall-Doheny ” 1 and el many othe wort smen The Government won ite eivil suit wzningt John L. Phillips, former He publican Btate commitieeman from Georgha, snd others secused of con ey to defroud the Lnited tates gh the sule of surplus Army cantonments Brephens was exonerated by the de visdon of Justice Bailey. Vhilips and the others held 1o be indebted 1o the Bovernient for the profite made by have noted ppeal o the det Court of Appesls The Jucisdiction of the Court of Appesls wos Auring the past yesr ow Phe Circult Tnlted States Vulted States Oeclored the locs the power on proper enforce, set sxide or of the Federnl Trade Bome of the outstsnding The a diy generally an Distriet similar of which by & de Bupreme " teibunal 10 appiication modif Con greos [ Harry F. Fin.! Fall, former Hec- | | | largest number in it history, and the the | Amsociation | John | extablinhieq | for 10 Courts of Appesl of the the have | 1o | by y orders lons copellate tribunal during the | deputy paet year included the refusal to wllow the Capital Traction . to add $5,000,000 to its valuation, which had been permitted by the lower court, and the reversal of the lower court, which had granted an injunction against the Postmaster General to prevent a fraud order against the Tribond Sales Corporation of New York, which was conducting a chain wystemn for the sale of hoslery. A number of land grant cases were dis- poted of, some aMrming and others reversing the action of Becretary Work During the r 375 casen were docketed in the Court of Appeals, the court disposed of 279 cases, a num heing continuances from the previous year. The current calen- dar contains 224 cases. The spectal calendar, | eriminal cunes, probate matters, ! habeas corpus, mandamus, etc., has | been disposed of monthly.” The gen- | eral calendar is well in hand, with ! the outlook that cases now thereon | ready for argument will be heard dur- | ing the January and April terms. ' patent calendar is the only one that | misy be called behind, and this is due | 1 the unusual number of such cases { being docketed. ‘The court huw larke. | 1y increased the number asngned for hearing, with the result that this | calendar is being reduced. Under legislation more or less re- cent, numerous appeals from the | United Btates Bosrd of Tax Appeais | ure heing docketed, und some | the newly created Federal Iudio mission Litigation in the District Supreme | Court increased greatly in the past | twelvemonth, This was especially | notable on the law wide of the clerk's where 2078 cames were instl 1uted, us compared with 1,858 in 1926 | Mechanie's llens filed on this side to- [ tuled 1,491, an smount in excess of | 1he number filed 1n the preceding two | yenrs Wbgether. On the equity side there wis o sllght decline the number {of new sults heing only 1370, as against 1,376 lawt year et Court there were sta containing {10 1927, and bankrupt proceedings (o | talea 167 | Appraissments of estutes msde in the office of the Itegister of Wills uring 1927 totaled $11,564,696.09 In 49l cases. There were fled 1,182 | wills. Administrations were applied in 1890 cases, while there were | 244 petitlons for the wppointiment of kuardlans Certified coples were is sued to the number of 2,508, James Tanner, register of wills for many years, died and was succeeded Theodore Cogwwell, former st Victor B Mersch was ap fiwt deputy, and John was reappointed as second deputy | pointea Hhiel in the serene fashion which has dis- tinguished it throughout Mr. Cool- idge’'s more than four years at the helin. There was nothing especially outstanding in the way of legislation or administrative changes. Probably the most significant happening in the matter of legislation was the Pros) dent’s veto of the McNary-Haugen farm relief bill, his principal reason for doing w0 being his disapproval of the pricefixing and equalization fee features, and the fact that he con- sidered certain provisions of the bill as_being unconstitutional, ‘The President continued his estab. lished policy of contructive economy in Government operation. The Presi- dent reflects with great pride upon the continued reduction of the nation- al debt, which, during the past year, was reduced nearly a billion dollars, He consldered the estimated Treas- ury surplus next year to be sufficient to warrant another reduction in the tax burden of 900,000, and there- fore made a recommendation to this effect to Congress. He has since sound- ed a warning that it would be danger- oun to wlash taxes greatly beyond the amount recommend hinted that he will resort to the veto If this warning s not heeded. Plan of Navy Expa The President eaused no little prise when he approved an adiministra tlon program culling for an expan wlon of the Navy which ix estimated to cont upproximutely $500,000,000 but which Is intended to be spre; out over i period of years not definite Iy determined upon, Following closely upon the collapse of the naval Umitations parley, held in Geneva, by the United Stites, Great Br and Japun, the President's recommendation of a naval bhullding program 8 looked upon as belng il the more significant. The Vresident however, has taken patns to remove speculation aw 1o hix motives in this rewpect, e inwists that the outcome at Geneva hnd nothing to do with his decision to ark for what he de soribes us u moderste bullding pr grom, and denies making o gesturs to wart o world competition in naval bullding The only huppening during the year that resmbled anything ke a national emergency wan the disastious flood in the Misstnsippl Vall Hut although many thousands of miles were inun dated, many livew lost, nnd the loss to propesty” was tremendous, this ca- lamity wan confined Lo one section of the country. The President, however, was quick o appesl 1o the people of the Nation for contributions (o the Hed Cross for carrying out relief work and assemble the various agencles of the Federsl Government for _cooperation Vi rescue and relief work He anstgned decretary of Commerce { Hoover 1o the work of organizing the {forcen engaged in this work, and lnter directed the Aviny engineers to mako |a study of the situation, and ommend what should be do way of preventing future floods, The comprehensive veport from the engl afterward; Gen. Pershing, four mem- bers of the cabinet, a score or more Senators and Representatives, be- sides a great number of industrial, financial and political leaders. The President made a number of side trips, including a six-day tour of Yellowstone Park, It was surprising to m how- ever, that the President, after being in such close touch with the West, and after mingling freely with farm- ers and others, and having had such a eplendid opportunity to study the agricultural situation at first hand, had no definite farm relief program to present to Congress when that body convened. Moreover, he made it very plain that he was of virtually the same mind about the farm que: tion a8 he was when the subject was before Congress last Winter and the preceding Winter. There was great interest in the ad- dress the President made to the mem- bers of the Republican national com mittes assembled in the east room of the White House early in December, when, in a reiteration of his “I don't choose statement,” he made it a trifle more definite that he is most deniroun to retire to private lfe at the expiration of his term and urged the members of the committes to get busy and cast about for some one clse to be their standurd bearer In 1928, Work For World Peace. The President continued hin efforty In the interest of world peace, and in most of his public addresses he made mention gf this, nnd appealed for u better ufderstanding between tine peoples of the world, urging pa tience, tolerance and a falthful ob servance of Intornational law. While this Nation's rvelations with foreign countrion were highly satisfactory during the year, according to the President’s viewpoint, there was u ntinuation of o wlight difference with Mexico. The administration also went Marines to Nicaragua and China o protect American citigen and thelr property, Henry L. St son of New York, was sent b, President (o Nicaragua, and afterward o tlement between the Natlonul forces and the Inwurrec- tonists was effectod. This wan done, however, n the assurance of the that the United Ntates would cooperate in restoring a state of peace by glving ussistanco in the conduct of the next presidential eleo: in that the soon country I naticenble, however, thut the Iant trend of My, Coolldge’s foreign policies huw heen for the pro- motion of good will, especially bes tween thiy country und those of Cens tral und Houth America, 1o line with thiw polioy, the President ha decided to go to Havana, Cuba, th middle of January, to address the opening sesslon of the Pan-American ngress, Hesides this he has named n very natable delegation headed hy Former Heerotary of Btate Charlon 12 Hughos to vepresent the United Hiatew ut this conference. Mr. Coolidge ook a keen Interest In the New Yark-to-Paris fight of neers bas since been sulinitted by Col. Chuvles A, Limdbergh and It wan AEE- Daniel J. Donovan, auditor; D at his invitation that the young flyer came directly to Washington from Paris, and received great public ac- claim. The President had person- ally presented the Distinguished Fly- ing Cross to him, and had him and his mother as guests at the tem- porary White House during their stay in the Capital. Later in the year the President had as his lunch- eon guests at the White House a number of transoceanic flyers. The President, for several years, has shown an Increasing interest in aero- nautics, but since the transoceanic accomplishments of the past year this interest has become greater. Temporary White House. Closely following the end of the soctal season last Winter, the Presi- dent and Mrs. Coolidge moved out of the White House, which was to under- g0 extensive interior repair and alter- ations, and made their home at 15 Dupont circle, which handsome resi- dence remained as the temporary White House until President and Mrs. Coolidge left Washington for the Summer. When they returned to the capital in September the White House was in readiness for them. With the exception journey to the Black Hills and the varfous side trips during the Summer, the President did little traveling dur- ing the year. He went to New York last April, Pittsburgh, Pa., in October, and Philadelphia in November each of these occasions he made a speech. However, there were fre- quent week end trips aboa presidential yacht Mayfowe only one of these took the President beyond the mouth of the Potomac River, and that was occasioned by his review of the great fleet which passed In review in Hampton Roads. The President received the avera number of persons during his bust: ness hou but there was consider: able reduction in the so-called hand- shaking with the men, women and children who file through the Presi. dent's office almost daily. Generally the President shakes hands with each, but he was forced to confine his greet- ing to merely a bow of the head and a smile for several weeks last Spring on account of a strained lgament in his right wrist, There were approxi- mately 16,000 of these so-called hand- shakers who filed through his office during the year, which was 30,000 fower than ‘in the preceding year ‘This was due to the ban b on student groups, which formerly had been flocking to the White House in large numbers. More than 00 persons attended the various receptions at the White House during the year, which was about 8,000 lexs than in the preceding year, The custom established by the Prest. dent several Winters ago of having from time (o time a dosen or so Sen- utors or Ropresentatives as his guests at breakfast for the purpose of get- ung better ncquainted and informul to dixcuss public questions, was o tUnued durlug the past year, Appol ts to Ofice. Prealdent Coolidge made the average number of appolntments to major post: tons in the Federal Government in 1927, However, his cabinet remained Intact, and he was not called upon to make any appointments to that body. Of all hin appointments, poxsibly the #reatest publio Interost was shown in those of Dwight W. Morrow of New Jorsey, member of the ba g frm of JoP Mo . 10 suceced James R ShefMeld Ambassador to Mexico, and Hen L. Stimwon of New York, former Hocretary of War, as governor gonoral of the Phillppines to succved the late Ma). Gen, Leonard Wood, Although the President mado no ap polntments to his cabinet, it was nev camary for him to make sight appoint ments ta the “little cabinet," the nume by which the various Undersecretarie and Assistant Socretarien of the sev. oral departinents are known, Those Inoluded Robert 12, Olds of Minnesota to he Underseoretary of State; Ogden L MU, former Representative from New York, to be Undorsecretary of the Treamury; Willlam R, Cantle, fr., his eity, Francis White of Maryland and Nelson ‘T, Johnson of Oklahomn to he Awslstant Mecretavies of Ntate Honvy H, Hond of Massaohusetts A lant Hogretury of the Treasury mour Lowman of New York ta be Asnlatant Hecretary of the and Walter I, Hrawn of Ol ant Heoretary of Commerve Anong wome of other more promi of the long but an ¥ On | the | g placed | OFFICIALS WHO GUIDED DESTINY OF CITY DURING THE YEAR yuRy Commissioner Sidney F. Taliaferro, Engineer Com- ‘'ovell, senior assistant engineer commissioner; Maj. Layson E. Atkins, assis ‘Whitehurst, assistant engineer com missioner; Daniel Wilson, director of public welfare; ant engineer commissione arges, secretary to the Board of Commissioners; Wil William C. Fowler, health officer. William P. Richards, tax assessor; Commission; Henry G. Pratt, assistant superintendent of police. Commission; Mrs. Susie Root Rhodes, lan, Public Library; Melvin C. Hazen, District surveyor; Dr. Chatham supervisor of municipal playgrounds; nent appointments to the diplomatic service were Nbble B. Judah, Ill, Am- bassador to Cuba to succeed Gen. Enoch Crowder; Robert Woods Bliss of New York, Ambassador to Argen- tina to succeed Peter A. Jay: Hugh S. Gibson, California, Ambassador to Bel- liam Phillips, Minister to Canada, a new post; J. Butler Wright, Wyo. dore Brentano; Frederick A. Sterling, new post; Harold O. Mackenzie. N. J., (Minister to Siam, in place of Willlam | Russell; Leland Harrison, Illinois, Min- |ister to Sweden, in place of Robert Woods Bliss: Hugh Wilson, Minister t witzerland, in place of Hugh R. | Gibson. Evans Is Appointed. Waldo Evans, captain, U. §. N | was appointed Governor of the Virgin Islands and Stephen V. Graham, Governor of American Samoa. Ad- miral Charles F. Hughes was appointed chief of naval operations to _succeed Admiral Eberle, retired. There was considerable interest taken in the appointment of Roy A. Young of Minnesota to succeed D. R. Crissinger as a member of the Federal Reserve Board. principally because of the unexpected nature of the resignation of the latter. Mr. Crissinger, by the way, was the last | of the so-called Ohio group appointed to major places by President Harding. Among some of the other important appointments were: Eugene Meyer, New York, former director general of the War Finance Corporation, to be | chairmaun of the Federal Farm Loan | Board: Clarence M. Charest of Texas, | t0 be general counsel for the Bureau Internal Revenue, in place of W. Gregg; Clinton Rich. controller of customs, Balti- re district: Walter 0. Woods, ansas, register of the Tre: v to ceed Harley V. Speelman; Willlam Coleman, “United States Distr Judge, District of Maryland: Arthur Tyrer of this city, Commissioner of navigation, Department of Com- merce; Ephriam F. Morgan, West of Commerce; Ezra Rrainend. jr., Oklahoma, and John J. Esch of Wis. consin, members of the Interstate Commerce Commission, in_ place of Frederick I Cox: Lincoln Dixon, In. diana, o the United States Tarift Commission, In place of Henry H. Glassie; Edgar A. McCulloch, Arkan. sas, and Garland S. Ferguson, jr., North Carolina, to be members of the Federal Trade Commission, vice Hus. ton Thompson and John F. Nugent, respectivel Mra. Bessio Parker Bruexgeman, chairman of the United States Employes' Compensation Com. mission; Fay C. Brown of this city, chief examiner of the Civil Service Commission: the following members of the Federal Radio Commission, Rear Admiral W. H. G. Bullard, Ponnsylvania; C. H. Caldwell, New York; Henry A, Bellows, Minnesota: John K. Dillon, California, and Eugene Sykes, Mississippi; Harold A, Lafount, Utah, to succeed Dillon, deceased, and Sam Pickard, Kansas, in place of Hellows, resigned. Ad: miral Bullard, the chairman of this commiasion, died withtn the last few wooks and his place has not yet been filled, Denton Is Named. Willlam S, il of South Dakota was reappointed a member of the U’ N. Nhipping Board during the recess of Congress, but after the convening of Congress the President appointed Albort M. Denton, Kansas, In his Place The local appolntments wade by the President were John W, Childress and Harvison Hrand, v, to be civiltan membs of the Public Utilittes Com wission of the District: Ralph L Fleharty, to be people’s connwel of the Public Utilitles Commission; Theodore L. Conswell, (0 he register of wills of the District o sicceed the late Corporal Tanner, and Nathan Cayton Judie of the Municipal Court ln place of O V. Meehan. Adolph AL Hoehling, i, tendered his POSIRNALION (W0 Woeks Ak as associste fustive of the Supreme Court of th Diatrict of Columbia, therehy causl the fest vacaney on that bench sinve Mr. Coolidge has been Freaident During the past 13 months Presi dent Coolidee made 29 adidresses, sont thiee apecial messages (0 Congress one 1o the Governar General of the Philippines, issied (wo prockainations 1\‘\-Il.uul on Page S Column 1) | glum to succeed Willlam Phillips: Wil- Minister to Hungary. in place of Theo- Texas, Minister to Irish Free State, Major Organization HE major trade bodies of Wash- ington during the year 1927 engaged in what undoubtedly was the most engrossing eand active period in their his- tory. To an unprecedented degree the year found the trade organizations uniting on matters of importance to the District as a whole in presenting the results of their studies and their| requests to the city heads and to Con- | gress for consideration. This new era | of close co-operation brought about a | rise in the influence of the trade| bodies and tended to remove the basis for the criticism heard in the past from members of Congress that *“W do not know what the people of Wash- ington want.” Outstanding among numerous proj- | ects championed by the trade bodics | in a united way were the movements, | which have won a growing list of sup- porters in both houses of Congress, | for an equitable readjustment of the | fiscal relations of the Federal and Dis- | trict governments, with a definite rec- | ommendation for resumption of the, 60-40 apportionment plan, and an | amendment to the Cornstitution of the | United States empowering Congress to | grant to the National Capital repre- | sentation in Congress and in the elec- | toral college. Coupled with these projects also | were recommendations by the Board | of Trade, the Washington Chamber of | Commerce and the Merchants and | Manufacturers’ Association calling for a limitation on the size of the Dj !nm‘ budget for the fiscal year 1928-23 in order that the tax rate might be cut| to offset the tremendous increase in | assessment on real estate which went | into effect in July this year. This movement was upheld b Commissioners, and at the conclusion of study of the proposed budget for | the mnext fiscal year the city hea slashed the estimates of the depar | ment heads from more than $50,000.- | 000 to approximately $42.500,000. | Tax Rate Is Fixed. The trade bodies earlier in the Sum- | mer had urged that the tax rate for the present fiscal vear be held down to $165 per $100 valuation, beli < the revenues thus derived uld prove ample to cover the 19 budget. The city heads, allowing for a wider margin for deficiencies and exigen set the current tax rate on realty at $1.70, thus effecting a 10-cent reduc- tion from the rate for the past year a balf million dollars. Detajled study of the proposed budget prior to action upen it by the commissioners and the Bureau of the Budget was made possible for the firs time this year when the city heads submitted to the trade bodies figures Indicating the budget estimates asked by the department head: The trade associations also united in the movement for expansion of the industrial activities in and near Wash. ington: in making a study of the need and possibilities of the development jof an airport for Washington: in seek- ing settlement of the threatened auto- mobiie “tag war™ with Virginia which arose over the new license law of that State: and in the celebration of the opening of the new Defense Highway The three trade organizations also joined with the Washington Real Estate Board and the Arlington County Chamber of Commerce in forming the Joint Industrial Council which has as its purpose the making of an industrial survey of Washington and viclnity to determine the charac- ter and extent of possible expan: of loca! industrial a ich was deemed essential to support the grow- ing population of the District detailed survey of present manufac. turing establishments here was made and a report shortly is to be made. National Survey Made. AsS one of its outstanding projec of the year the Board of Trade made | {trict and recently promoted a | concerns now bu | has been an ardent champi the District | and making possible a saving of about | CITY TRADE BODIES END YEAR OF CO-OPERATION s of Capital Have Most Engrossing Period in History. Joint Efforts Keynote. the Board of Trade and urged a re- turn of the 60-40 fiscal arran; ent. Auto Indemnity Law Hearings. Hearings on the enactment of a proposed compuls.ry accid in- demnity law for automobile owners of the District were held by the «com- mittee of the chamber on police, fire protection and public fe by which a volume of data was ob- t ined on both =ides of the question. On recommendation of this commit- | tee, the chamber at a recent meeting indorsed the principle of the la The chamber has acti red the movement for of the industrial activit expansion of the Dis- “Buy in Washington” campaign for sup- port of local business institutions by local organizations and i pointing out that many Washington v materials an ie from out-of-town organiza that could be purchased here. In seeking expansion of the busi- ness of Washington the chamber corresponded with many light manu- facturing concerns and national busi- ness and professional organizations, urging them to locate their plants or eadquarters offices here. The cham- through appropriate committees, n of an airport for the District, 2nd encour- aged establishment of airplane manu- facturing plants in this vicinity. As one of its major activities, the chamber has sought eradication of the “diploma mill” schools incor- | porated here, and its committee on universities, colleges and private schools recently drafted a license law | for educational institutions which now | is be chamber directors for The chamber, through . also has studied t! mal parks. libraries and other improvements, and in- 'Z’r:rfied the proposed new vagrancy w. Buying Movement Promoted. he Merchants and Manufac: ociation was active in pr the work of the Joint Industri. | ¢il, supporting the “Buy in Was! ton” movement, urging esta of an airport here, and played a part in seeking sol tag war™ { with Virginia. and has been engaged in a study of the mea of bringing about a community chest plan for | financing local charitable and social service work. The merchan association adve- | cated the widening of a | downtown stree ning posed any Zasoline 2 | bill for workmen's compensat indorsed the proposed ena | automobile accide: ure for Washington. During the vear the membership of {the M. & M. increased 50 per cem having now on its roster about 3i9 of business cor o i ! Trade re 1 M. an | the associa | merging ear! | F Iy merged other new The associat hment of a | for students of were giv tory ege of such space for load- | ing and unloading of cars. The M. & sponsored test runs by companies of the oi n with t he fire in com- he fire engine contest a national tax survey comparing the | TUnS held under adspices of The Sta: tax burden and governmental i u Bere with 80 of the larger eitios Mo b Nation and showing the pec Y CTah ot Waat situation in Washington arising out of | ho the location of the National Capital] pur s bere. The survey. which was accorded | o - the approval of the Detroit Burean of | cos! es of the ! uliar tax | pag Virginia, solicitor for the Department | { Governmental Research, showed Washington stands second in the }i of cities for per capita assessment and that Washington, although dis tinctly not an industrial city, is four teenth in the list for per capita tax paid. A comprehensive studv of the {facts produced by this survey was | prepared by the municipa committee. of which Jo: Jr.. is chairman, showin {mental costs here are how govern: much larger | than in cities of comparable sige. & ; The tax urvey, ) earlier studies for the Board of Tre Wwill be used in presentation of jcase of Washington to Congress | session and it is planned to keep fax data up-todate vear by year similar surveys X Natfonal represent ington has been ac the Board of Trade with other organi resentation in the citizen: mitiee on national representatio added encouragement for ear! proval of the project has joently with indorseme |of the movement by | National Councit of | tures the he by by in tion Alrport Here Urged. The Board of Trade joined w other groups in urging estadblishm Of an afrport here, but added the Viso that the cost of such & project Which to a large degree would be for the benefit of the Federal departments here, should be divided equitahly be- tween the local and Federal Govern ments. The board was active in the sty of & means of vidding the District educational - institutions of the “ds Ploma mill” type and indorsed a law Proposing leensing of sehools and | colleges prepared by & committen of the Chamber of (o mence The Boand of Trade also is on recont | In faver of enactment of & moditted form of the Baumes law, for an i | rease of 100 in he persen ! of the Pulica Departoavent and for addition of | 10 passenger automobiles for the serv- | |loe of the Detective Burean, for en | actment of a workmen's compensa ton law along lines of the measure wponsored by Representative Under RUL for & new vakrancy lw with Creeth™ i it and other prajects. | The Chamber of Commerve, tn ad | dltlon to minig with other wgant sationa in the movement for roadiust WORE Of (he tax plan heve, proposed | [that w seientific investigation be made | A8 to what the dettnite diviston ot | vosts us betweon the Federal and to | cal governments shoukl be and furiher | Proposed the estahlishment of a new | *cheme for planning of the Anancial | outlays af the ¢ty on the basis of & 8 or 10 vear program i onder that | POUIMNENE Iprovements for the tw | tre might not cause sudden amt dis ARIEOUS Increases i (he tax burden, u[ [Alse was suggested that & tharoush | | vestizution b made o determine | |the amounts included in the hwal | Dudget which go for Pederal Govern: | WMONE Noedts as diatinguished fam dis LHnetly oty requirements. The eham. ber indorsed (he (Al suvvey made by | | resulted fron [ have beon slow f the &2 out by the bure ington this fo promo DO permiy k ates haw SRy laws nd commisstons, CORONER INVESTIGATED TS Cases of Vialence Awmong Im| Quiries Made dy OfMcial This Year. Ay Nevitt, Districe deputy coroner, Rogers, investigated 1IN persons during el Inquiries running o from ¥ ner, and Joseph 1\ deaths nast yew range munder. Inguests were conducted ¢ dor cases and two 1w cases. exclusive of these drivers of vehichs wWhich death - were Rl fur grand A total of @ N which death o were s of o . v Rated and $43 report were inguired {v — >~ . RAILROADS BUY LESS. One of the Was exper ment wmanuty ders ree With the substantia AR Purchases of WSt vears siuee 1904 atrast duving done i And Rvomodives manths, and the ARNTOERle output of Delght care and Rwmotive companies will Sl fur e NIW ARY rent vear, eavept (1831 This is due Migely 0 the cperacng SMCRBCY Of he raiineads. which are I exvellent physical condition at Mwsent. It i belioved that this ek cloncy and the tagroved quality of the cars and Reamotives (usiied ost DAVe permianently Nasened the wie MUAL FepRACRIent teeds of many s, O the basis of dbookingw ta the Mt 10 wmeaths of 187 culv 4898 CATE were andered. and the todal few the Year prodadly will il gedee SO000 for cars and adout #00 for hwen Wotives, as compared with 1343 R WOLves W Vear wge Frelght car p chases in 1904 l:fnk\! A\L‘Tu ™ «@‘*