Evening Star Newspaper, December 31, 1934, Page 3

THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, MONDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1934. ' Some Reasons Why the Nation B”R"S ABANDUNS Should Contribute to Capital’s Maintenance and Upbuilding An Equitable Obligation Is Based on Nation’s Great Bounties to States in Which POLTESFORGDOD Kansan Says He Has Had About All He Could Have. By the Associated Press. Charles Curtis, the grizzled veteran for whom Kansas Republicans waved banners and demanded the presidency in 1928, said yesterday he was “defi- nitely out of politics.” “I am practic- ing law and en- joying life,” said the man who was Vice President less than two years ago. “I don't have the worries of politics and make more money. I went to Mexico last year and Ttaly this. I don’t oy whete STU Charles Curtis g0 next. “No; I don’'t want to talk apout politics,” he smiled in response to a question. “I have no desire for any further political office. I have had about all that I could have had except the presidency.” e His voice took on a reminiscent note. He paused for a moment—long enough for his mind to have taken a quick glimpse of the career back of the man, county attorney, Represent- ative, Senator and Vice President un- der Herbert Hoover. He was on Capitol Hill 38 years. He talked about Mexico and some of the leisurely customs he found there. He discussed Italy and what Mussolini is doing. 3 “Everybody is working there and seemed to be happy,” he said, “but wages seemed to be low.” As he talked, he looked out across a mahogany desk upon a room fur- nished with a cathedral-like dignity. There was a figure of Abraham Lin- coln atop a desk; a bust of George ‘Washington looked down from atop a bookcase, a picture of John J. Pershing, and—apart from other furniture, a chair. An inscription across the elaborately carved back read: “To our Vice President, Charles Curtis.” “It is a beautiful chair,” he agreed, “it was given me by a Curtis-for- President club in 1928. All hand carved. They tell me its mahogany.” He let his hand rest on an arm of the high-backed chair for a moment. “But it might be walnut. It doesn’t smell like walnut, though.” MILITARY RULES CITY Cuban Medics’ Meeting in Car- denas Takes Political Turn. CARDENAS, Cuba, December 31 (#)—The military took over the city last night and all persons were or- dered barred from the streets after midnight after the right wing of the medical convention outvoted the left- ists and elected Dr. Jose Bisbe, presi- dent. ” Twenty-two policemen were dis- charged after the explosion of several bombs in the city. The convention of the National Medical Federation took a decidedly political turn from the start with the left and right wings in bitter debate. 25 DIE AS BOAT SINKS TAMPICO, Mexico, December 31 (#).—At least 25 women and children drowned today in the sinking of a passenger launch in the Panuco River north of here. The boat, en route to Tampico, struck a submerged obstruction as it pulled into the landing at El Caracol and sank within a few minutes. All the men aboard, their number not determined, were believed to have reached shore, but the women and children were swept away in the swift currents. SPECIAL NOTICES. OFFICE OF THE FIREMEN'S INSURANCE Company of Washington and Georgetown, 03 Seventh street nortawest, Washington. D. C. The stockholders of the Firemen's Insurance Comga Washington and Georgetown _ will at the office on MONDAY. January 7. 1935. for the purpose of electing thirteen directors for the en- suing year. Polls open from 11 a.m. to 12 noon. ALBERT W. HOWARD, Secretal THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE_STOCK: holders of A S. Pratt & Sons. Inc.. will be held at the offices of the company, 815 15th st. n.w. Washington. it 11 o'clock a.m.. on Tuesday_J 3 e 7% G. C. TRUE. Secretary. THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE SHARE- holders of the Home Building Association for the election of officers and directors and such other business as may properly come before the meeting will be held Tuesday. January 8. 19> o at the office of on. Pennsylvania Avenue N.W Books now open for subscription to shares of the 50th Series. Payments S1 per month per share, ___JAMES M. WOODWARD. Secretary. A NOTICE 1S HEREBY GIVEN THAT THE American Security & Trust Co. has de- clared a regular dividend of = per cent on its capital 'k of $3.400,000. payable January 10. 1935. to the stockholders of record at the e of business on Decem- r 3 033 The annual meeting of the stockholders of said company. for the elec- tion of directors for the ensting year, the presentation of the annual report of the gres:dem and the transaction of such other usiness as may properly come before them, will be held at the office of the company in the city of Washington. D. C.. on Tues- 1935. at 12 o'clock n be open until 12 o e, transter books of company_will be closed from January 6 to XK! 15th. both davs included. CORCORAN g‘HOI\L " resident. FREDERICK P. H. SIDDONS R Secretary. THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE STOCK- holders of the American Building Associ- ation will be_held at the office of the association. 300 Pennsylvania _ave southeast. on ‘Thursday. January 3. 1 between the hours of ¢ and 7 o'clock p. for the election of officers and directors for the ensuing year and for the transaction ©of such business as may properly come before the meeting CHARLES H. KINDLE, RS T NOTICE 1S HEREBY GIVEN THAT THE annual meeting of the stockholders of the ashingten American League Base Ball Club will be held at the offices of the club, Base Ball Park. Washington, D. C.. on Wednesday, Janiary 2. 1035, at 12 o'¢clock noon. for the purpose of electing a board of directors for the ensuing year, and for such other business as may properly be brought before said meeting.’ EDWARD B, EYNON, Jr,. Secretary THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE STOCK- holders of the National Savings ind Trust Company for the election of directors and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before it will be held at the office of the company. northeast corner of 15th street and New York avenue northwest. on Tuesday. January 8. 1935, at 4 o'clock pm, H. PRESCOTT GATLEY. President. E’_PERCIVAL WILSON. Secretary. T WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY debts other than my own. THOMAS 1. CHASE. 1338 V_st. n.w.. A S _MOVING LO. pm.. 2008 he th Since 1898 DAVIDSON & STORAGE CO.._Decatur 2500. WEEELY TRIPS TO AND FROM BALTI- more; also trips Jithin 24 hours® notice to n_Un: ates, SMITH' TRANSFER & STORAGE CO. North 3343, ELECTRICAL 2FPAR5. A% wiring. Electric 8hop on Wheels, Inc., have shops all over town to serve you. See your Telephone Di- rectory for hranch n=arest you or call Wis- consin 4821. No job _too small or too large. NO DELIVERIES MADE TUESDAY, JAN. 1, 1935. SAMUEL C. PALMER CO., 1066 WISCONSIN AVE. GOOD ROOF WORK —by practical roofers at moderate SONG. Hobpiiimate, Gall us up! KOONS GOurant Norn idss: Capital Does Not Share, THEODORE This is the fourth of a series of articles which will present, with a few omissions and sub. stantial additions, the address of Theodore W. Noyes on “Fis- cal Equity for Washington” at the recent Oldest Inhabitants’ dinner. Yesterday’s article discussed the obligations based upon pay- ments from local revenues for national or semi-national pur- poses and upon District’s heavy payment of national (internal revenue) tares. Nation's Bounty to States Not Shared by Capital. 5. Equitable obligation to pay for Capital upbuilding in lieu of hun- dreds of millions of grants, bounties, subsidies paid by the Nation to the States from national tax revenues to which District contributes more than any one of half of the States, in a distribution from which the Capital has been barred. Figures in detail, both ot amounts paid into the Treasury as national taxes and drawn from the Treasury in grants, bounties and subsidies by the District and by the several States in the fiscal year ending June 30, 1931, are presented in statistical tables in the booklet prepared by the Citizens’ Joint Committee on District Fiscal Relations. In an article by George B. Galloway in Editorial Research Re- ports (January, 1931) the whole sub- ject is thoroughly and ably discussea. ‘These figures are shown to emphasize the numerous and large Federal sub- sidies to the States which are not ex- tended to the District of Columbia, creating benefits to the States which are not enjoyed or participated in by the District. These figures strongly emphasize the Nation’s obligation to increase largely its annual payment for Na. tional Capital maintenance and up- building, which has been reduced by substantive law from 50 per cent to 40 per cent and today by appropriative practice under the lump-sum payment plan is only about 17 per cent of the total appropriation figure for the District. Federal Aid Given to the States. Discussing Federal subsidies to the States, Mr. Galloway points out that under its power to appropriate money for general purposes the Fed- eral Government from its earliest days “has assumed the responsibil- ity of rendering financial and adminis- trative assistance to the State. The practice of greating subsidies to the States from the Federal Treasury be- gan with the land ordinance for the Northwest Territory in 1785 and has continued down to the present time. Congress has made grants to the States, particularly from the sale of public lands for schools, roads and canals. Today the whole field of re- lationship created by these subsidies is covered in minute regulations reached by agreement between Stata and Federal authorities. In receni years Congress has actuslly entered the domain of State and local govern- ment and has created new organs ci administration which, in a strict | sense, are neither Federal nor State | in character.” Mr. Galloway points out that from modest grants of land or money for the maintenance of public schools. for universities, for use as seats of gov- ernment or to defray the cost of erecting public buildings, for reclama- tion or aid to the States in building canals, to stimulate railroad construc- tion and for internal improvements. the system of Federal aid to the States hasexpanded untilof recent years there are thirty-one classes of Federal aid payments made annually at a total cost to the Federal Government of about $150,000,000 a year. Except in cases where the basis of expenditures or allotments is wholly Federal, it is generally required that the State must equal the expenditures of the Na- tional Government. Growth of the Subsidy System. The rapid growth of the Federal aid system is shown by a comparison of the payments during the last 20 years. In 1912 this total was approxi- mately $8,000,000. By 1920 it had risen to $42,000,000, by 1922 to $134,- 000,000 and by 1927 to $163,000,000, the high-water mark of the payments up to the present time. During the fiscal years 1920 to 1930, inclusive, Mr. Galloway points out, Federal aid pay- ments reached the grand total of $1,453,676,224, almost one and a half billion dollars. Of this huge sum more than $833,000,000, or 57 per cent, went for the co-operative construction of highways; over $275,000,000, or 19 per cent, went to the National Guard; over $64,000,000, or 4.4 per cent, was devoted to co-operative agricultural extension work, and an equivalent amount to co-operative vocational education and rehabilitation. These four activities together accounted during the period for about 85 per cent of the Federal aid appropriations, highway construction being the chief beneficiary of the system. Only in the fund for National Guard is the District of Columbia represented as being a beneficiary. In article No. 1 of this series the heavy re- sponsibility of the Nation in respect to the development of the extraordinary street plan of Washington is demon- strated. In national aid to highway construction the highways of the Dis- trict should not have been overlooked. In the educational, health and gen- eral welfare-promoting subsidies and the other miscellaneous items of donation the District was also In equity entitled to participate. Paid to and by United States. ‘The same inequality in this distribu- tion of the Federal revenue is shown as has been indicated in the collection of that revenue. In fiscal discussion it has been found of interest to compare what Washington pays into and re- ceives from the National Treasury ND | with what is similarly paid into and received from the National Treasury by some of the States. ‘Table B, Statistical Booklet of the Citizens’ Joint Committee on Fiscal Relations, using the figures of 1931, shows that 11 States, aggregating less combined internal revenue taxes than the District, received more in subsidies than they paid in taxes— some of them much more. Three of these States received more than six times as much in subsidies as they paid in taxes. Two received more than three times as much; two more than twice as much and three approxi- mately one and one-half times as much as they paid. The District’s re- ceipts (the lump sum) were only 65 per cent of its national tax payments. The lump sum payment is not a subsidy but the just payment of an e roo. | W, NOYES. equitable obligation, though treated as & subsidy in these comparisons. The constitutionality of the subsidies to the States has been vigorously attacked, but the constitutionality of national payments to meet the national obli- gation in respect to the seat of gov- ernment has never been questioned. Emergency-Relief Subsidies Under the New Deal. The employment-reliet policy of the administration, the aim of which has been to grant or to lend money to States, and municipalities for employ- ment-creating enterprises, has included the District of Columbia, and the Dis- trict has shared modestly in some of the distributions. From July, 1932, to May, 1933, the Reconstruction Finance Corp. ad- vanced $300,000,000 for relief pur- poses to the States,"to Hawaii and to Puerto Rico. Originally intended to be repaid by deductions from fu- ture Federal highway grants, Congress later eliminated the required repay- ment, making grants out of the ad- vances (except a small amount loaned to cities). The District was not per- mitted to share in the distribution of such grants. Between May 23, 1933, and October 31, 1934, the District shared in the direct-grant policy of the Federal Emergency Relief Administration, nor- mal community needs having been ag- gravated in the meantime by the fact that this is the National Capital and that extraordinary numbers of tran- sients were attracted here. During the period in which the F. E. R. A. was dis- tributing $1,337,488,226 to the States for relief the District received $7,789,562, an amount exceeded by 39 of the States. For the United States as a whole the Federal Government fur- nished 65.6 per cent, the States (in- cluding cities) having furnished 34.4 per cent. The District’s contribution was 327, almost equal to the total average and higher than the average for cities alone (20.3 per cent). More than half the States received a greater percentage of Federal funds than the District. The need for local relief funds is indicated in the extraordinary fact that an estimated 15 per cent of the District’s population is on the relief rolls. Forty per cent of the Negro population of the city is now receiv- ing relief, and 4 per cent of the white population. In C. W. A relief the District re- ceived $5,587,180 out of the $812,- 157,704 distributed for this purpose. Much of the work done was under the supervision of Federal authorities, in the improvement of Federal property, done without regard to municipal needs. Up to November 1, 1934, the Agri- cultural Adjustment Administration paid to the farmers of the land, in rental and benefits, some $421,697,- 389. The District, which paid into the United States Treasury for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1934, about $326,635 in special processing taxes from which the payments were made, did not share in the distribution of benefit payments. Permitted to Share Road Fund. The National Government made a welcome departure from previous pol- icy when it included the District in its emergency distribution for highway improvement, the District, on the basis of the distribution formula (area and population and mileage of rural mail delivery routes) receiving $2,892, - 311 of the $600,000,000 distributed. This was the first time in 18 years of Federal highway aid that the District was included. The amount received was less than that received by any of 45 of the States. The District has not fared as well under the lending program of the Public Works Administration. Al- though Congress authorized the Dis- trict to borrow about $10,000,000, the Public Works Administration has loaned the District only $7,259,500— more than a million of which was, de- ducted for repayment from the cur- rent year’s lump sum, after being ac- cepted by the Commissioners with the understanding that it was a grant. The repayment of 70 per cent of the loan is secured by a clause in the authorizing act which earmarks 10 cents of the tax rate to assure pay- ment of not less than a million dol- lars a year. The District’'s loans of $7,259.000 may be compared with $798,985,383 of non-Federal projects loaned or given as grants to the States and municipalities. Of grants for Federal projects total- ing about $1,145,000,000, some $31,- 000,000 has been granted for Federal projects in the District. This money has been used chiefly in the Federal building program. In this connec- tion, most of the money appropriated for public buildings in the District is said to go into the States for pur- chase and fabrication of materials. In an unofficial estimate of the distri- bution of funds for the new Depart- ment of Commerce, Post Office and Interstate Commerce Commission Buildings, it was revealed that only $3,000,000 of a total of $21,000,000 spent on these structures was spent in ‘Washington. The remainder was shared by 28 of the States, which supplied or fabricated the material, or the railroads which transported the msterial. The Public Works Administration authorities contend that it is impos- sible to break down the great relief expenditures by States. Some of the projects, such as irrigation, reclama- tion, flood control, river and harbor imprpvement, Tennessee Valley im- provement, and even the building of warships for the Navy, are spread in benefits over great areas, and the re- ceipts of such expenditures are shared among the people of many of the States. The expenditure of New Deal billions has been beneficial in Wash- ington, as elsewhere, in providing some employment, although Washington has an acute relief problem of its own which continues to be serious and which is proving a heavy burden on local revenues. These, however, are emergency penditures. Under normal expendi- tures the Disirict is slighted in re- spect to the distribution of bounties, subsidies and grants which are shared by the and denied to the Dis- trict. is a real and continuing obligation by the National Government to coniribute to the maintenance and development of its National Capital which arises from the normal policy of eliminating District from partic- ipation in distribution of such grants and benefits. A Just Policy to the District Is Urged. Loans and donations to the States and the ict under the New Deal, actually made as well as authorized, are not yet'in shape to be definitely and finally calculated and compared. It the District contribution to na- tional taxes continues to be greater than the contribution of any one of half of the States; greater than the contribution of nine or ten of the States combined and more per capita than all of the States except seven or eight, the District taxpayers’ contribu- tion, when the time comes to repay the billions in loans made to the United States to enable it to grant the sub- sidies to the States, will be something staggering and startling. On the other hand, the dispensers of New Deal subsidies have in a measure recognized the equity of classing the District among the States in distrib- uting these subsidies. The District people would have to pay the national taxes, however large they may become, whether or not they share in this dis- {ribution. They are, therefore, grate- fully appreciative of this recognition and of the opportunity to participate with the States in the emergency dis- tribution and hope that similar rec- ognition of the District’s equity will follow in the’case of other classes of fiscal discrimination in the past, in- cluding those which have been dis- cussed in these articles. From recognition of the right to participate like a State in the dis- tribution of donations and loans, the District is encouraged to hope for rec- ognition by the Nation of the national equitable obligation as by far the largest District real estate owner (untaxed); as the despotic controller of the seat of Government and as the recipient of more national taxes from the District than from 24 of the States. We hope that recognition of these equities will be followed by some measure of reimbursement as by in- creasing, equitably and substantially, the annual lump sum payment, if that appropriative practice is still retained. The Nation, under the New Deal, has been quick to recognize every con- ceivable obligation to the States and to assume many new omes, liberally appropriating thousands of millions to meet them. We hope that in following these precedents the Nation will also recognize and meet those just and con- tinuing obligations toward the District which have been discussed in these articles and for which we are urgently petitioning. Tomorrow’s article will discuss the obligation of the local tarpay- ers to contribute toward mainte- nance of the Capital and the yard- stick with which the comparative tax burdens of cities can be most accurately measured. A. A. A. EXPECTS TO PAY FARMERS $476,000,000 3,000,000 Growers Estimated Ready to Receive Rental and Benefit Checks in 1935. By the Associated Press. The A. A. A. estimates that $476.- 000,000 in rental and benefit payments will go in 1935 to more than 3,000,000 farmers who co-operate for a “con- trolled expansion of production.” ‘The Farm Administration predicted that $88,600,000 will be allotted to cot- ton, $54,600,000 to wheat, $249,800,000 to corn-hogs, $32,000,000 to tobacco, | $47,000,000 to sugar and $4,000,000 to peanuts. These amounts include pay- | ments still due on 1934 adjustment | programs and part of the payments to be made on new projects. “Present indications are that the 1935 income from the sale of farm | products, plus rental and benefit pay- ments, will show some advance over the 1934 level,” the A. A. A. said. “The exteAt of the advance, however, depends on the rate of further increase | in industrial activity, a rise in national income and a recovery of foreign | markets.” CHICAGO WOMAN SLAIN, POLICE SEEK HUSBAND “I Did It to End Her Misery,” Reads Note Found in Sick Room of Victim. By the Associated Press. CHICAGO, December 31.—Mrs. Isa- bella Hartz, 34, was found dead last night in her north side home, a cord knoted about her neck and her skull crushed with a flatiron. Police said they found a note in the house, presumably written by a man, in which he said he was “going east.” They immediately began a search for the woman's husband, Wal- ter J. Hartz. The note read: “I am sorry, but I did it to end her misery,” and con- cluded with a hint at suicide. ‘The presence of medicine bottles, pills and powders in the room was explained by Dr. Elizabeth B. Morrill, who said she had been treating Mrs. Hartz for a cardiac ailment. RSSAIITTTTIT LIBERTIES UNION |Objectives for 74th Congress | Outlined by Byrns and Snell| Speaker-to-Be Declares|G. O. P. Leader Believes ASKS LEGISLATION Roosevelt’s Support Sought for Eight-Point Pro- gram. By the Associated Press. The American Civil Liberties Union forwarded to President Roosevelt to- day an outline of eight legislative pro- posals for which it asked administra- tion support. ‘ Describing them as dealing with “fundamentals of liberty on which Democratic processes rest,” the organ- ization’s memorandum offered the co- operation of all the groups interested in the proposals in framing necessary legislation. The recommendations were: “1, To clear up present confusion over labor’s rights by outlawing com- pany-controlled unions; by requiring employers to enter into contractural relations with unions representing a majority of the employes, and by lodg- ing final power of decision in the Na- tional Labor Relations Board. Would Unionize Farm Hands. “2, To bring agricultural workers, now without protection, under the provisions for collective bargaining like other wage workers. “3. 'To urge an investigation by a committee of the Senate of the so- called vigilantes and other lawless elements which have attacked strik- ers, raided their quarters, destroyed their property without rebuke or pro- ceedings against them by local or Federal officials. “4. To amend our present restric- | tive immigration laws to admit to the United States political and religious refugees from foreign tyrannies. “5. We urge upon you the principle providing equal facilities on all radio stations for the advocates and oppo- nents of any public issue in precisely the same way as candidates for public office are now permitted to have equal access to these facilities. Anti-Lynch Bill Urged. “‘6. Three years ago Congress changed the system under which matter im- ported from abroad is controlled. In place of censorship by custom officials, decisions are now made by judges or juries in the Federal courts. The sys- tem has worked admirably. We urge that it be extended to the Post Office Department, since juries are a fairer means for determining the public atti- tude on ‘obscenity’ or ‘sedition’ than a single solicitor of the department. “7. We urge that the administra- tion back a bill to permit Federal prosecution of lynchers where State officials fail to act. “8. We urge the replacement of Navy rule by civilian administrations in all American colonies. with forms of civil government. Similarly we urge the appointment of natives as Governors in order to minimize the effects of unsympathetic rule by aliens.” —_— \TWO PRIESTS DEAD AT ST. JOSEPH’S Funeral Held for Brother Andrew, Former St. John's President, and Brother Fabrician. Brother Andrew, 74, teacher of mathematics and accounting at St. Joseph’s Normal Institute in Ammen- dale, Md, and former president of St. John's College here, and Brother Fabrician, 78, teacher of literature and philosophy, died there Friday. Brother Andrew before he joined in 1883 the Order of Christian Broth- ers, one of the teaching orders of the Roman Catholic Church, was Robert P, Brennan. He leaves two sisters and two brothers in Ireland, where he was born. b Brother Fabrician, who nad been connected with the order since the age of 6, was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., as John R. Delaney. He is survived by a nephew, Lieut. James Delaney, U. S. N, retired, of Westmont, N. J. Brother Andrew, who had been at Ammendale for about five years, and Brother Fabrician, who had lived there for the last 10, had been 1Il for some time and they died only a few hours epart. Brother Andrew had been seriously ill a week from a stroke. Brother Fabrician died of a heart attack. In their long lives of service, both men had taught in Rockhill Col- lege at Ellicott City, Md. which burned down recently; at Calvert Hall College in Baltimore, at St. Thomas’ College in Screnton and in St. John's College in Washington. Brother An- drew served as president of St. John's from 1910 to 1913. Funeral services were conducted in the Normal School chapel Saturday by Rev. Austin Flemming, chaplain. Burial was in the institution’s ceme- tery. LAWYERS® BRIEFS RUSH PRINTING BYRON 8. ADAMS SN R RS R ST TR ST RS, A CENTURY OF SERVICE TO WASHINGTONIANS THROUGH For the accommodation of our customers, we will re- main open until 9:30 p.m. today. Corsage Bouquets Shoulder Bouquets . and Wrist Bouquets INC, 1407 H St. N.W. good enough THE GENERATIONS For three generations members of the King family have built their business on confidence—confidence that only the finest fuel and the highest type of heating service are their customers. prompt courteous delivery of freshly CONFIDENCE to meet the needs of Call us today for screened uniformly sized anthracite. Just Phone Us— District 8223 WILLIAM KING @ SON COAL MERCHANTS ESTABLISHED 1833 1151 16th STREET R T R 2901 K STREET R 2 A Session Will Unify Democrats. Reoresentative W. Byrns, Tei iessee Democrat, who is considered certain to be Speaker of the House in the Seventy-fourth Congress, open- ing Thursday, has written for the Ass0- sciated Press the following pre-view of the session. BY JOSEPH W. BYRNS. (Copyright, 1934, by the Associated Press.) ‘The many big problems that are the job of the Seventy-fourth Congress will make it one of the outstanding sessions in history. Joseph There is no doubt in my mind either but that the outcome will serve to weld the Democratic party into a unified ‘whole. Many things that the new Congress must settle will be con- troversial. Some may cause ex- tended and wide- spread debate. But in the end the Democrats, who have such overwhelming control in both the House and Senate, will work together. A glance at some of the problems in store show the broad scope of the necessary work. Relief Is Uppermost. ‘There is, probably, at the top of the list the question of relief. Since the depression started and our party took | control the Federal Government has assumed the leadership in this ques- tion, following a President who de- creed—and wisely—that none should starve. But that system cannot be continued forever. Business is improving and things generally are looking up. It will be one of our tasks to determine whether and how to taper off the Fed- eral Government’s activities. Social Legislation Pressing. In that tapering off we approach another of our biggest problems— social legislation. All sorts of job insurance and old-age pension plans are proposed, and there will be others. ‘The Seventy-fourth Congress must decide which of the many plans will be most satisfactory, and which should be enacted, if any. That decision must be reached after mature con- sideration of all the factors involved. Another big job, of course, will be extending some of the benefits that went to industry and labor under temporary phases of the national in- dustrial recovery act. Some call for a continuation of codes, some plead for extension of the collective bargain- ing features of the recovery act. These are but a few of the major questions ahead. The Seventy-fourth Congress will be competent to find correct answers to them. Representative Byrns A Letter to the New York Times d| MUNICIPAL ELECTRIC PLANT. Proposal Is Called Unwarranted Use of | It we decide that it is for the best Social Legislation Is Major Job. Representa‘ive Bertrand H. Srell of New York, regarded as the prohable | choice for Republican leader in the House, which convenes mext Thursdav, lteis in the (oliowing articie, written foF the Associated Press, his opinign of his varty’s function during the session. BY BERTRAND H. SNELL. | (Copyright, 1934, by the Associated Press.) The Republicans in the new House | lack any intention of becoming ob- structionists and opposing legislative proposals simply because they are ad- vanced by the opposition party. Numer ically, we are in a mi- nority. But we represent 46 per cent of the peo-| ple who voted in the last election. As represent- atives of that 46 per cent, we have a duty to perform. Many things of far-reaching na- ture will be pro- posed. Some will reach a vote on the House floor. Many will not. All should be sub- jected to a test of merit, pure and simple. Will vest Each Measure. In a few words, our program and our duty will be to judge each issue and each legislative proposition, on | its merits—and then act accordingly. Bertrand Snell interests of the country as a whole, we will support it, regardless of where it originated. If we conclude that it would be harmful, we will oppose it. ‘There will be, for instance, social legislation. Personally, and speaking ! for myself only, I have believed for years that there should be some form of job insurance. To my mind, however, job insur- ance should be a three-way plan— employer, employe and State gov-! ernment. The Federal Government should not take part except, pos- your old | ,rinkets, jewelery | and watches into MONEY at A.Kahn Jnc. Arthur J. Sundlun, Pres. 42 YEARS at 935 F STREET Taxpayers’ Money. To the Bditor of The Now Commissioner Davi peassioned radio plea York Times: idson made an im- to save the city and the nation through lower rates for electricity. per cent saving to Why such bunk when a 50 the average house- Lolder would be no more than 5 cents a day—the price of a morning and eve- ning New York newspapar? Why not devote his time and efforts to more efficient management of what the city now operates—for example, the elimina- tion of the recent 50 per cent surcharge on city water rates? He spoke in glowing terms of the elec- tric rate pronouncements of the Tennes- see Valley Authority and the New York Power Authority. purely " theoretical? operation for almost Did it ever occur to him that their pronouncements are TVA has been in & year but no oper- ating statements have been made pub- lic. Why not an audit by certified pub- lic accountants to get at the real facts? This is compulsory for private com- panies. . Mr. Davidson promises that his munic- ipal plant will save after five or six years. money for the city t excuse has he to add to the taxpayers’ burden now? How can he honestly promise a saving six years from now when he does not even know he will be in office? How does he know that his successor will not be & butcher, a baker or a candiestick maker? To the victors belong the spoils in our form of government, and worse selections for office have been known to satisty political party debts. * Why all this nation-wide ballyhoo aboul electric service rales, anyhow? What other industry can boast such a steady and uninler- rupled downward revision of prices for whal il sells? Is it conceivable that every one of the thousands of officers of these ulilities is dis- honest, as some politicians would have us believe? If nol, would nol at least one of these have caused rales to be as low as the promises of the politician? Practically all States have regulafory commissions. Is il conceivable that all of these elecled officials and appoiniees are dishonest? If not, why has nol at least one of #hese Siate commissions caused electric rafes {0’ be as low as the proponenls of polilieal ownersiip and operation now promise? Isn't it about time lo get back lo common sense on this whole issue? - Can it be that all this attack on the electric utility industry for lower rates & selfish did for votes? What pen when the people learn that just a smoke screen to cover up the reckiess expenditure and waste of political mismanagement in general? DISGUSTED CITIZEN. New York, Dec. 24, 1934, This letter is reprinted because it clearly expresses some of the fundamentals of this problem which have been entirely overlooked and forgotten by those in official places and others who have been cccupying the pages of the papers and the time of the radio. This advertisement is paid for by the American Security Owners Association with funds supplied by a discouraged owner of public utility securities, w A_S sibly, in a supervisory eapacity. My own State of New York alrczdy has an old-age pension act. Opposes Inflation. At all events, we must guard against plans for unlimited currency inflation, which would work e hard- ship on all the wage earners in the Nation. We must guard against fur- ther tinkering‘ with our monetary system. We should try, as rapidly as pos- sible, to get the Government out of business, to reduce its “emergency” expenditures, and to restore it to & sound financial basis. We cannot continue indefinitely, without dire ;flecu. to spend money we do not ave. SOROPTIMISTS TO HEAR SENATOR L. J. DICKINSON Iowan Will Be Honor Guest at Triple Installation Banquet of Officers - s, Senator L. J. Dickinson of Iowa will be honor guest and speaker Sate urday night at the triple installation banquet of the officers of the Wash= ington, Montgomery County and Bal- timore Soroptimist clubs at the Wil- lard Hotel. This includes all of the South Atlantic region Miss Marjorie Webster of Washinge | ton, Miss Blanche Corwin of Mont- gomery County and Miss Laura Woodward of Baltimore will be in« stalled as presidents, with their ate tendant officers. Mrs. Edna Knight Gasch of the ‘Washington Club will be toastmistress and Mrs. Jean Bennett, regional di- rector of the South Atlantic region of the American Federation of So- roptimist Clubs, will install the of- ficers. Invocation will be given by J. George Carl of Baltimore. Erna Embrey will sing several selections. Ecuadorean Revenues Soar. Government revenues in Ecuador are much greater than a year ago. “See Etz and Sec Better” A constantly increasing clientele, gained through satisfactory work, entitles our services to your con- sideration when you are thinking of getting glasses. ETZ Optometrists 1217 G St. N.W. Your Last Chance to 1935 Christmas Club % Enrollments Close on Saturday January 5 A dollar a week is little to pay for a happy, carefree Christmas day. == American Security & Trust Co Anaco Bank Bank of Commerce & Savings City Bank Columbia National Bank East Washington Savings Bank Hamilton National Bank Liberty National Bank Lincoln National Bank McLachlen Banking Corporation Munsey Trust Co. National Bank of Washington National Savings & Trust Co. Riggs National Bank Second National Bank Security Savings & Com’l Bank Union Trust Co. Washington Loan & Trust Co. District of Columbia Bankers Association