Evening Star Newspaper, September 29, 1935, Page 58

D—8 CVIC GROUP UNITY URGED BY SCHEER Cites Commissioner’s Let- ter on 9-Point Program of Northeast Conference. Unified action by citizens' asocia- | tions is rewarded more than individual petitions by these groups. A. F. E. Scheer. chairman. Joint Conference of Northeast Citizens’ Associations, be- lieves. After a Summer session of the con- | ference. a letter containing nine im- provement projects sought for in | Northeast was sent to the Commis- | sioners for appropriate action. A re- ply has been received. Scheer states. | giving for the first time the attitude of the Commissioners on these projects. During the Summer recess of the eonference, residents near Brentwood road and T street northeast com- plained of smoke and odors coming from a nearby junk vard. A special meeting of the confcrence was held 8t which action requesting the Com- | missioners to put a stop to this nui- | ganse was taken, I Zoning Pointed Out. ! The area in question is zoned indus- | trial, the Commissioners pointed out. | Subsequently, hpwever, Scheer said all burning of trash has ceased. The area Is frequently and periodically inspected by the Health Department to see that existing health laws are not violated. In answer to the complaint against double parking of commercial ve- hicles in the territory the Commi eioners replied: “The Police Depar ment has been instructed to enforce the regulations dealing with double parking.” Reiterating previous action and ac- tion taken by several of the member groups last vear, the conference re- quested the Commissioners to “insist that the Health Department strictly end rigidly enforce the health laws with respect to the sterilization of all eating and drinking utensils used by fountains, bars, restaurants, hotels” etc.” | The Health Department is at the present time conducting laboratory experiments which is hoped will facili- tate efficient sterilization of eating utensils in a practical manner. “The corporation counsel has held that the District has adequate power to close establishments which fail to observe health regulations as to cleanliness of cooking and eating utensils,” the Com- missioners’ letter stated. Irregularity Reports Invited. | Another request made in the North- east Conference letter was for the Commissioners to invite the public to submit any irregularities within their knowledge existing in the building in- &pector’s office, to which the Commis- gioners replied: “Commissioner Allen will conduct a hearing in the matter of charges against the building inspec- tor's office within the next month or Eix weeks.” Immediate steps were asked to have the overpass and underpass to cross the Baltimore & Ohio and Pennsy vania Railroads constructed at once. end that plans for the new Franklin Street Bridge and the new engine house at Fourteenth street and Rhode Island avenue begin immediately. The Commissioners’ reply: railroad companies have been notified | to construct within two years !romi August 23, 1935. a suitable subway and underpass beneath their tracks within | the lines of the street connecting the intersection of New York and West Virginia avenues, with Eighteenth gtreet northeast. “In regard to the proposed viaduct over the tracks from Brentwood road and T street north- east. to New York avenue, you are hereby informed that a topographic gurvey of tha area is now being made with a view fp determining a definite location,” the Commissioners’ reply stated. “Upon completion of the sur- vey and determination of a bridge gite, it is proposed to order the rail- | road companies to construct the via- | duct as provided by law.” Plans for the Franklin Street Bridge and new fire engine house “are in progress,” the Commissioners re- | Vealed. Street Improvement Asked. The following street improvements were asked by the Northeast associa- tions: Work on Brentwood road from Rhode Island avenue to T street, “to- gether with such other streets as are necessary to make use of the bridge over and the underpass under the railroad tracks: the opening and im- provement of South Dakota and East- ern avenues northeast: Montana ave- | nue from Twelfth street to Brentwood yoad northeast. Central avenue from Seventh to Fourth streets: Jackson gtreet from Tenth to Fourteenth gtreets northeast. “Work on Brentwood road from Rhode Island avenue to T street to- gether with such other streets as are necessary to make use of the bridge over and the underpass under the rail- roads, cannot be performed until these etreets have become public property,” the Commissioners replied. “Brent- wood road must be widened and other streets that are to be used as an ap- preach to the new bridge are sched- uled for condemnation. This will be taken care of in sufficient time to meet the needs in connection with : the bridge.” As for the South Dakota avenue project the Commissioners give a re- port from the director of highwavs, H. C. Whitehurst. in which it is stated this thoroughfare will be improved westward as far as Eighteenth street within the coming year. From this point to Fourteenth street, the prop- erty is not publicly owned. “We ,con- template acquiring the section be- tween Fourteenth and Eighteenth streets.”” Whitehurst's report states. Permanent paving will be placed on | Eastern avenue from Bladensburg road to Rhode Island avenue. From Rhode Island avenue to Queens Chapel road it is improved with temporary sur- facing and from this section westward the property is privately owned with the exception of a section near New Hampshire avenue. Condemnation proceedings at this point are not held advisable by Whitehurst. Authorization for two delegates from Jocal citizens' associations to sit with the Park and Planning Commission and the Fine Arts Commission was asked, “thereby eliminating secret agreements.” The Commissioners re- plied they have no authority for this. D. C. Playground Free. In reply tc a request that all chil- dren under 16 years of age be per- mitted to use all playgrounds and swimming pools free of charge, it was stated that the supervisor of play- grounds reports all playgrounds and pool facilities ‘under the jurisdiction of this department arc free to the public. The only agencies making charges are the Community Center Department and the Welfare and Rec- reation Association of the National Park Service, which has concessions ‘The | | | reached by the THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C. SEPTEMBER 29, 1935—PART TWO.. Barge Without Melodies Becomes Eyesore Southeast Citizens Irked by Casual Disposal of Orchestra Stage Which Leaves It in Full Public View. The shell and barge used this Summer by the National Symphony Orchestra is shown tied up at the Pennsylvania Avenue Bridge where it has been since the close of the concert season. The shell from which emanated the | strains of Beethoven, the lullabies of Brahms and the melodies of Schubert this past Summer has become an eyesore to the citizens of the South- east section This shell and barge. which was the scene of many concerts by the National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Hans Kindler, for the thousands of music lovers during the has been removed to the vania Avenue Bridge south- where it has reposed since the close of the concert season. P. 4. Is Held Fertile Field The citizens of the area are irked at the placing of the barge in their section after its usefulness had ended. The feeling is prevalent that if the shell remained at the Potomac Water Gate while the concert season was on it could stay there for the rest of the year and need not have been moved into the Southeast residential area. All the Southeast citizens’ groups are anxious to have the shell.and barge moved from ther scction. as it detracts from the beauty of the neigh- For Spread of Red Propaganda Communists Emple Methods, With Jobless Teacher oy Tammany Hall, Wor toHandle,Say Officials in New York. ) Special Dispatch to The Star NEW YORK. September 28 (N.A The Communist pariy is tilling York the most fertile field for propaganda it has ever found in the United States—and is stealing the stuff of Tammany Hall to make the most of it The field. strangely. is the most generous attempt of Uncl® Sam to do something for the unemploved. the Works Progress Administration, which is creating for them “out of thin air” 50.000 jobs in this city alone. That | this program is “duck soup” for Com- munist organizers and that they al- ready have made substantial headway is admitted here by every insMer from Administrator Hugh S. Johnson down. Discouraged and disgruntled citizens who have been out of jobs and luck for two to four years are naturally | pliable timber for agitators. But it seems an anomaly that so many of them should “go Communist” just as they are getting back on jobs. Find “Material” Grouped. The answer. provided by W. P. A, insiders. is not only that the Com- munists are getting smarter. but that for the first time they find their “ma- terial” gathered together in groups. where the Reds can harangue them and work on them by burrowing from within the ranks of workers while on the job. Many of the “project councils.” the union organization of workers on W. P. A. jobs exercising their Congres | given right of “collective bargainin have become little more than Com- munist “cells.” Their leaders usually are not W. P. A. workers at all, but professional Communists The building housing the New York headquarters of the Communist party serves as the meeting place for many of these “project unions.” Their coun- cil bulletins are printed in the Com- munist printing shops, and at least once the printer slipped up and put the signature of both a Communist | | organization and the project council on the same mimeographed notice. No one, of course, can estimate just how large the Communist gains have been, but all reports indicate the party's membership is growing rap- | idly. 8chool teachers. social workers whose : jobs are to check the work- | relief rolls and others in white-collar Jjobs of some responsibility have been infiltration of sub- versive' propaganda. Speak for Disgruntled. The life of Mrs. Anna Rosenberg, chief of the white-collar division of W. P. A. but soon withdrawing, is made miserable by frequent and vociferous delegations of protestants. A few professional Communists join various “disgruntled” groups and in- variably appear as the spokesmen for the unemployed who have been con- vinced they are not getting all they | should get. | “I thought all this talk about red | scares was'the bunk before I came in here,” said one ranking W. P. A. official, “but I know differently now. It's here.” The consensus is that New York is & particularly fertile ground for spread of communism and that the danger recedes with the size of cities affected. but there is no concealing the concern over inroads already made. “Communist headquarters is headquarters for the activities many project councils,” close to that picture relates. “The Communist leaders stir the workers to protest. They study the Federal rules and regulations minutely to ask things that they think we can’t grant. “Yet they trump up demands that on their face sound reasonable. For also of | | sible.” an official | example. it is (he custom in New York to give workers who laboi overtime ‘supper money’ because they are natu- | rally late at their homes. Of course. we have no pety cash fund in P. W. A, and Federal directions do not permit paying overtime. but some projects are located far enough from the workers’ homes to make a ‘supper money’ charge reascnable if we could allow it. which we can't. The Communists lit on this and raised hob. “The agitators make a cause celebre of every little mistake or seeming in- justice done. A few times we have been able to zet Washington regula- tions changed and have amazed them by granting their demands. | “They are using Tammany Hall methods. When we had pay roll diffi- culty due to the natural lag between starting the jobs and the first pay checks. during which some workers were off relief and out of money for a few days, the Communists helped them | and fed them. “If some individual has a real or imaginary grievance. the Communists help him and magnify the grievance into resentment against the Govern- ment that is provding the job. Teachers Become Radicals. “The worst crowd of all about going Communistic are the school teachers. When a teacher is unemployed she immediately becomes a radical. I should say 95 per cent of the unem- ploved teachers in New York are Com- munists. A big help in educating our | next generation. “The number of Communist adher- ents among all the intellectual unem- ployed is astounding. Writers, mu- sicians, artists and similar professions often go radical as soon as they get out of a job. Usually these people are used to a respectable job and a fairly high standard of living. They | had a bigger jolt in their fall and fre- | quently went through more hell before they went on relief. They are in- clined to blame the economic order for their misfortune. | “The least troublous are the skilled | mechanics. They know that when there is work they are able to sup-| port themselves. The monthly se-| curity wage is lower than the pre-| vailing wage when the number of | hours worked is considered, but over| a year’s time it provides more cash | than the periodic employment of these | men on seasonal private jobs. In| spite of the bitter row we had with | organized labor over the hourly pre- vailing wage scales, the Communists ! made almost no inroads among these men. The security wage averages higher than the annual wage in any | year since the war except 1927 and 1928. | ‘Unskilled labor is next easiest to handle. Ordinarily these men and women are glad to get the jobs and | did not have as far to drop as the intellectuals to reach the relief rolls. But these teachers! Theyre impos- The official said Mrs. Rosenberg saw one Communist-led delegation of teachers 21 times, discussing impos- sible demands, and when they barged | into her office in the midst of an important meeting and she refused to see them, they protested to Mayor La Guardia that they had been “ig-| nored.” The Communists count on the un- familiarity of the average worker with the facts and their feeling of re- sentment toward an economic system which, in their eyes, has denied them employment. Through teachers, re- lief investigators and professional or- ganizers they spread their poison— and so far no effective antidote has been found. (Copyright. 1935. by the North American Newspaper Alliance. Inc.) for the operation of certain facilities under the jurisdiction of the Park Service. The recommendation that all in- come from public golf courses .ad other recreational facilities be tur..ed into the general fund has been turned over to Maj. D. J. Donovan, District budget director. The Public Utilities Commission also received another recommendation that a cross-town bus be established from Catholic University to Bladensburg road, with the western terminus at Wisconsin avenue. A report on the @ommissioners’ re- ply to its request will be made to the next meeting of the Northeast Con- ference. The group, which meets on call, will meet within the next two or three weeks, Scheer deciared. COMPLAIN OF TRUCKS The use of Fifth street between Rock Creek Church road and Grant | Circle by trucks carrying more than three tons and solid tire vehicles was strongly criticized at a recent Pet- worth Citizens’ Association meeting. A letter from M. O. Eldridge, act- ing director of traffic, was read, in which he stated: “It is exceedingly difficult for tI department to pro- hibit truck traffic from any particular street. In fact, we do not prohibit trucks on any' street in the District | except in the case of solid tire ve- hicles. Shunting traffic off Fifth street, | | Eldridge wrote, it would have to 30 on another street and other residents would not agres to this. | Inclose a self-addressed. —=Star Stafl Photo. borhood and is a menace to the safety of the bridge. Fear of heavy winds blowing the barge against the sup- ports of the structure and causing its collapse have been expressed by vari- ous organizations of the district and immediate removal is felt to be neces- sary. Letters have been sent by the South- east Council and other citizens' asso- ciations in the section to the National | Capital Parks Board requesting re- moval of the shell and barge in the interest of safety and beautification of the Southeast section. SUTER ON VACATION, “Civic Bodies, Civic Problems,” the column to be found on this page every Sunday, is missing this week. Jesse C. Suter. who conducts the column, is out of the city on vacaticn The column will appear on the civic page of The Star next Sun- day. C()11tract BY P. HAL On False Caids. T STRIKES us that we have de- voted tod little time to the broad subject of false cards. It is a term and a play that is much misused. The stupidest sort of a false card is the one made in the faint hope of mis'eading the declarer, but which generally ends up by put- ting your partner in the middle. Bet- ter to abandcn the false card alto- gether than to run the risk of having that dear fellow playing opposite you misread your hand in the slightest. Today's hand, however, features a perfect false card. It certainly can do no harm: and in this particular deal, it did a lot of gocd. The bidding South West., INT (1) Pass Pass 1. South has no more an opening no trump bid than the man in the meon. His hand is too spotty, and full of holes. However, that's the way the bidding went, and the hand shapes up very luckily for South. The opening lead was a spade. After holding off twice, South took with the ace and immediately led a small ciub. Here was where West, who had been figuring matters out quietly while the spades were being led. made a superb play. He went up with the king. South must hold the queen. The only hope is that he holds the nine | spot in the suit as well, and will be tempted to finesse East for the ten. West had no re-entry, and naturally he did not dream that South lacked the ace of diamonds. South bit. One can hardly blame him. He played East for a four- card club suit, headed by the ten, and, as a result, ly would have netted him game. The proper spot for the hand is around three clubs—and a contract at the two level would be even better. Speed is the one essential point in such plays as West made. Those who stop to figure matters out are either | deliberately taking advantage cf the declarer by a prolonged hesitation, or giving their whole hand away. (Copyright 1933.) il | Mr. Sims will answer all inguiries on con- tract that are addressed to this newspaper. 3-cent stamped envelope. GASOLINE TAX ORIGIN SAID TO BE IN OREGON Richard M. Ham of A. A. A. Ad- dresses Randle Highlands Citizens’ Association. The gasoline tax originated in Ore- gon in 1919 and was for the purpose of building roads, Richard M. Ham of the American Automobile Associa- | tion told a recent meeting of the| Randle Highlands Citizens’ Associa- tion. The gas tax is imposed in the Dis- trict on the same basis as in th¢ sev- eral States, he declared. In seéveral | of these States the courts have de- clared it not in accord with the!State constitution to divert gasolind tax| funds into other revenues since cnly one type of citizen—the motorist— was taxed in this manner. The Randle Highlands body later adopted a resolution opposing diver- gence of the gas tax funds in the Dis- trict. October Election Slated. The Petworth Citizens’ Association will hold its annual election of offi- cers at the October meeting. Lyster H. Dewey, president, announced at the last meeting he will be unable to hold the office again next year and is not s candidate, ! went down two tricks on a hand which unwarranted- | CITIZENS TO NAME FEDERATION HEADS Executive Committee to Be Nominated Saturday; Elec- tion in November. The Federation of Citizens' Asso- ciations, representative body of Wash- ington's organized citizenry, begins its Fall season with a meeting Saturday night. Making ready for a slate of new and re-elected officers, delegates to the | federation will nominate an Executive | Committee Saturday and elect its members, together with the annual election of other officers, in November. President James G. Yaden, after | having held the presiding office last | year, announced at the Fall elections | he was not a candidate for the office | again this year. However, over his protests, he was drafted to serve| again and he finally accepted with | the understanding that this term | would be his last. | For the rest of the year the group | is scheduled to meet only once a month—the first Saturdays—but at | the end of the year and after Con- gress reconvenes it will resume meet- ing on the first and third Saturdays. Among the opening business at this weck's session will be reports from committees on three resolutions for- | warded to the federation frcm three citizens’ associations, Secretary David Babp says. | There are nine associations sched- uled to meet this week. They are scheduled, together with their respec- tive programs, as follows: Tuesday, October 1. North Cleveland Park Citizens' As- | sociation, 8 pm., 3923 Windom place. After a four-month vacation for mem- | bers of this body they meet again to elect officers for the ensuing year, Secretary Carl Mack reveals. Columbia Heights Citizens’ Associa- | ition, 8 p.m. Fourth Preshyterian | Church. Traflie matters are slated as the principal order of business for this group when it reconvenes after a re- cess since June | Trafic Director William A. Van Duzer will be the principal speaker: he is to talk on “The Pedestrian's Right of Way and How to Get It W. L. Swanton, secretary, states. After a consideration of several traffic prob- | lems now before the association action is scheduled on The Star's traffic safety campaign The question of securing playground | space in Columbia Heights has for some time occupied this group’s at- tention. The Park and Planning Commission has informed the associa- | tion the price of land in Columbia Heights is too high for the purchase of playground areas. This problem will also be considered, Swanton says. As for schools, members agree Cen- tral, Powell, Bancroft and Adams Schools are all overcrowded. Atten- tion for the cominz year will be focused on relieving this congestion in the schools. | At a recent Executive Committee meeting the plan of People’s Counsel ‘William A. Roberts for a subway tem in Washington was approved. However, instead of favoring an ap- propriation for immediate construc- tion of the subway, officers favored an initial appropriation of $25,000 for studying plans for the propomk‘ A. B. Carty, chairman Transportation | ‘Commuue. will bring in a report to | this effect at the meeting Tuesday | night. | Wednesday, October | Association of Oldest Inhabitants, | 7:30 p.m, Old Union Engine House. At many of the association meetings | already held this Fall the American Automobile Association has sent rep- resentatives to speak on the proposed diversion of gasoline taxes into the general fund. Secretary J. Elliot Wright sayvs Richard M. Ham of the motor club will address the meeting on this sub- ject at its next meeting. 2 Central Citizens' Association. 8 p.m.. Blake School. The annual election of officers and action on The Star’s traffic safety campaign are listed as among the business to be transacted by this body, by President F. D. Ryan. Friendship Citizens’ Association. 8 p.m., Janney School. Reconvening after a vacation since June, this group will elect officers at its first Fall meet- ing, S. H. Flickinger, president, an- nounces. | Again this year the group resumes its fight to secure a library in Friend- ship and action on this is slated for this first season’s meeting. During the Summer recess, however, | the transit company made changes in | its transportation system among which | is the placing into operation of busses | on a more extensive scale. As a re- | sult, residents near Wisconsin and | Western avenues are “up in arms” about the noise and unsightliness of | the car barn in their neighborhood. Mechanics test the new type busses | in a vacant lot and along Forty-fourth and Harrison streets, much to the an- noyance of abutting property owners. Flickinger says this matter will be given attention at this meeting. | The Star’s traffic safety campaign is | | another item scheduled on the calen- dar of business Wednesday night. E ‘Thursday, October 3. Washington Highlands Citizens’ As- socfation, 8 p.m. 3919 First street | southeast. Although the annual elec- tion will not be held at this first Fall meeting, the nominations for the various offices may be made at this time, President W. Earl Nair declares. Nair declared: “For as long as I | have been connected with this asso- | ciation—that is, for the past eight years—the Oxon Run sewer project has been before our members.” No effort is to be spared this season to | see this project completed, he asserts. This year the association opens well pleased with its transportation prob- | lems. The area is served with new | busses, which operate on efficient schedule, Nair declares. | Burroughs Citizens’ Association, 8 | p.m, John Burroughs School. The placing and painting of stop signs, because “you can hardly see the blamed things,” will be among the items of business to occupy the at- | tention of Burroughs citizens, Secre- | tary Wilbur S. Finch asserts. | | contended by many that this Equestrian Lawyer Who Sings | To Discuss Recreation on Air | H. S. Wender to Speak Thursday Night Over Station WMAL. Southwest Facilities for Leisure Activity Civic Topic This Week. LAWYER who sings, horseback and runs a valet shop merely as hobbies should be well qualified to speak on recreation. rides | Harry S. Wender, chairman, Laws and Legislative Committee of the Southwest Citizens’ Association, will be this week's radio speaker in the weekly series of civic talks from 8 tion WMAL Thursday evening at 7:45 oclock. The title of his address will be “Recreational Facilities in Southwest.” The series is sponsored by the Federation of Citizens' Asso- ciations. | Born 27 years ago in Knoxville. | Tenn., Wender came to Washington in 1909. At @. he was graduated from the Smaliwood-Bowen Manual Training School, located in Southwest, where he was editor of the Reporter. He says it was America’s only gram- mar school newspaper. In 1825 he was graduated from Central High School, being distin- guished in dramatic, oratorical and athletic activities, as well as a leader of the orchestra and associate editor of the Bulletin, the school's weekly paper. In 1926 Wender directed “The Pot Boiler,” a play which won Washing- ton’s first one-act play tournament One year later he had completed a two-year pre-legal course at George Washington University, having been active on the school's paper, the Hatchet. From here he embarked on a theatrical career in musical comedy, vaudeville and stock companies. In 1929 he left the show business and returned to Washington, entering Georgetown University Law School, and attended afternoon classes while employed by the Government. One year before he received his LL. B, de- gree in 1933 he passed the District Bar Association examination and was HARRY S. WENDER. | engaged in active practice since his ' admission to the bar in October. 1932 He joined the Southwest Citizens Association in 1933 while residing in the Northwest section. in order to aid underprivileged children. During his first year with the association he was elected delegate to the Federation of Citizens' Associations at the age of 25, being the federation’s youngest dele- gate. In the federation he has been active on the Laws and Legislation Committee and the Committee on Highways, Parks and Waterways As chairman of the Law and Legis- lation Committee of the Southwest Citizens' Association since 1933, he has constantly fought for improved recrea- tional and educational facilities in Southwest, together with beautifica- tion and development of the section’s water front. Last year he was elected general chairman of the Fourth street dedica- tion parade and ceremonies, which residents hold to be Washington's largest sectional enterprise of this na- ture. The movement was sponsored by a joint effort of Southwest organi- zations. Aside from being a member of the District Bar Association, he at present a member of the American Bar Association, Georgetown Unijversity Law School Alumni Association and B'nai B'rith. RB(IHCO(I Fe(lerul Conlributinn Blamed on Surplu The abnormal surplus in Distriet revenues immediately after the World War is one of the causes of the Fed- eral Government's reduced contribu- tion to District expenses, L. A. Car- ruthers. president of Forest Hills Cit- izens’ Association and vice president of the Federation of Citizens' Asso- ciations, declares. It was during this prosperous post- war period, he believes, that an ab- normal increase in all forms of rev- enue, not occasioned by increased rates, resulted in a large surplus of receipts over expenditures. Another reason for the small con- tribution is an attempt to compare tax rates here with other States when | & comparison is not possible, Carru- thers declared in an address broad- cast Thursday night by Station WMAL. Stepping from his usual role of di- rector of the weekly series of radio civic talks, Carruthers last week spoke on “Some Tax Problems in the City of Washington.™ Tax Status Unique. He declared. “The City of Washing- ton occupies a unique position in re- lation to property taxes due to the fact that as a single unit of govern- ment it performs all the governmental functions or activities ordinarily sup- plied by State, county and municipal governments and, since it operates as a single unit of government, it is not subject to overlapping taxation ex- cept in connection with the Federal Government.” The chief source of revenue, Car- ruthers asserted. is the general prop- erty or ad valorem tax. which com- prises 56.3 per cent of the city's total revenue. The tax is levied on real and tangible and intangible personal property, but unlike most municipali= ties it does not impose a general prop- erty tax on the tangible and intan- gible personal property of public service corporations, but levies, ine stead, a net or gross receipts tax. If this tax were added to the general property tax, the per cent would be materially increased. General property taxes are assessed on the basis of paying ability and may, he said, be properly used for all classes of governmental expenditures. Other taxes assessed on the basis of benefit derived, as in special assessments jor | street paving, water rentals and the gasoline tax should be earmarked and s After War tinned. “is economically ‘The gasoiine tax ane of the few sources of revenue that lends itself readily to this form of levy It is generally conceded that it is one of the most just and equitable taxes imposed and certainly this argument is logical as long as the tax revenues are used for the maintenance. operation and con- struction of highways. To divert these taxes to other purposes would be dis criminatory, for the reason that they are in the form of a selective sales tax against a single necessary com- modity that should not be classed as either a luxury or nuisance. The pres- ent gasoline tax rate will produce sufficient revenue for the complete | highway program and no serious con- sideration should be given to any con- templated increase in rates designed to produce additional revenue or to bring the tax rate to a level that now prevails in nearby States” The present method of taxing auto- mobiles in the District differs from many of the States but is conceded to be the most just and equitable found in any taxing jurisdiction “The tax cannot be evaded. is easy and inexpensive to collect and is based on ability to pay. and it would ur doubtedly be a backward step in tax- ation to abolish the general property tax in the value of the automobile and substitute a weight tax.” The latter is not based on ability to pay nor on benefits derived and would result in shifting the tax from the well-to-do to the needy, he said. The automobile forced the construc- tion of improved highways, and it is only natural that auto users should pay for these improvements. The first special taxes were based on horse- power and weight, and not until 1919 did the gasoline tax appear. The gas- oline tax should have substituted for the weight or horsepower tax, but in most States, because of the need of highway revenues, the weight and horsepower tax has been retained and the gasoline tax increased. Reason for Surplus. Surplus funds in the District ac- cumulate because the budget is pre- pared with consideration for the an- ticipated revenue, and when the budget is submitted to the Budget Bureau and Congress the result is that scur | estimated expenditures are reguced, | while in many instances the revenue used only for the purpose clearly in- | dicated by the nature of the service rendered. The special assessment tax on foot | street widening, “the result is often a damage rather than a benefit. It is tax should be abolished or at least sup- planted by an increment tax to be reflected in the taxable value of all real property benefited by street or | other public improvements. “The practice of earmarking rev- enues that are levied on the basis of benefits derive Carruthers con- probably be taken. Chillum Heights Citizens' Assocla- | tion, 8 p.m., Keene School. Practically all matters needing attention in this community are taken care of and President Thomas W. Joy declared the only business planned in advance to come before the association at its first Fall meeting is actien on The Star's traffic safety campaign. This will be the first meeting of this group since Ma; Federation of Citizens’ Associations, 8 p.m., Board Room, District Build- ing. The three resolutions definitely scheduled to come before the Federa- tion Saturday night are the follow- ing: A report from the Public Health Burroughs meeting and action will | A discussion of the hours in which | Committee on a resolution from the open will be held, with a view of se- | Proposed regulation of beauty parlors. curing hours more advantageous to | From the Police and Fire Commit- the gommunity. | tee a report on the proposed bill for The American Automobile Associa- | the retirement of police and firemen tion’s stand in opposing the diver- | is scheduled. This was brought to the gence of the gasoline tax from street | federation's attention by Representa- repair work into the general fund |tive Virginia E. Jenckes, Democrat of will come up for action also, Finch Indiana. promises. A resolution from the Priendship The Maunt Pleasant Citizens’ Asso- | Citizens’ Association to raise the sal- ciation has enlisted the aid of all local | aries of teachers in the /ocational citizens' bodies in an effort to main- ' schools to conform with those of high tain cleaner streets in the District. school teachers will be reported on Their resolution will be read at the 'by the Schools Committes. the Woodridge Sub-branch Library is | Mid-City Citizens’ Association on the | | frontage is levied on a purely assumed | | benefit basis, but when it relates to measures designed to supply needed funds are left in full force. “Any budget.” Carruthers believes, which takes from the taxpayer an amount in excess of the needs for a fiscal year is just as much an unbal- anced budget as one that does not provide a sufficient amount of revenue to balance expenditures.” The attempt to compare local tax rates with those in effect in the the | States is not possible because prop- erty in the District is by both law and practice assessed at 100 per cent of true value, while the ratio of as- sessed valuation to true value is, on the average, approximately 50 per cent | for other cities. The Federation of Citizens' Asso- | ciations has recommended legislation which would permit the tax to be levied on 50 per cent of the true value. “In order to produce an equal | amount of revenue, the rate would | necessarily be doubled, but without | any increase in taxes to be met by the taxpayer. It is believed this just appropriation by the Federal | members of Congress insist that the local taxpayer must bear his fair share, and in determining this so- | called fair share they compare the | the District. tax rate in the City of Washington with the tax rates in their home communities, when in reality the rates are not comparable. Unfair Shifting Opposed. “The federation further believes | that it is unfair to attempt to shift the entire cost of local government | to the city. The Federal Government is constantly acquiring taxable prop- erty, thereby reducing the taxable valuation on which taxes may be levied. More than 30 per cent of | the real estate values in the City of | Washington is owned by the Federal | Government and more than 40 per cent of the real property values is | exempt from taxation. The Federal | JGovernment alone owns approxi- mately $550,000,000 of real and tangi- | ble property. If this property were | subject to the same rate of taxation | RESTAURANT MEN GOING TO CHICAGO Trade Board’s River and Harbor Group to Discuss Waterfront. A large delegation from the res= taurant division of the Merchants ai.d Manufacturers' Association is ex= pected to attend the National Restaue rant Association convention in Chie cago for a week beginning October 7. An invitation to the next conven=- tion to come to Washington will be extended by the local delegation and by representatives of the Greater Na- tional Capital Committee of the ‘Washington Board of Trade. Robert J. Wilson of Washington, the repre= sentative of the national association, will act as spokesman for the hosts, who hope to entertain the convention in 1936 Officers of the Washington restaue rant division include Hubert H. Keller, president; Julius Lulley. first vice president: Emma T. Hahm. second vice president; Mrs. Ruth C. Justus, secretary. and M. H. Polen. treasurer Directors of the association. many of whom will attend the convention, include the following: Bert L. Olm- sted. chairman: A. H. Bacas, Peter Borras, A. G. Earnest, Milton Holian- der, John A. Liggett. Mary A. Lir sey. Raymond Lubar. J. W. Marriott, Mrs. H. Pappas. Mrs. H. L. Pieper. J. Allen Praether, Theodore D. Slcat and J. N. West Washington has about 80 members in the National Resaturant Associa- tion. The total membership is close t0 5.000 and about half this number usually attend these conventions. Curtis Hodzes, executive director of the Greater National Capital Commit- tee. will accompany the delezation to Chicago and extend Washington's in- vitation to meet here next year, Cemmittees Draft Programs. Continuing the Fall actit of the ington Board of T of committees last week drafted programs for their yvears work and will present definite prozrams when the Board of Governors convenes in the near future Meanwhile John E:ch. former interstate commerce commissioner, has called a meeting of the Public Utilties and Transportation Commite tee The meeting 1 be held tomn in the trade hoard’s offices in Star Building at 4 pm ber J Will Discuss Water Front. Future developments Washings ton's water front will be considered next Friday, when the Ri and Harbor Improvement Comr of the Washington Board of Trade will meet with its chairmar, John A. Remon. Remcn President’s and who is fam sports waters the water front, hopes to present a comprehensive program that will ree lieve the National Capital of ent stigma of apologizing for ent Potomac River borders The mee! will be he! office. in the Chesapeake Potom: Telephone Building. at 725 Thiricenth street. His office number is room 700. who is president of the prese Remon's Warning Is Issued. During the past week Louis Rothse child, director of the Better Business Bureau. has had occasion to warn the Washington public again against “free and easy” purchase of Texas and Oklahoma oil royalties. Bogus issues of tificates have been in Wash- ington and other Eastern cities, and Rothschild has repeated the advice of his bureau slogan, “Before you invest, investigate. and cere New Coal Licenses. The coal division of the Merchants and Manufacturers’ Association has advised its retail coal merchant m bers that. effective November 1. new license regulations affecting all coal merchants selling coal in this city will be put into effect by the Dist:i Commissioners. Every coal mercha will be required to obtain a license from the superintendent of licenses and place the license number on all coal trucks which deliver coal in the city. -_——— as privately owned property. it would result in the payment by the Federal Government of almost double the amount that is paid at the present time on a lump sum basis.” Numerous new taxes and increased rates are now under consideraty Carruthers revealed. but the budget officers should give due weight to the pronounced increase last year in prace tically all forms of revenue, occae sioned by an improved economic con= dition. He added, "It is believed that much greater increase will be reflected in the years 1936 and 1937. “In the preparation of the budget for 1936-37 proper recognition will undoubtedly be :iven to the large amount of work being done in the city through P. W. A. and W. P. A, projects. The Works Progress Ad- ministration has already approved 55 projects to cost approximately £4.300.- 000, while the District officials have approved 85 more at a cost of $8360.- 000—not yet acted on by the W. P. A. The fact that W. P. A. funds are out- right donations and P. W. A. grants must be repaid only in part will tend to decrease the need for expenditu from local revenues for such pure poses.” Carruthers pictured a further dee crease in Federal contributions if new ferms of taxes and increased rates are enacted. This is because, know- ing full well that there will be drastic cuts in the estimated expenditures, the result will be the creation of a surplus which leads to decreased Fede eral contribution. “The federation has recommended the passage of an estates tax law simi- | would result in a more equitable and | Jar to that in practicc in all the States but one, which would give the District | Government for the reason that many | of Columbia the 80 per cent credit granted to the States. The federation is also on record as opposed to any piece-meal changes iu the tax laws in If any changes are to be made or new laws enacted it should not be done until after a complete survey of the tax structure of the city has been made. “In conclusion it is bee lieved that the increase in all present sources of revenue, which may rea- sonably be expected, the enactment of an estates tax law to permit of the 80 per cent credit and an equitable appropriation on the part of the Fed« eral Government, together with the lessening of expenditures on activities now covered by P. W. A. and W. P. A, projects, which will permit the shift ing of appropriations to activities not included under such projects. will produce a balanced budget and that theré is no occasion at this time to advocate or approve of any increased rates in present taxes or the enact- ment of any new tax laws.”