Evening Star Newspaper, December 1, 1935, Page 20

LEADERS INDORSE HEARING ON TAXES Oppose Increased Levies and Seek Bigger Federal Payment. Civic and business leaders last night indorsed the recommendations of the District’s Special Tax Committee that the public be given ample opportunity to express its views on any tax in- crease program. The expressions followed submission to the Commissioners yesterday of the committee’s partial report, outlining the trends of rising maintenance and operating costs of the municipal gov- ernment and the present low level of | funds available for such major im- provements as schools, libraries and hospitals, and indicating the need of increased revenues. ‘Thomas E. Lodge, president of the Federation of Citizens' Associations, made the first move by calling a meet- ing of the or- ganization’s Ex- ecutive Commit- tee Tuesday night to consider the financial prob- lems of the Dis- trict. The Execu- tive Committee, he said, would make a thorough study of the vari- ous statistics con- : tained in the Tax : Committee's Te- port, and submit recommendations to the federation T B lLedse at its regular meeting Saturday. Personally, Lodge said he is opposed to any new or increased taxes until the Federal Government puts its an- nual payment toward the expenses of the District on a fair and equitable basis, and reforms are made in the present method of assessments and taxation. “I don't see any need at this time | for increased taxes,” said Lodge. ‘I’ do believe the Federal payment toward | the expenses of the District should be | raised above the present $5,700,000.” Lodge pointed cut that members of the Executive Committee planned to confer with various District officials before the meeting, and that their re- port to the federation would be de- signed to give a clear and complete picture of the financial condition of the municipal government. L. A. Carruthers, chairman of the Federal Relations Committee of the federation, who is expected to direct the taxation study, said he is opposed to any tax increase un- less it is definitely shown that addi- tional revenues are necessary. He also declared the Federal Govern- ment should make a larger payment toward the ex- penses of the Dis- trict. Likewise, Car- ruthers approved the recommenda- tion of the Tax Committee that the public be given an opportunity to voice its opinion on any new tax program. “It is a very wise suggestion,” he said. George C. Shinn, member of the Finance and Budget Committee of the ‘Washington Board of Trade, joined in approving the proposal for a public hearing on the tax program. L A. Carruthers. | ent situation cannot continue if needs government, which will be welcomed by the people.” Shinn, in addition, expressed his opposition to-an increase in the Dis- trict tax burden unless it is absolutely necessary, and said he believed the PFederal payment should be raised. Edwin S. Hege, president of the Chevy Chase Citizens’ Association ot the District, approved as “very fi the tax committee’s reeommendstinn that the taxpay- ers be given a chance to voice their opinion of a new tax pro- gram. At the same tiine, he de- clared Le was op- posed to any in- crease in existing taxes or the in- troduction of any new forms of tax- ation until the Federal Govern- ment pays its fair and adequate share of the ex. Fdwin S. Hese penses of the District. George E. Sullivan, another leader in federation activities ,agreed with the tax committee that the views of the public should be learned before any new tax program is adopted. | “We have no representation in| Congress,” he declared, “and the least the Commisisoners can do is to give the citizens a hearing.” Harry N. Stull, first vice president of the federation, said he had no “well i defined” ideas about the proposed tax | program, but he planned to give it serious study. As former chairman of the federa- tion’s Education Committee, Stull pointed out that additional school facilities are urgently needed in the northeast section, end thought should be given that question in connection with any program designed to increase taxes for municipal improvements, Taxes (Continued From First Page.) of the Capital are to be met, the com- mittee cited the 20 per cent increase in population that occurred from 1920 to the present and a partial list of improvements costing nearly $75,000,- 000 which it said “must be consid- ered” in a program of capital outlay for the next 10 years. This would suggest an average of at least $7,500,000 a year for the next decade. If allowance were made for other “liabilities” in capital out- lay not included in the “barest neces- sity” list, the committee said the figure would rise to an average of $8,500,000 a year. The committee further cen- tered attention on “many other proj- ects” not included in the committee’s list which they explained had been urged by citizens' associations and other civic organizations. Figures Point to Sum. Since the present provision for cap- ital improvements is but $5,500,000, the committee’s statement was taken to mean that at least $2,000,000 more snnually is needed as an average for 10 years for capital improvements, plus a $1,000,000 boost in maintenance and operating costs. Including more permanent improvements to raise the total average outlay to $8,500,000. the suggested increase in annual revenues would be boosted by $4,000,000. Furthermore, there was a suggestion in the committee statement that the capital improvements costs would rise more if provision were made for the municipal center and other projects which have been “seriously urged.” ‘The committee was directed by the Commissioners last August to consider inheritance and income taxes, an in- crease in the 2-cent gasoline tax, & weight tax on automobiles and an increase in taxation on utilities. The committee was told also to consider possibilities of securing rev- “It is & good idea,” he declared. “It is a gesture toward a voice in the enue from motion picture theaters, chain stores, public entertainments OFFERS for the first time a real fine Radio built to fit your book shelf. We Suggest You COMPARE THE SUNDAY BSTAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, DECEMBER 1, 1935—PART ONE. and “any other fleld where there is opportunity of escaping a just tax.” “The propriety of any tax must be considered by its necessity,” the com- mittee declared as its first premise. It said it did not believe there should be any proposals for tax boosts “merely because the suggested taxes could be borne by the taxpayers or because the Government could spend the money if it had it.” Maintenance Soz~s. With the exceptioh of a temporary drop during the period of economy salary cuts, the costs of maintenance and ~operation show a somewhat steadily rising curve, the committee said. From $17,378,359 in 1920, these costs rose to $35,641,617 in 1936, or & climb of $18,263,258 in 16 years. Including such items as interest sinking fund in the 1920 budget, this increase is raised to some $21,000,000. About $18,000,000 of this gross in- crease, the committee said, was for schools, welfare, police, fire, general expenses and water. Any attempt to decrease mainte- nance and operating costs, to any considerable figure, therefore, would have to come from cuts in costs of schools, welfare, police and fire ap- propriations, the committee said. Salaries is the greatest item fin school maintenance costs. “To fix that cost at its present level, or to attempt to decrease it, means no ad- ditional schools and no additional teachers, or newer schools and fewer teachers,” the committee crytically said. School popuation has increased by 50 per cent in the past 15 years, the committee added. Relief Big Factor. ‘The rise in maintenance costs of public welfare, it said, are due in part to a “new concept” of the gov- ernmental responsibility towards the less fortunate persons needing sus- tenance or hospitalization. Emerg- ency relief costs may decrease but no one can tell what the permanent re- lief problem will be, it continued. Increased personnel and supplies for the police and fire departments are “absolute necessities” for a city be- coming more thickly populated, the Teport declared. To provide a basis for figuring how much may have to be spent for capi- tal improvements during tie next 10 years, the committee first traced the | history since 1920, showing that thie| total amounted to $140,430,000. This | showed an average of some $9,300,000 for the whole period and $9,700,000 in the last 10 years, as opposed to the| present provision of but $5,500,000. The total program proposed for the| future, which the committee said “it seems must be considered in any esti- mates of probable serious require ments” during the next 10 years, would cost some $85,000,000. From a long list of specified items it listed the following: General, $1,000,000; repayment of | P. W. A. advances, $3,800,000; streets| and bridges, $17,000,000; sewers, $7,-| o 000,000; schools, $20,000,000; fire de-| partment, $1,000.000; welfare, $3,000,- 000; water department, $7,500,000; lbraries, $750,000; refuse department, $500,000; playgrounds, $250,000; elec- trical department, $400,000; police, $250,000; small courts buildings, $3,- 000,000; National Capital Parks, for land, $8,500,000; and remainder of lia- Buy, for Cash SAVE The Difference at M%/Z . CASH JEWELERS 61515 ST N.W.+ 61777 ST.N.W. OPEN F.\: Gs EN A\. Sensational VALUE THAT MAKES XMAS GIVING A PLEASURE BRAND NE bility of District under Capper-Cram- ton act, $1,000,000. Public Desires Cited. In most of these items, with the exception of the fixed commitments for the P. W. A. and Capper-Cramton provisions, the question of whether the projects should be undertaken depends on whether the public wants them. In addition to the above list, the committee referred to $10,000,000 more in items, all “seriously urged,” for which the District’s liability must be considered. These included water {ront development, airport costing $1,- 250,000; Anacostia flats project, Fort drive, estimated at $7,000,000; Waits Run project, an armory and stadium, estimated to cost $2,000,000; an East Capitol Street Bridge, a new Pennsyl- vania Avenue Bridge, Rock Creek Park bridges, proposed municipal garages for automobile parking, proposed sub- ways, the Municipal Center and elim- ination of pollution from Rock Creek. The committee considered it was “only fair to indicate” that on the present basis of things tax collections could not be expected to exceed $37,- 000,000 by 1940. This calculation gave no consideration to the Federal pay- ment. Corporation Counsel E. Barrett Prettyman is chairman of the Tax Committee. Other members are Maj. Daniel J. Donovan, District auditor; Willlam A. Roberts, people's counsel; Capt. H. €. Whitehurst, director of highways; Richmond B. Keech, vice chairman, Public Utllities Commis- sion, and William P. Richards, tax asSessor. _— PROPAGANDA IN FILMS SCORED BY OHIOAN Seven War Items to One for Peace Seen on Screen in 1833, Says Dr. Dale. Ry the Assoclated Press. INDIANAPOLIS, November 30.—Dr. r Dale of Ohio State University charged today propaganda was creep- ing into motion pictures. “We may expect,” Dr. Dale said in an address prepared for delivery be- fore the National Council of Teachers | of English, “to see more use of the news reels in political campaigns with | consequent fakery.” Alleging that war propaganda found its way to the screen, Dr. Dale said: “In 1931-32 there were 12 shots dealing with war as compared with | one dealing with peace in two dif- ferent news reels. In 1933 the pro- portion was seven war items to one | peace item.” Dr. Dale discussed the teaching of | motion picture appreciation and said the fight to make it widely accepted as a regular part of school instruc- tion had been won. Sensational 011 BURNER Offer 25 A DAY BUYS A QUIET MAY With Fuel Saving Ther-MAY-lator PAY FOR IT ON ELECTRIC BILL Columbia Specialty Co. 1636 Connecticut Avenue, N.W. Telephone North 7861 LATIN AMERICAN MISSION LIKELY U. S. Delegation May Drive Next Wedge Based on Houston Sentiment. By the Assoclated Press. NEW YORK, November 30.—An economic mission to Latin America may drive the next wedge for United States exporters who seek to recapture the markets lost since 1929. Delegates at the recent convention of the National Foreign Trade Council at Houston, Tex., received favorably a suggestion made by President Eu- gene P. Thomas that such a mission be .sent within a few months. Al- though the convention made no de- cision it is understood the prospects are encouraging. The United States in recent months has increased its shipments to Latin America, and the negotiation of recip- rocal trade pacts with Cuba, Brazil and Columbia has set a precedent for further expansion. In the first eight months of 1935 this Nation sent $247,000,000 worth of goods to her | Southern neighbors, a gain of $30,~ 000,000 over 1934. Other Nations Active. Japan and Great Britain have been active of late in the race for Latin American trade. A seri-official TROUBLE"—Llonel Service Station Japanese mission to Brazil and other Latin American countries, recently returned to Tokyo to report on the prospects. Meanwhile, a trade mission which includes emissaries of exporters, especially of rayon and cotton goods, arrived in Panama on a six-month tour of Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Cuba, Haiti and the Dominican Re- public, During the depression years, while North American exports to Latin America were falling off, Great Britain and Japan entrenched them- selves further in Latin American markets. In September, 1935, the vol- ume of Japanese merchandise which flowed into Latin America was almost twice as large as it had been a year previously, four times as large as two years ago, and thirteen times the trickle of three years ago. British Position Strong. As for Britain, her economic position has been strengthened through her avowed policy of trade reciprocity. The Prince of Wales, who in 1931 made a tour of Latin America as his country’s good-will economic ambas- sador, stated at an exposition of $22,- 000,000 worth of British-made goods in Buenos Aires that “‘fallure to recog- nize trade as interchange, obstacles placed in the way of reciprocal trade, are perhaps the main causes of the world’s present trouble.” In this connection it is perhaps | ironic to note that Japan buys little | or nothing from some of her best South American customers. On the other hand, the United States’ imports during the first eight months of 1935 were valued at $349,640.000, a gain of $97,000,000 over the previous year. In| other words, United States imports | All Types of Electric Trains and Accessories Repaired Reasonable. 22 Years’ Experience Is Your Protection. We Carry a Complete Stock in Parts LIONEL SPECIAL CRACK FREIGHT TRAIN SET—3 large 8-wheel cars with remote control engine—12 sections of track and transformer. Complete—ready to run. Special 18 and 21 Voit [ Train Bulbs 1 | 2 msc25c «a. 25C Special Mickey Mouse Circus Train Outfit Mickey Mouse and his mbe of movie stars are in the circus nov is on this decorated circus train that by the wind.up Commondore Vanderbilt s hy Master Mickey Mouse stoker he track, his shovel goes up and down and right’ toward the firebo: that comes with the train. SUPERIOR LOCK & ELECTRIC CO. 1410 L Street N.W. Phone Met. 9439 Branch No. 2, 1206 N. Y. Ave., Ph. ME. 7630 VACUUM CLEANER and HAND CLEANER FREE! Not Factory Rebuilt ~ $9.95 Here’s a Buy! Mountain Six different types of stations/ Union Station, | Baggage Room, | | Gas Station, |Trees | Telephone Office and two other ‘B""’" pleces Valley Scenery, (6 pieces| 1 pieces) -49¢ l $2.95 set.| The whole Walt Dlsnn family at's hauled nnd stoked what & is! “As the train whlxzn around" the go— And look at the tent Evenings After Dec. 1st FREE! Furniture dust cloth with any home or store demonstration. Supply limited, come early. HOME TRIAL during the first eight months totaled $1032,640,000 more than her exports to the same countries. One country in whose markets Britain has become strongly en- trenched is Argentina. gkt AT F. F. PATTERSON DIES; EX-REPRESENTATIVE Former Representative Frank P. Pluemn, ir., of New Jersey, member of Congress for seven years, died yes- terday in Merchantville, N. J, ac- cording to the Auocuud Press. He was 68 years old. Patterson, a native ot New York, served in the House from 1920 to 1927. Prior to his political career, he had engaged in journalistic work. He was city editor of the Camden Courier and held editorial positions with the Baltimore Herald, the Camden Morn- ing News, the Philadelphia Times and the Philadelphia Record. THREE ESCAPE INJURY Car Overturns Twice on Con- necticut Avenue. Three persons narrowly escaped in- Jury early last night when the car in which they were riding turned over twice after striking a street car load ing platform on Connecticut avenuo near N street. Jack Mulvihill of 526 Twenty-second street, driver of the car, told police he was forced into the platform by m::!her automobile. No charges were mi . Golden Wedding for One. SEATTLE, Wash. ®)—J. W. Hughes, 79, kept his promise to his wife to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary without her. At a din- ner party an empty plate and a bridal bouquet marked the place of his wife, ‘who died a year ago. _— /LIMITED “TIME UPTO 520 Allowance on Old Rdnge .« » N0 matter what sort of range you have, coal, oil, gas or electric . . . de- pending upon the value of the Magic Chef you buy here! Q9 and your Old Range buys this 69.95 MAGIC CHEF RANGE 9. For Both Cleaners =10 A STORE NEAR YOUI HOME 816 F Street N.W. 2139-41 Pa. Ave. N.W. 1111 H Street N.E. 2015 14th Street N.W. 3107-09 M Street N.W. Dlstrict 1900 All Stores Open Eves.’ till 9 Model 58W A De Luxe Lowboy of at- tractively grained walnut. 10%-inch speaker. Covers standard and short wave broadcasts, police, aircraft, amateur and commercial telephone channels. Dual Ratio Tuning Knob, Large Airplane Type Dial. Range Switch Control Lever indi- cates range in use. Height, 37Va inches. 592.50 RO NA. 7171 Moderate in Price! Modernly Equipped! George's Radio Co. 816 F St. N.W. Kindly have your repre- sentative call to arrange for a free demonstration of the G-E cleaners. WEEKLY PAYS FOR THEM - Never dreamed you.could get a Magic Chef at this price, did you? Here it is, equipped with Lorain Red Wheel Oven Heat Control, 8-in-1 top burners, new grid-pan broiler and other famous Magic Chef features that you've been wanting for years. Just one of many models on display. Come in and choose the one best fitted for your individual needs. Main Floor—Electric Arcade. THE HECHT CO. F.STREET AT SEVENTH NATIONAL 8100 1318 G N.W.