Evening Star Newspaper, September 30, 1936, Page 23

Washington News @he Zoening Shar WASHINGTON, D. C., WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1936. RHEG"UN IS SEEN Receive Liberal Education | RED GRUSS DRIVE Children Lost on Way to School See Capitol. FOR GAS MERGER IF FIGURE STANDS Observers Say Commission Will Not Agree to Sum of $1,375,000. THAT OR NOTHING ELSE, TRUST COUNSEL SAYS Board Expert and Company Are at 0dds Over Combined Reve- nue Expectation. The Public Utilities Commission will disapprove the proposal by the ‘Washington Gas Light Co. to buy the Alexandria and Hyattsville Gas Cos. from its parent trust at a cash figure of $1,375,000, it was predicted today at the District Building by observers who have followed testimony before the commission during the past two days. The commission itself, engaged in €lose analysis of the mass of con- flicting testimony taken at the two- day hearing, made no announcement what its decision would be, but ob= servers were convinced the commis= elon would not approve the declara- tion by the Washington company that the proposed price must be ap- proved or rejected as it stands. Observers said the commission might have been convinced of the de- sirability of the official consolidation of the operations of the Washington, | the Hyattsville and the Alexandria plants—all of which now are con- trolled by the Massachusetts Common Law Trust, the Washington & Subur- ban Cos—but that if, was not pre- pared to approve the merger at the one price of $1,375,000. Figure Only Is Held Question. ‘The commission was told yesterday by counsel for the trust, who is also counsel for the Washington company, that that figure, “and nothing else,” was before the commission for deci- gion. Unless that declaration by the ‘Washington company counsel is over- ruled by the Washington company or the Massachusetts Trust observers say the commission undoubtedly will re- Ject the petition. Calculations to show the ownership of the two suburban plants, if in effect this year, would result in a net annual cash “burden” of between $13,836 and $24,785 were offered by a commission expert at the hearing yesterday. A company spokesman declared— end produced figures to show—the purchases would prove profitable, that in 1938 there would be available for dividends or surplus $740,000 from the combined operations. The scene of hearings on the pro- posals for reorganization of the owner- ship of the gas industry here was to have shifted today to the Securities and Exchange Commission, but it is snnounced the Federal agency will not take up the Washington company’s petition for purchase of the two suburban concerns until the day after the District commission has fssued its decision. Just when this will be was not stated. Prompt Decision Hoped. Company officials made it clear they are hoping for a prompt favor- able decision. This is related to the move made by the Washington and suburban companies, the Massachu- setts common-law trust, to sell to the public all of the 190,000 shares it now holds in the Washington company, or 84 per cent of the total of common shares. The hearing has developed that the plan is for the Washington company to buy the suburban companies, also controlied by the trust, before the trust sells out the control it holds over the Washington company. Otherwise, it is explained, the trust would still have the two suburban concerns on its hands, one of which, the Alexan- dria company, has never paid divi~ dends and has been unable to pay interest on the larger portion of a debt of $800,000. ‘Testimony that the acquisition of the neighboring plants would not prove as beneficial as company spokesmen claimed came yesterday afternoon from Byers McK. Bachman, commission chief accountant. Figures Are Presented. He presented a series of studies which showed that as of this year there would be an annual net cash burden on the Washington company of $16,934 from purchase of the Alex- andria company. This was calcu- . Jated on the basis of the Alexandria company continuing to manufacture its own gas. By changing factors to conform to company estimates as to loan costs and the amount of improve- ments to be made he arrived at a “burden” figure of $19,184. On the besis of the Alexandria plant buying gas from the Washington company he arrived at the figures of $6,247 and $8,497 by similar methods of calcula- ion. For the Hyattsville company Bach- fan estimated that the 1936 “burden” would be $7,851 on one set of calcu- Jations and $5,414 on another, Income Showing. Robert C. Owers, treasurer of the ‘Washington company, submitted con- siderable additional testimony yester- zy to show that whereas the Wash- company alone this year would produce a net corporate income of $706,000, the figure would be increased to $728,625 if the two suburban com- panies were in joint operation with the Washington company. . | Estimating that in 1938 the three dompanies combined would produce $740,000 available cash for payments to its stockholders, Owers said this #gure would include payment of $150,~ 000 of dividends on & new stock issue of $3,000,000 which the company pro- poses to sell to the public. {/The $3,000,000 stock issue, which Owers suggested would be preferred stock, would be to replace bank loans which would be needed to make the purchase payment of $1,375,000 for the two suburban concerns, and to provide funds as well for needed im- ments to the plent of the Wash- company. T CHOOL must seem pretty tame today to Billle Jean Bonavia, 5, and her older sister, Carrie, 9, after the liberal education they received while trying to find their class rooms yesterday—the first day of the Fall term for them. Billie Jean started it. She was so anxious to get to her kindergarten class at Truesdell School that she started out alone before breakfast, although she was not supposed to report until the afternoon session. Her mother, Mrs. O. Bonavia, 5202 Kansas avenue, did not discover her absence until time to call her to breakfast. Then she sent Carrie out to find her. Carrie, who had not had breakfast either, finally caught up to her younger sister, but when they started back home they got lost. As they told the story last night, it seemed as though they walked around the Soldiers’ Home grounds and passed Trinity College. Eventu- ally they reached North Capitol street and there, far away in the distance, Carrie saw the dome of the Capitol. Carrie, who is in the fourth grade at Truesdell, had seen pictures of the Capitol. She thought it would be a fine thing to see it close up, with her own eyes, so she and Billie Jean started south. As they trudged along it started to rain, but they were so close then that they decided not to turn back. Foot- sort and soaked to the skin, they reached their goal. After a hurried CARRIE AND BILLIE JEAN BONAVIA. —Star Staff Photo. circuit of the Capitol grounds, they thought it time to get back home. ‘That looked like a problem, be- cause they had no idea how to get there, but Carrie had an idea. They got on the nearest street car and Carrie told the conductor she knew her home address, but not how to get there. What was more, she had no money. The conductor understood. He took them part way on his car and gave them a transfer that took them within a short distance of home, and their distracted mother. They had their first meal of the day last night. When Mrs. Bonavia started them off to school today they had strict instructions as to how and when to get there. Another wandering youngster, 4-year- old Ronald Miller, was returned to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Miller, Seat Pleasant, Md. after an un- planned street car ride. Ronald had been sent to the car line with an umbrella to meet his sister, but got on the car instead. The conductor discovered him at the end of the line and turned him over to police. His parents found him at the Receiving Home, Two youths who have been miss- ing from their homes since Monday were believed heading for Texas. ‘They are William Stewart, 17, of 708 Tenth street northeast, and Elmer Decatur, 16, of 1404 Maryland avenue northeast. A friend of the two youths told Mrs. Stewart they were on their way to Texas and perhaps farther West. SPEGIAL TAX UNIT POLICE SEEK TOPIN BACKEDBY HAZEN Allen’s Plan to Advertise Unpaid Assessments Is Approved. Commissioner Melvin C. Hazen to- day voiced approval of the program planned by Tax Assessor Fred D. Allen for compiling a complete list of all properties against which there are de- linquent special assessments and ad- vertising them at the tax deed sale & year from January. Allen explained the list is so long there would not be time enough to prepare {t for action at the annual sale next January. Hazen also indorsed the proposal of Allen for legislation to make the pen- alties, interest rates and time allowed for payment uniform for all types of special assessments. Allen plans to submit a recommendation to the Coin- missioners in the near future. ‘There is now a wide variety of pen- alties, interest charges and time for payments, confusing not only to the tax payer but to District clerks who must figure the consequent charges, officials say. The move to clear up old tax as- sessments and to improve the whole tax machinery is one of the results of a study ordered some months ago by the Commissioners. A special committee, headed by Maj. Daniel J. Donovan, auditor, now is completing examination of these problems. Already a number of cases have been taken to court by the District in the instance of long delinquent real estate taxes in a move to sell the properties to force collection of the tax levies. If such sales are approved the District will be able to give clear title, as distinguished from the tax certificates given at the annual tax deed sales: Corporation Counsel Elwood H. Seal and Tax Collector Chatham M. Towers have been directed by Hazen to prepare & much longer list of cases for court action for non-payment. of realty assessments. Defense Group for Islands. President Manuel L. Quezon. Ex offi- clo members include the President himself as chairman, Vice President Osmens as vice chairman ai other members of the cabinet. [ 2D KILLING ON MAN Mrs. Goodwin’s Confessed Killer to Be Grilled in Sheads Death Also. Normah W. Robinson, 27, colored, former convict and confessed slayer of Mrs. Florence D. Goodwin, was to be requestioned by homicide squad de- tectives today in an effort to learn if he knows anything of the murder of Miss Mary E. Sheads, 64, retired school teacher. Miss Sheads was strangled by a robber in her Sixteenth street apart- ment in the Spring of 1934. Detectives as yet have been unable to learn whether Robinson was in Washington at that time. The prisoner has de- nied all knowledge of the crime. A coroner’s jury Saturday held Rob- inson for the grand jury as the mure derer of Mrs. Goodwin, 43-year-old Treasury Department typist. Mrs. Goodwin was killed with an iron bar early on the morning of September 18 as she slept in the rooming house she operated at 1102 Sixteenth street. The motive was robbery. Local police were notified by North Carolina authorities today that Robe inson was from a prison at Raleigh early in 1933 after serving 21 months on & charge of highway robbery. The following year Robinson was sentenced to three months in jail here following his conviction on & larceny count. Robinson made a full confession of the Goodwin murder to police and was returned to the scene, where he re-enacted the crime. He declined to make a statement to the coroner's Jury, however. MURAL IS UNVEILED Painting Depicts Growth of Lans- NETS 2000 TOTAL FOR THREE DAYS Weather Halts House-to- House Soliciting, but Reports Favorable. GOVERNMEYT UNITS IN ACTION TODAY Distribution of Buttons and Other Equipment to Volunteers Completed. More than 2,000 Washingtonians wore today the small red and white button symbolizing their membership this year in the Red Cross. Addi- tional hundreds will be enrolled before nightfall as the annual roll call of the District Red Cross Chapter completes its fourth day. ‘The campaign goal is 65,000 mem- bers before October 16. Although yesterday's rain seriously hampered campaign solicitors, encour= aging reports continued to come to headquarters at 1416 H street. Total enroliment at 10 a.m. today was placed at 2,170 Weather Bars Planes, Bad weather virtually stopped activities of house-to-house solicitors and forced postponement of a flight of Army pursuit planes from Langley Field, Va., which were to have circled over the city in Geneva Cross forma- tion. The flight will take place between noon and 1 pm. today, weather permitting. An intensive drive was planned today by volunteer workers in the Government solicitation units. The utilities and business divisions also strove to increase enrollment. The physicians’ subdivision of the professional solicitation group expects to complete its canvass by nightfall, Dr. Donald Knowlton, chairman, said. Roll headquarters said last night that distribution of all equipment— buttons, flags, circulars, enrollment blanks, etc.—has been completed and that each of 7,000 volunteers now was prepared to take memberships for the duration of the drive. Apartments Solicited. Captains in 57 apartment houses started work yesterday afternoon under Miss Elizabeth Wightman. Let- ters appealing for memberships were distributed to 6,500 apartment house dwellers. Miss Nancy Brereton, Miss Helen Beattie and Miss Peggy Dow, volun- teers, established a membership booth last night for the anniversary program in D. J. Kaufman's principal store. Lloyd B. Wilson, general roll call chairman, said last night that he con- sidered reports thus far more encour- aging than he had anticipated. - POLICE PROMOTION IS WON BY DARNALL Made Acting Lieutenant as Re- sult of Work in Goodwin Slaying. Detective Sergt. George Darnall, veteran chief of the homicide squad, will assume the rank of acting lieu- tenant tomorrow as a reward for his work in helping to solve the mur- der of Mrs. Flor- ence Goodwin. In making the announcement, Police Supt. Er- nest W. Brown said four privates will be elevated to precinct de- tectives and a number of “rou- tine” transfers will be made to- b - morrow. Maj. Serst. Daman, Brown did not name the men involved in the latter transfers. Those to be promoted to precinct, detectives are William Ellery, assistant to Darnall; William G. Fawcett and Robert V. Murray of the vice squad, and Fred Antonelli, No. 2 precinct. Fawcett and Murray will be as- signed to precincts later, while Ellery will remain with the homicide squad and Antonelli is to stay at No. 2. Chief of Detectives Bernard W. ‘Thompson recently completed a study of the organiaztion of homicide squads in various large cities and re- ported that the groups are com- manded by lieutenants, captains or even 5 Maj. Brown said that Darnall's new rank would increase his efficiency in investigations, where he must give orders to detective sergeants hereto- fore of his own rank. The police chief denied rumors of a “general shake-up,” emphasizing that tomor- row’s changes would be purely routine. _— M’REYNOLDS ELECTED WELFARE BOARD HEAD Former Judge Doyle Re-elected Vice Chairman and Mrs. Gold- smith Secretary. Frederick W. McReynolds today was re-elected chairman of the Board of Public Welfare for the fiscal year end- ing June 30, 1937. Former Judge Michael M. Doyle was re-elected vice chairman and Mrs. Charles A, Gold- smith, secretary. ‘The following standing committees were announced by MgReynolds: Public assistance—Dr. Frederic W. Perkins, chsirman; Mrs. Goldsmith, Mrs. Gordon, Franklin Cook and Willlam W. Spaid. Penal and correctional institutions —Judge Doyle, chairman; Dr. Worth B. Daniels, Mr. McReynolds and Child welfare—Mrs. Gordon, chair- than; Dr. Perkins, Mrs. Goldsmith, Mrs. Cook and Dr. Henry J. Crosson. Medical service—Dr. Crosson, man; Dr. Daniels, Judge Qgyle and McReynolds. 4 L1 2 . Moving Day In Washington “No Longer a Necessity, Just a Habit” Real Estate Man Says. The rain meant nothing to these men, and hundreds I heavy work on the year’s biggest moving day. Wilson, HE traditional reasons for Washington's “moving day” seem to have disappeared, yet the biggest residential shift since the World War was well under way here today. Large trucking concerns have been booked to capacity for weeks. They cannot muster enough equipment to move all their customers on time. Public utility employes are busy with service changes. The gas companies, for example, have received more orders for meter changes this month than ever before. The peak of the customer shift is ex- pected the first few days in October, and changes this season are 10 per cent above those of the 1935 moving period. Leases Are Staggered. Yet real estate men point out that the city’s landlords now stagger their leases. Rental periods no longer end in large numbers on September 30, as in other cities. Thirty-day agreements are in wide use here, since thousands of Federal employes and service men are subject to transfer. ‘Too, the “lame duck” amendment has set back the opening of Con- gress, delaying the arrival of hun- dreds of employes, lobbyists and camp followers who collect in Washington in advance of the sessions on Cap- itol Hill. In years past, this influx began during October. ‘The large amount of moving going on now is due, in part, to the many shifts which follow the opening of new apartment buildings, and the completion of new homes. One Family May Start Shifts. One family moving from an apart- ment, for example, may start half a dozen shifts. Vacancies are filled quickly in & city where the housing shortage remains acute despite the building boom. An executive for a big moving and storage company put it this way: “You might think the apartment shortage would cut down moving. But take the case of a family we just moved from a Connecticut avenue apartment to & new home across the Potomac, in Virginia. Another family immediately took the apartment. The apartment they vacated was filled, and s0 on down the line. At least five moves followed the first. “This is the best business season we've ever experienced. We've been booked up for the last month, and we're booked solid through November. I doubt if there's enough first-class moving equipment in town to take care of the demand. Lejt to right, G. H, Reed, L. L. Frazier and H, W. Star Staff Photo. “The city is full of new residents, and more are coming in as fast as they can find homes. We have men on our list who work here but live in Balti- more or neighboring communities and commute to Washington while waiting for a chance to move here. Prosperity Is Here. “Prosperity isn't just around the corner for us—it's here!” Experts place the number of va- | cancies here at less than 2 per cent, although 2,000 one-family dwellings have been erected in the last year, and some 3,000 apartment units added in the District alone. At least 1,500 small homes have been erected in nearby Maryland and Virginia, and the Colonial Village apartments in Virginia are providing homes for almost 800 families. Many of the new buildings were timed for completion this Fall. But not all the moving can be traced to this source. Washingtonians, especially apartment dwellers, are inclined to grow restless in the Fall. They are tempted to seek new homes in new neighborhoods, & change of scene. As one real estate man put it: “Washington's moving day is no longer a necessity—it's just a habit!” RHODES DENIES ALL ACCUSATIONS Former Head of Defunct Loan Association Charges. Bitter Antagonism. Declaring the charges pending against him “mark the climax of a very bitter antagonism toward me on the part of the office of the controller of the currency,” Fred B. Rhodes, indicted former head of the Fidelity Building & Loan Association, today issued a signed statement denying all the ‘accusations. Rhodes, well known attorney and former president of the Fidelity, was indicted by the District Grand Jury yesterday on 20 larceny and four forgery charges in connection with alleged irregularities that resulted in the closing of the institution last July 18, Personally Advanced Funds. After the controller had refused to permit the sale of Fidelity organiza- tion stock, Rhodes said, he personally advanced funds to meet unusual ex- penses incurred while the institution was being built up. Rhodes cited the 1932 report of the controller to show these advances were for office rent and salaries. 1In February, 1936, he continued, the controller forced him to retige’ from active connection with the association. Despite this, he asserted, he advanced personally securities and property ap- praised at $51,000 in an effort to avert the closing of the institution. He has not been reimbursed for this advance, he added. Transactions Were Known. Some of the larceny charges were based on construction loans Rhodes procured from the Fidelity in the name of another person. He asserted the officers’ of the association and the controller knew all the details of these transactions, adding there has been 1o loss to Fidelity as a result of them. He also denied the forgery charges, claiming he had full authority for his acts. Rhodes concluded with the assertion he hasn'’t -the “slightest doubt” that the assets of the institution are suffi- cient to pay the members in full. —_—_— MERRILL BACK ON JOB Pilot for Richman Returns to Transport Line Post. Mrs. Coralie | on his way South yesterday and was to pause here again today, arriving at 3:30 p.m. if bad weatheg, does not achedules. Live Pigeon Joins Stuffed Specimens Inside Smithsonian Doors, Windows Were Shut for Night, So Mystery Exists. Employes of the Smithsonian In- stitution this morning found a stray carrier pigeon in a room full of stuffed birds of many varieties. James Hill, building superintend- ent, was at a loss to explain how the flesh-and-blood specimen managed to join such a strange company. All the doors and windows had been closed during the night. ‘The pigeon, battered and chilled by last night's rain, seemed exhausted after a long flight. It evidently is a valuable bird, Hill said, and wears leg bands bearing serial numbers. Employes, more- accustomed to stuffed birds than live ones, were un- certain what to do with the visitor. Meanwhile, they fed him and put him in a storage room. P INQUIRY SET TODAY IN WOMAN’S DEATH Coroner's Jury to Decide Whether Mrs. Watkins Died as Result of Accident. BULLETIN. A coroner’s jury today held Rob- ert Taylor Wood, 35, responsible for the death of Mrs. Sadie Watkins, 36. In holding Wood for grand jury action, the jury also recommended that John McGarrigle, 33, and Ed- mund Thomas Sellers, 32, be held as material witnesses. A coroner's jury will decide today whether Mrs. Sadie Watkins, 36, who was found dead last Saturday in a boarding house at 303 D street, was attacked or died as the result of an accident. Her body was discovered on a blood-spattered bed, and s dented coffee pot and blood-stained knife were lying nearby. Three men, one said by police to have been the common-law husband of the woman, are held in connection with the death. They have told police Mrs. Wat- kins broke her nose in a fall and that police, had been living with ‘Watkins; John McGarrgle, 33, CAPITAL IS SECOND IN COST OF LIVING Only Cincinnati Is More Ex- | pensive for Families, Survey Shows. ‘Wiih the upward trend continuing since the survey was concluded, a special Labor Department study of costs of living of Federal employes in Washington shows prices have been increasing almost steadily since March, 1933. At the present time, among 32 large cities of the United States, only Cincinnati is a more ex- pensive place in which to live than the Nation's Capital. Taking the first six months of 1928 as the normal for an index number of 109, the survey discloses that total costs were established at 82.7 in March, 1933. From then until Jan- uary 15 of this year they rose to 88.5. From then until April 15 there was an irregular drop to 87.8, but an increase in food prices brought & re- sumption of the climb since that date. In separate costs, the greatest in- creases were noted in clothing at 16.5 per cent, furnishings and equipment at 22.7 per cent, food at 8.9 per cent transportation at 4.7 per cent. Life insurance costs moved up 2.6 per cent and education costs advanced 0.7 of 1 per cent. Decreases over the complete period under study were recorded in three classifications, the housing costs being down 1.7 per cent, household operation being off 1.4 per cent and personal care showing the greatest drop of 8.6 per cent. In making their study, the depart- ment took 336 families of Federal em- ployes and 123 single individuals. On a salary basis they were divided into four groups as follows: Custodial em- ployes with basic salaries less than $2,500; other employes with salaries below $2,500; employes with basis sal- aries of $2,500 and over and employes living as single individuals. In consideration of the four groups it was found that the greatest total increase was in the first of these groups where the advance was 7.3 per cent. For the second group, the increase was 5.5 per cent, for the third group it was 5.8 per cent and for the single individuals it was only 0.7 of 1 per cent. FARM INCOME DROPS A decline of $85,000,000 in total cash income of farmers from July to Au- gust—when farm income usually in- creases—was reported yesterday by the Agriculture Department. Early harvesting and marketing of grain crops in July, when cash income totaled $734,000,000, was said by the t to have caused the decline to $649,000,000 in August. This total still was $39,000900 ahead of the $610,000,000 for August last year. Society and General HIGHER TAX" PLAN FOR D. . AUTOISTS ASSAILED BY CLUB Letter Telis Commissioners U. S. Should Pay on Streets Program. PER CAPITA LEVIES IN CAPITAL CITED “Proposed Gasoline Tax Increase Would Provide $500,000 More Than Needed. A detailed statement of opposition to any increase in gasoline taxes in the District, to imposition of any motor vehicle weight tax and to any diversion of gasoline tax revenues for purposes other than street improvee ments and repairs has been submitted to the District Commissioners by the District Motor Club, local division of the American Automobile Association. The statement is in the form of a letter signed by George W. Offutt, chairman of the club's Advisory Board. The club said, in effect, that the Federal Government should contribe ute to Washington's street and highe way program. It said, furthermore, that anticipated motor vehicle tax revenues are quite sufficient. Among arguments advanced against the proposed tax increase was that District motorists do not get as much for their money as those of many States and that the per capita motor vehicle levy here was higher than in any other city of comparable size. $500,000 Revenue Excess. In reply to the proposal of Capt. H. C. Whitehurst, director of highways, for a 1-cent-per-gallon gasoline tax increase to cover an expected defie ciency in funds available for the Dis- trict’s highway program in the 1938 fiscal year, the club said the sug< gested increase would provide about $500,000 more revenue than was needed to meet the contemplated expenditure. “If additional funds are needed” the statement said, “there should be & contribution from the Federal Gov- ernment to be allocated for highway construction and maintenance. The Federal Government owns and oper- ates thousands of passenger cars and trucks on the streets and highways of the District and does not contribute to the construction and maintenance of these streets through payment of gasoline taxes nor the payment of other motor vehicle levies because it is exempt from registration and per- sonal property tax fees which are used for general administrative needs.” The Federal Government is re- sponsible, said the motor club, for much of the cost of maintaining streets here because its plan. for development of the Capital has re- quired “broad streets and avenues which might not otherwise be needed.” and has forced the District to widen streets in the triangle area to ac- commodate the added burden of traffic caused by the concentration of buildings in that area. Likewise, the Commissioners were told, the placing of Government activities in the triangle area has changed the direction of the flow of traffic to the extent that it has been necessary to provide or improve other arteries. No Allotment Benefit. Offutt’s letter said that while Dis- trict motorists contribute $1,700,000 annually in Federal levies, including the 1-cent Federal gasoline tax and the excise tax on new-car sales, they receive no benefit in the form of allotments from the regular Federal aid appropriation of $125,000,000 in & share proportionate to that allocated to the States. Opposition to a weight tax was based on the conclusion that such a levy “is not & measure of use made of the highways.” Since the revenues from motor vehicle taxes “far exceed” the costs of operating the Department of Vehicles and Traffic, said the motor club, “we oppose any efforts to pro- vide for the cost of operation of the department from the gasoline tax fund of the District.” The club submitted figures to show that, on the basis of a 1934 survey, the average vehicle tax in the Dis~ trict was $20.81, compared to a na- tional average of $38.11. “It may seem from these figures that motorists in the District are much favored so far as motor vehicle taxes are concerned,” the club said. “However, we wish to point out that very decidedly they are not.” Figures then were presented to show that the District has only 775 miles of highways compared to “a much larger total” in the States. The club also stated that the per capita motor vehicle tax here is $5.84, compared to $3.27 in New York City, $4.07 in Boston and $1.97 in San Francisco. Other cities of more than 500,000 population were shown to have lower per capita taxes. Benefits to Be Considered. “It seems inconceivable to us,” the club wrote, “that the Commissioners of the District, acting in the interest of its citizens, could offer as a justi fication to the levying of taxes the illogical theory that it is sound to increase taxes upon a certain class of citizens on the grounds that taxes are higher in other jurisdictions, without taking into consideration the benefit the taxpayer receives through the pay= ment of these taxes.” The club then presented excerpts from court decisions and from acts of Congress in support. of its conte.i= tion that it was the intent of Cou~ gress that money from gas taxes be applied only to street improvements and repair and not be diverted to any other purpose. “We feel,” concluded the statement, “that the District Commissioners would be rendering a great service to the citizens of Washington should they vigorously demand a fair con- tribution to the highway program of the District by the Federal Governe ment on the same proportionate basis as the Federal contribution for other purposes and for the participation of the District in the regular Federal aid appropriation on the same basis as other cities or a special provision in the Federal aigwact to take care of the situation peculiar to the District.”