Evening Star Newspaper, April 6, 1937, Page 21

Washingfon News ASSEMBLY PASSES RELIEF BILL WITH BOOKMAKING LEVY $5,360,000 Maryland Meas- ure Will Become Effective on June 1. REFERENDUM PROVIDED ON STATE INCOME TAX Legislature Also Approves $9,- 052,000 State Bond Issue for New Construction. BY JACK ALLEN, Btaft Correspondent of The Star. ANNAPOLIS, April 6.—Maryland's relief tax program—legalizing book- making in Prince Georges County and other communities, including Balti- more City—was passed by the Senate shortly before the assembly adjourned sine die at noon. Consideration of the $5,360,000 meas- ure, which becomes effective June 1, was delayed for several hours as mem- bers of a Conference Committee from the House and Senate toiled over an impasse in the State bond bill, calling for issuance of $9,052,000 in con- struction bonds. The Senate passed the relief tax measure a few moments after the Conference Committee reported. ‘The House adopted the Conference Committee’s report on the bond bill while the Senate was passing the re- tief bill and the upper chamber quick- 1y followed in the House's footsteps on the bond proposal. Others Passed. Among State-wide legislation passed were bills: Providing constitutional amendment to authorize the Legislature to impose a tax on incomes of individuals, but not on corporations. The amend- ment will be submitted in the Novem- ber, 1938, election Requiring persons to testify for the State in trials of lottery, bribery and conspiracy charges and granting such witnesses immunity from prosecution. Granting tax exemptions for four years to the Baltimore & Annapolis Railroad. Continuing for two years State Roads Commission control over county lateral roads. Authorizing issuance of $1,000,000 in bonds for construction of a State office building in Annapolis. Allowing use of convict labor on roads. Setting up & commission to award $30,000 per year in scholarships for higher education of celored. The relief measure underwent one change in the House this morning. Changed in House. When it left the Senate early Sun- day the relief tax bill contained a provision specifically stating the per- centage Baltimore city and each county would derive from the proceeds of the welfare tax. Members of the House, however, changed this early today to enable the State Board of Aid and Charities to allocate the money—and the Fed- eral funds that will match it—in the communities on the basis of need, rather than population. The Senate approved the amend- ment. Members Sleep. The Conference Committee from the House and Senate on the bond pro- posal was formed shortly after dav- break today and was in session for nearly three hours before it was re- ported an agreement had been reached upon House amendments to the bond bill Meanwhile tired members of both houses, worn out from continuous work since 11 o’clock yesterday morn- ing, reclined or slept in their seats and about the lounges adjoining the two chambers. It was said the Conference Com- mittee spent nearly three hours over six amendments attached in the House and finally agreed to solve the prob- lem by allowing Morgan College for Colored $100,000 for building purposes and $50,000 for an armory at Denton. House Provisions, When the bill came from the House at daybreak it carried new provisions as follows: For Morgan College, $200,000. For a Naval Militia armory, $200,~ 000. For Baltimore Airport, $100,000. For the tobacco warehouse, $55,000. For an armory at Denton, $50,000. oog‘or the armory at Pikesville, $50,- ‘The changes would have raised the amount of the bonds to $9,567,000. Under the conference committee re- port, however, this would be cut to $9852,000. Passage of the relief bill through ‘the House was marked with virtually no debate. The change striking out the specific method in which the re- lief money would be allocated was edopted without discussion. ! Amendment Beaten. ‘The delegation from Prince Georges County—which would legalize book- making with a $25,000 county license fee in addition to the State license of $5,000 and 1 per cent tax on all wagers—sought to amend the bill to reap further profits for their county. Members of the delegation offered an amendment proposing that the 1 per cent tax on wagers made in Prince Georges and Baltimore City be re- tained by those communities for wel- fare work, but the amendment was quickly killed. The bill was then passed by the House 'on third reading under a sus- pension of rules and the measure was -sent to the Senate. The relief-tax program as passed by the Legislature follows: A tax of 2!, cents per gallon on whisky manufactured in Maryland. “A tax of 75 cents a barrel on beer. « A corporation franchise tax. ‘Twenty extra days of racing. ¢ A stamp tax on recorded legal Aocuments. ‘A $25 license fee for pin ball and ‘elaw machines. 1 per cent automobile titling tax. ¥A tax on admissions to places of “#musement. Bookmaking license fees, $5,000 & year, and 1 per cent on bets. JA cosmetics tax, exempting s0a] Banker Honored, Will Do Best, He Says, in New Post. Gratz E. Dunkum, banker, business man, fraternal and church leader, now is—to his complete astonishment—to become an educator. Dunkum was aroused from a siesta late yesterday by reporters informing him he had been appointed by the District Court justices to fill out the unexpired term of his friend Henry Gilligan on the Board of Education. The appointment is effective April 8, and the press immediately prodded him with questions of policy. It was all very confusing to him, Mr. Dunkum said, especially since he had declared to inquiring friends that he was in no sense a candidate for the position and the court had never approached him on the subject. ‘Will Do His Best. “However,” the distinguished-looking Virginian asserted, “if the Government feels that I can be of service and has seen fit to appoint me without con- sulting me, I feel honored and will do my very best. I am enormously in- terested in public education.” Announcement of the appointment ‘was made late yesterday by Chief Jus- tice Alfred A. Wheat of the District Supreme Court. A district manager of the Metro- politan Life Insurance Co. for 30 years and now vice president of the East Washington Savings Bank, Dunkum is & past grand master of the District Masons and also chairman of the Extension Board of Calvary Bap- tist Church. He is also president of the Topham Leather Goods Corp. Gilligan Pleased. Informed that the 65-year-old bank- er was to be his successor, Gilligan classed the appointment as “ideal” “The justices could not have made a finer selection if they had gone over the city with a fine-toothed comb,” ! he declared enthusiastically. “He is |a man of the finest character, thor- { oughly interested in the welfare of the | Capital and with a keen insight into |any problem. I have known him for {many years and I can truthfully say | that both the District and the Board of Education are to be congratulated in having obtained his services.” Dunkum, leaning back in a chair in the Masonic Temple last night, held no such high opinion of himself and admitted that the appointment was a great surprise to him. Self-Taught. “I am less qualified for the position than any one I know,” he insisted | modestly. “A man should have edu- | cational background for the position and that’s just what I haven't. I have no degrees from any place and all my education has been gleaned from books by myself.” The only way he could explain the The WASHINGTON, D. C, TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 1937. GRATZ E. DUNKUM. —Star Staff Photo. action of the justices in selecting him was possibly the feeling that his ex- ecutive experience might be of some use. “Because the position carries with it no salary and is purely honorary, I feel greatly honored at being asked to serve,” he said. Although it is much too early to think of policies yet, Dunkum said, nevertheless he felt that loyalty to the country should be a fundamental part of the instruction of the chil- dren and that the schools should strive to teach above all else the truth. Often Mistaken for Ballou. Outside of Gilligan, the new ap- pointee, who lives at 5322 Colorado avenue, has not met any of the other board members as yet. With a beard very much like that of Dr. Frank W. Ballou, he looks a great deal like the superintendent, for whom he has a great admiration. Commenting on the resemblance, he chuckled: “Yes, Il bet Dr. Ballou has been deeply hurt at being called Dunkum several times. I know I have been mistaken for him at least 50 times.” Dunkum told of one occasion when he was accosted on a street car by a young woman who thanked him profusely for all he had done for her. Sensing mistaken identity, and not wishing to take credit where it wasn’t due, he indicated there must be some error, and that she probably did not know who he was. “Why, Dr. Ballou, T would know you anywhere,” she stated with conviction. When he succeeded in identifying himself the young woman, a teacher, nearly fainted in her embarrassment, he declared with a chuckle. Declaring education of the people to be the most important task of the Government, Dunkum insisted that while he had no academic qualifica- tions for the board position, “they haven’t got a man .there who'll be more interested.” D. C. BOOKIES FACE DOUBLE MENACE Raids and Probability of Maryland Legalizing Plague Gamblers. Continued raids and the probability of legal bookmaking in nearby Prince Georges County apeared today to threaten the existence of Washing- ton's race horse betting establish- ments. Four “clean-up” raids were made | here late yesterday as the Maryland Legislature put the finishing touches on a bookmaking bill now awaiting the signature of Gov. Harry W. Nice. Enactment of the new legislation will mean a tremendous loss in busi- ness to gamblers here, it is expected. Local bettors can telephone wagers to Maryland, or cross the line to watch race track returns posted on black- boards of licensed bookmakers. Speculation on La Fontaine. ‘There was speculation today as to whether “Jimmy” La Fontaine’s place, on Bladensburg road just across the District line in Prince Georges County, will be licensed when the bill, if signed by the Governor, becomes effective June 1. An exodus of local gamblers to legal territory in Maryland will be prevented by a provision in the measure requir- ing five years of voting citizenship for bookmakers and two years for their employes. Meanwhile, political and civic lead- ers in Prince Georges County today expressed widely divergent views on the effects of the legislation. Consensus throughout the territory of some 75,000 citizens is' that the high license fee of $30,000 will pre- vent widespread legal operations by “bookies” of Prince Georges. Many outstanding citizens fear that Prince Georges might become a “book- making paradise,” formed by the in- flux of gamblers from Washington and other Eastern cities. Other county leaders. admitting their opposition to legalized gambling “on principle,” nevertheless hailed the legislation as a means of removing illegal gaming. Blandford Alarmed. Responsibility for license issuance will rest with the county commission- ers, according to terms of the measure. County Commissioner Joseph H. Blandford of Clinton today expressed alarm over the political influence which might be exerted by bookmak- ers. Opposed to all legalized gambling, Blandford said his board would pro- hibit out-of-county “bookies” from moving into the territory, but he char- acterized the legisiatios, as “sacrificing & government of efficiency and moral- ity.” Blandford /declared there was no guarantee “as to how future boards will handle the matter,” Another commissioner, Capt. Vinton D. Cockey, sald he was “overjoyed” at the legislation. He asserted that the bill would “remove a long-standing blackmark against Prince Georges.” Cockey also said his board would “cer- tainly not permit the territory to be- Complete opposition to the legisla- tion was voiced by Judge Alfred D. Bailey, president of the Federation of Citizens’ Associations. He said the high license fee “will probably shut every one out except ‘Jimmy.’” Bickford Surprised. Hugh Bickford, president of the Clinton Citizens’ Association, who headed the federation’s special police investigation committee, expressed surprise that “the legislators would slip through this bill without consult- ing the county’s citizenry.” William A. Duvall of Branchville, former county commissioner and long an outspoken opponent of gambling, said the high license fee would “‘place :;ookm;kmg in the hands of only a ew.” “I have never been able to under- stand why we couldn’t enforce the anti-gambling laws here,” he said. “When I was foreman of the grand jury several years ago, we tried ex- tremely hard to get something on ‘Jimmy’s’ But the place was too well organized. I do fear that this legis- lation brings gambling openly into }aomm. It means that we admit de- eat.” County Commissioner Harry W. Mc- Namee of Berwyn backed his col- leagues in promising “rigid control.” The raids here were “clean-ups” in the wake of 50 forays on &s many sus- pected places in the last few weeks. In the 700 block of O street police raided a place on the second floor, above a barber shop, and arrested Caton. Elderly Woman Arrested. An elderly woman was arrested in a raid on a suspected place in the first block of I street, but she was released after questioning. Police smashed into an apartment in the 3500 block of Fourteenth street and arrested Davis. e HIGH COURT GETS BRIEF ON TAX ON EMPLOYERS Justice Department Argues Act Should Be Declared Con- stitutional. B3 the’Associated Press. ‘The Justice Department argued in the Supreme Court yesterday that pro- visions of the Federal social security act imposing a tax on employers to aid the jobless “should be declared constitutional in every respect.” The argument was set forth in a brief signed by Attorney General Cummings. The case involves a tax imposed upon the Charles C. Steward Machine Co. of Alabama by the col- lector of internal revenue. The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals at New Orleans denied the company'’s petition for refund of $46 paid under the act. —_— W. P. A. PICKETS CALLED County-Wide Strike Is Voted on Projects in Ohio. ‘COSHOCTON, Ohio, April 6 (#).— Pickets were summoned to W. P. A. projects today after a county-wide strike was voted at a W. P. A. em- ployes’ mass meeting, called by the ‘Workers® Alliance of America and the United Mine Workers of America. Between 400 and 500 persons are employed on the county projects. Higher wages were demanded. Union miners on a mine-sealing project refused to return to work yes- terday when pay of seven men was reduced after they were classified as 1sborers. — ‘The Port of London, in England, last year broke all its ahipping rvsnll ) Dunkum Astonished by Naming | To Education Board Vacancy I'AWYER AHACKS CONFUSING'SIGNS IN PARKING FIGHT Removal Recommended in Brief Filed by C. H. Doherty. CHARGE IS ANSWERED BY DISTRICT ATTORNEY Notices Erected Under Authority Given Commissioners, Neilson Says. Removal of “confusing” no-parking signs was recommended in a brief filed today with Police Court Judge John P. McMahon by Cornelius H. Doherty, an attorney, in his fight against a ticket received on Vermont avenue for violating a sign reading “no parking to corner.” Doherty’s brief stated many signs designed to regulate parking are placed in a manner that confuses motorists. He said they should be removed and others erected under authority of the Commissioners. At the time the question was raised, Judge McMahon said he wanted plen- ty of time to consider it, because hun- dreds of signs and many miles of streets were affected Commissioners’ Right Cited. In another brief, filed by Assistant Corporation Counsel George D. Neil- son, it is held that the signs attacked by Doherty were erected in accord- ance with an act of Congress giving the Commissioners the right to pro- mulgate regulations dealing with traffic. Doherty’'s car was parked on the curb side of a sign prohibiting parking to the corner of K street on Vermont avenue. The sign, it was testified at the hearing, is 48 feet from the inter- section and the rear of Doherty’s car was 30 feet from the corner, giving a leeway several feet over the general regulation prohibiting parking less than 25 feet from any corner. The defendant contends in his brief that the signs all carry the notation “By order of the Police Department,” while all authority to regulate traffic was specifically designated to the Commissioners, hence all signs should contain “By order of the Commis- sioners of the District of Columbia.” Contention of Doherty. Under the traffic act, Doherty con- tends, the Commissioners are per- mitted to promulgate reasonable reg- ulations for the handling of traffic, but these must be published in a daily newspa) for 10 days before they be- come effective. There has been no regulation published with respect to parking in general, except on certain streets, of which Vermont avenue is not one, Doherty charges. The District’s brief was pre- pared by Neilson after Rice Hooe, assistant corporation counsel in charge of the Police Court office, announced his belief that Doherty's claims were correct. Hooe stated he would not file an answering brief. Corporation Counsel Elwood H. Seal, backed by Traffic Director William A. Van Duzer, however, demanded that the case be fought, it was learned today. The principal claim of the District is that the general erection of traffic regulatory signs was properly author- ized when the Commissioners pub- lished the authority under which they are given control over parking. It is claimed in the Government brief that Congress could not have contemplated publication of inten- tion to erect all parking signs and at what points, since this would be an endless procedure. Arguments on the briefs will be held before Judge McMahon on April 10, at which time he is expected to rule on the question of whether the greater number of signs in the District have been erected illegally. e TRAVEL TALKS SET Episcopalians Arrange Series at Falls Church. 8pecis) Dispatch to The Star. FALLS CHURCH, Va. April 6.—A series of travel-talks for the benefit of the churchyard fund of old Falls Episcopal Church have been author- ized by the vestry, the first to be held Friday evening. The schedule fol- lows: April 9, “Brazil,” Rev. W. Leigh Ribble, rector of the church; April 23, “Around the World in Six Months,” Brig. Gen. Rufus H. Lane, retired; May 7, “China,” Maj. Franklin P. Shaw, U. 8. A.; May 14, “Africa,” Rev. Herbert A. Donovan, rector of Truro Episcopal Church, Fairfax; May 28, “Turkey,” Dr. Julius H. Parmelee, director, Bureau of Railway Eco- nomics. Man Fatally Shot. Samuel Keyes, 27, colored, was fatal- ly shot during an argument yesterday in a house in the first block of Davis court. Police are searching for four colored men and a colored woman who, witnesses said, fled in an auto- mobile after the shooting. The car was found abandoned late yesterday at Sherman avenue and Barry place. WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION The Tidal Basin cherry blossoms, first of the season’s buds to open. today from a vantage point looking out over the basin. caused buds on overhanging branches to bloom earlier than others. Polo Grounds. HERE KILLS SELF Paul Garber Ends Life With Gun Because of Ill Health. Convinoed he could never regain his | health, Paul Greenwood Garber, 72, well-known collector and dealer in antiques, shot himself to death this | morning in the wash room of his store at 1210 Eighteenth street. Shortly before the store was to open at 9 a.m., Mr. Garber came downstairs | from his living quarters above, wrote | two notes to his wife, Mrs. Margaret | Garber, and a brief message to the | porter, George Coates. | The last message Mr. Garber left | on a table near the door, presumably | with the intention that Coates should | find it when he came to work. The cryptic message said, “George—wash | room—police.” | Mrs. Garber Finds Body. | Mrs. Garber, however, found her | husband. He was lying face down | on the wash room floor. She sum- moned a physician, who pronounced Mr. Garder dead. He had been shot | near the heart by a .32-caliber pistol, | which lay beside him. Coroner A. Magruder MacDonald issued a certificate of suicide. Dr. MacDonald said the other notes ex- pressed Mr. Garber’s despair of re- gaining his health and indicated suicide. Mr. Garber went in business for himself in 1911 after an earlier train- ing with two Washington department stores. He collected and sold Oriental rugs, old paintings, bric-a-brac and curios of many types, including antique swords and pistols. Mr. Garber is survived by a son, Paul E. Garber, curator of aviation at the Smithsonian Institution, and a daughter, Mrs. H. Newton Blue, who lives at the Eighteenth street ad- dress. Funeral arrangements have not been completed. Was Expert Appraiser. Mr. Garber was an expert appraiser of antiques, and his services often were employed by wealthy collectors. A native of Philadelphia, he had lived in Washington most of the time since 1903. He was regarded as one of the country’s foremost authorities on Oriental rugs. After establishing his own business, Mr. Garber conducted antique shops in several localities, moving into the Eighteenth street store about 15 years ago. JR—— HEALTH OFFICER WARNS OF DIPTHERIA MENACE Spectal Dispatch to The Star. ROCKVILLE, Md., April 6.—The appearance of three cases of diph- theria in the Bethesda area has led Dr. V. L. Ellicott, county health offi- cer, to renew his plea that parents have their children immunized at once. Dr. Ellicott said county health rec- ords show only 30 per cent of the pre- school children of the Bethesda area have had protective doses of toxoid. New Method of Grading Pupils May Supplant Old ‘A-F’ Plan ‘There may come a day soon when there will be no more spankings for Elmer for getting “F” on his report card because there’s liable not to be any more “A,” “B” or any other let- ters used in the District public schools. If the Board of Education looks favorably on the application of five elementary schools, students will bring home to the folks a two-paragraph statement giving in some detail the reasons for his success here and his failure there, instead of the old, un- compromising marks by letter. The experiment along this line be- gan as part of the congressional char- acter ediucation experiment several years ago. It was tried qut in the H. D. Cooke School in divilions 1 to 9 and the Morgan School in divisions 10 to 13. ‘The parents, in both cases, indicated in a poll that they were in accord with the idea, and in almost } three years have registered no pro- test to the change. Five other schools are now apply- ing to the board for permission to undertake the same experiment with or without modification. If they are permitted and find the new report card preferable, it may be generally adopted in all the schools, First As- sistant Supt. Robert L. Haycock has indicated. Of course, it will mean a lot of extra work for teachers, but it seems as though parents are going to get more of s “low-down” on their children. L4 pering Stap kKK & ANTIQUE DEALER PAGE B—-1 KENNEDY OPPOSES 112,000,000 SGOPE This photo was taken Moisture and warmth from the water has These buds are opposite the Miss Nettie Rubin inspecting blossoms in front of 1323 M street. —Star Staff Photos. Rain Swells Cherry Buds; Fete Weather Outlook Good Roosevelts Asked as Guests of Honor. Dances, Coronation and Fire- works on Program. The weather outlook for Thursday's colorful Cherry Blossom Festival ap- peared favorable today as millions of buds began to tint the trees around the Tidal Basin and plans were made to have President and Mrs. Roosevelt as guests of honor at the celebration. Commissioner Hazen, honorary chair- man of the Festival Committee, an- nounced today- that Mr. and Mrs. Roosevelt would be invited. Meanwhile, the forecaster stretched a point and predicted 48 hours in ad- vance that the weather Thursday prob- ably will be mild, although there is a possibility of showers. The warm Spring rain of the last 24 hours hastened the unfolding of the rose-colored buds, which will be the central feature of the celebration. Fair and Cooler Tomorrow. The immediate forecast is for fair and somewhat cooler weather tomor- Tow. Horticulturists have assured the Festival Committee that the trees would be in bloom by Thursday. Today’s Springlike warmth saw the mercury high in the 60s after a steady rise since midnight. The minimum tonight will be somewhat lower, it was forecast. Commissioner Hazen announced that a special pox will be erected for President and Mrs. Roosevelt if they accept the invitation. The festival will start at 6 am. Thursday, when the Evelyn Davis Dancers will perform symbolic sunrise dances to the music of the United States Marine Band for one hour. 5,000 Seats Ready. The night program will start at 7:45 p.m. when the United States Marine Band will play for a half hour under the cherry trees on the north side of the Basin, where 5,000 reserved seats have been erected. Meanwhile Sakiko Saito, 10-year-old daughter of the Japanese Ambassador and Mme Saito, accompanied by 10- year-old Barbara Caldwell, her maid of honor, will leave the embassy be- hind an impressive police escort for the Tidal Basin, where she will be crowned Queen of the Festival by Commissioner Hazen. The ceremony will take place on a float at the Tidal Basin boat house. After her coronation the diminutive Queen and her cofet, will board her “dream boat,” harnessed to a large mechanical swan. In the glare of flood lights the queen will make a ceremonial circuit of the basin until her boat disappears in an artificial mist. Emerging from the mist, the boat will glide alongside & large float anchored in the basin which the queen and her court will board. There the Evelyn Davis group, attired in Japanese costume, will per- form symbolical dances. Fireworks at 9 P.M. Promptly at 9 pm. an elaborate fireworks display will begin. The fire- works, almost all of them aerial pieces, will be shot off from the site of the old Tidal Basin bathing beach. A feature of the display will be a set piece, which when ignited will outline a flaming pink and white cherry tree in bloom. The Festival Committee warned ‘Washingtonians who desire reserved seats that today and tomorrow will be their last chance to obtain them. The seats, which cost 25 cents each, are on sale at almost all of the hotels, the American Automobile Association, the Keystone Automobile Club, the Stand- ard Oil Building and the Union Drug Co. at Union Station. It is expected that approximately 200,000 persons will attend the festi- val. Traffic on Seventeenth street south of Constitution avenue will be barred after dark. $12-A-DAY WAGE SCALE OF CARPENTERS SIGNED Local Agreement Goes Into Effect Here May 1 to Continue for Year. A new wage agreement raising car- penters from $11 a day to $12 a day was signed last night by the Master Builders’ Association and the Carpen- ters’ District Council. The agreement goes into effect May 1 and will continue for a year. The increase for the 8-hour day is from $1.371% an hour to $1.50 an hour. J. R. Skinker headed the commit- tee representing the builders, and Prank Howard was chairman of the carpenters’ group, during negotiations which lasted sevefl weeks. OF D.C. TAX BILLS Collins Program Goes Be- yond Necessity, Com- - mitteeman Says. BUILDING OF “RESERVE” FUND IS DISTRUSTED Proposed Weight Levy on Motor Vehicles Too High, Repre- sentative Holds. BY JAMES E. CHINN. Definite opposition to the Collins tax bills developed today in the House District Committee, which controls the fate of the proposed far-reaching revenue program. Criticism came principally from Representative Kennedy, Democrat, of Maryland, chairman of the spe- cial subcommittee appointed to con= sider the merits of the various tax bills. He believes the program goes far beyond the realm of necessity in. attempting to raise $12,000,000 or more a year, when only half that amount is required to meet the anticipated deficit in the coming fiscal year. Kennedy plans to insist that the program be curtailed to meet actual budget needs. If he succeeds in sell- in gthat idea to other members of his subcommittee it is likely some of the tax bills will be scrapped. Aims to Build Up Surplus. The sponsor of the new tax pro= gram, Representative Collins, Demo- crat, of Mississippi, chairman of the Subcommittee on Appropriations which framed the 1938 District supply bill, has indicated his purpose in raising $12,000,000 would be to build up a surplus which might be used in the 1939 fiscal year to reduce the levy on real estate. Kennedy, however, is opposed to both features of such a plan. Real estate taxes, he feels, should be in- creased rather than decreased. Sec- ondly, he does not believe it is a wise policy to build up revenue surpluses, since there is too often a disposition to embark on a spending spree. The last time the District had a large surplus of unobligated revenues, he pointed out, more than $6,000,000 was used to purchase a site and pre- pare for a so-called municipal center, which has failed to materialize. The income tax and motor vehicle weight tax bills are the ones which have engrossed Kennedy's interest. He is not yet ready to concede that an income tax would yield more reve- nue than the present tax on intangi- ble personal property which it would replace. The argument of proponents of the income tax that the intangible tax is difficult to collect is not taken seri- ously by Kennedy. He said the in- tangible tax is being collected satis- factorily in Baltimore, and there is no reason why it can't be done in Wash- ington. In its study of the tax meas= ures the subcommittee, he indicated, probably would make a comparative analysis of the Washington and Balti- more tax collection systems. Motor Tax Held Too High. Kennedy also is inclined to believe the proposed weight tax on motor vehicles is too high and should be scaled down, especially with respect to commercial vehicles. He is not opposed, however, to the theory on which the bill is predicated, that the heavier the vehicle the higher the tax it should pay. No definite plans have been made by Kennedy for starting a study of the tax program, primarily because he believes the House should provide about $10,000 out of its contingent fund to employ an expert and other assistants to aid the subcommittee with the big job that confronts it. A request for the appropriation is expected to be made by the full Dis- trict committee before the end of the week. Kennedy explained that members of his subcommittee are too busy with matters affecting the districts they represent in the House to devote the time to the tax bills that they de- serve, whereas a paid expert could do all of the preliminary work and greatly simplify the procedure. He plans to engage William A. Roberts, former people”s counsel, to be the subcommittee’s adviser if the $10,000 is forthcoming. May Give Up Chairmanship. Kennedy, however, indicated he may be forced to give up the chair- manship of the subcommittee be- cause of the pressure of other con- gressional duties. He said his work on the Claims Committee, of which he is chairman, is now occupying virtually all his time. If he reaches a decision to relinquish the chair- manship, he will request that the assignment be given Representative Nichols, Democrat, of Oklahoma. Kennedy and Nichols were chair- men of the two special subcommittees created some time ago by the Dis- trict committee to study the Jacobs fiscal relations plan, whith the Ap- propriations Subcommittee discarded. After two joint hearings on the Ja- cobs formula the subcommittees were dissolved, and in their place was cre- ated the special Tax Subcommittee which Kennedy now heads. Student Nurses’ Party. Student nurses at Providence Hos- pital will give a benefit party at the Nurses’ Home, Second and D streets southeast, at 8 pm. Thursday. There will be refreshments and dancing. BAND CONCERTS. By the Soldiers’ Home Band in Stanley Hall at 5:30 p.m. today. John 8. M.’ Zimmermann, bandmaster; Anton Pointner, assistant. By the Navy Band Symphony Or- chestra in the sail loft at the Navy Yard at 8 pm. Lieut. Charles Benter, conductor; Alexander Morris, assistant. Frederick Feher, guest conductor; Master Everett L. Gayhart, guest soloist. This is the final symphonic concert of this season. y