The Washington times., 1916-05-26

Emphatic protest against the pas
sage Of the District appropriation bill
In its present form was voiced by
memb ers OF the. Washington Board OF
Trade last night at the willard. The
feature of the meeting was the read.
ing of the committee report on the
findings of the Joint Congressional
Committee. and the adoption Of a
resolution of petition and protest"
offered by the committee.
The report, on which the resolution
10 based, declares the pending Dis
trict appropriation bill uncondition~
ally repeats the half-and- half pro-
vision and substitutes nothing in its
place and ignores the recomnienda-
lions of the Joint Congressional Com
mittee.
The resolution. which was offered
by Chairman Theodore w. Noyes,
follows:
Text Of Resolution.
I'VE, the members of the Washing
ton Board of Trade. in regular meet
ing assembled. on this 25th day of
May. 1915, do earnestly petition Con-
sress. FIRST. for the repeal of the law
OF 1909, which restricts the Commits
sioners' estimates to twice the
amount of the Districts estimated
revenues; and, second. for legislation
which shall cause any surplus Of Dis
trict revenue arising in any year
from the enforcement of the half
and-half law to be held in the Treas
ury as a trust fund for the benefit of
the District to meet its needs In some
future year.
I'VE protest against the repeal at
this time of the half-and-half law.
which the Joint Congressional Com
mtttee has in effect declared to, be
fair; and we especially protest
s fR'e or S .aes form ss
to.,be retroactive. or. by any method
which does not secure for the pro-
posed legislation thorough prelimi-
oTm3.:. sna Nv BY the District Ss
which does not substitute Tor the re-
pealed law one establishing a den
mite policy of regular and liberal APP
preparations by Congress for Capital
fixed and certain tax burden for the
District of Columbia.
I'VE further earnestly protest against
the appropriation ty this years District
than twice the Districts estimated rev
cnues t1 accordance with existing Law
unless the resulting surplus OF District
tax money 10 declared to be held In trust
District to meet in part its needs, OUT
side OF current. routine expenditures in
future years"
Roar Of Applause.
The reading of the report was fol-
lowed by a roar. OF applause. and when
President Il. c. Brandenberg asked that
a rising vote be taken OH the motion T.
adopt the report in It's satirey, every
man In the hall rose.
On motion of II. 2. F. Maefariand.
the body voted that copies Of the re-
port be forwarded to every member of
the House and Senate. and distributed
among various organizations In the Dis
" II think and the officers of your
board think that this Is most crucial
periods In the history az the National
Capital" said President Brandenberg.
The contemplated action on the part
law cannot help but result in serious
city Of Washington. ' :" inc
THE committee On membership has
recommend that every emher of the
board be given something to do. ard I
want to appoint each and every meme
Der OF this organization u special ccm-
mittse OF one, with this In view: that
you select some representative. and II
the bill passes the House. thcn 20 to
some Senator. and lay down the views
OF the members or the hoard OF Trade
as expressed In this report. In order that
he ma understand the attitude OF this
community on the proposed legislation
Praises Co hmittee's Work.
Frank Leatch spoke OF the faithful
work performed both by members Of
the special committee OF the Board Of
Trade and the joint citizens committee
to place before Congress accurate in
formation regarding the fiscal relations
between the District and Federal gov
ernments. and moved that resolution
OF thanks be adopted. The motion was
carried.
Charles F.. Wood. chairman of the
committee on transportation. submitted
a report on the Page bill for the licens-
ing Of automobiles. which provides that
cars In the District be taxed In proper
tion to their horsepower.
He said the Commissioners have APP
proved the bill. with the recommends
ton that the license or. registration fees
be in lieu of all other taxes, and offered
resolution indorsing the Commission
ers' recommendation. which was
adopted.