Evening star., 1921-01-14

Repeal Of the excess prontS TAX,
which shall be replaced by excise
taxes upon some articles of wide
use but not of the first necessity and
\ retail sales tax. is proposed by the
Washington Board of Trade to meet
the governments annual budget re-
quirements and stabilize the country.
The boards suggestions, adopted at
= largely-attended meeting In the
New willard Hotel last night. were
made in response to referendum on
The subject of federal taxation, Wh1ch
vas issued January II by the Cham
ger of Commerce of the United states.
Questions of local Importance. IN
cludinG the Districts school needs'
also were canvassed at the meeIins
Mabel T. Roardman and J: Thllman
Iendrick. Commissioners of the DIS
trict. Engineer Commissioner kutz
was prevented by illness from at
tending.
Miss Eoardman spoke briefly in
advocacy of a coordination of social
welfare work in the District. She
commended the plan for the pro-
IoSed organization of the Washing
fon Council of Social Agencies. Com
missioner Hendricks s remarks were
hricfcr still. He advocated the doc
trine of smiles. stating that the
habit of optimism should be cult-
vated as a business and civic well
are asset.
Needs of Schools Discussed.
The report on schools. presented by
DR. William s. Washburn. declared for
liberal poilcy by Congress IN ap-
vropriating for the Districts educa-
;ional needs. The committees recon-
rnendation was that Congress make
sufficient appropriations to guarantee
that every child in the District shall
have an opportunity to obtain an ecu-
alton under proper conditions. and 10
compensate teachers adequately.
Unanimous approval was given the
report.
DR. Frank W. Ballou. superintend-
rnt of public schools. following the
action taken on the committees re-
port outlined the needs of the present
school facilities. He said that 1873
additional classrooms are required to
relieve existing congestion. and tnat
this figure does not contemplate an in
crease in enrolment which undoupt-
edly will be experienced next fall.
"'There isn't one room asked for that
isn't absolutely needed right now,
said DIR. Ballou, land this fact can
not be stressed too strongly Dy MEM
hers of the board and citizens. who
should do all they can properly to inn
press upon Congress the seriousness
of the situation.
Charities and Corrections.
Walter c. CIephane presented the
first report of the evening. when
came from the committe on charities
and corrections. 1t indorsed the INK
ham bill to provide allowances Ior
mothers with dependent children
under sixteen years of age. The re-
port also urged that. pending action
upon the measure. the board OF chii
.ren's guardians of the District should
20 as far as it can under eXlstins law
in using it's funds to keep dependent
children with their parents rather
than board them in private homes'
The report carried unanimously.
For the committee on laws Alex
ander Wolf reported that the pro-
posed landlord leg1slatloh
now under consideration in the Sen
ate had been canvassed and that the
committe is cooperating with a com
mittee of the Bar Association OF the
District in an effort to bring aoout
enactmo0t of satisfactory legislation
on the subject.
Odeu S. smith. reporting for the
public order committee, stated that
the District police quota Stlll IS
eighty men short and urged the board
m EN- bers to assist wherever possible
ir arousing interest in the recruiting
Of the force. He complimented the
efficiency of the present members OF
the force Mr. Smith also paid
tribute TO the late +. T.. Hamey: q
former member of his committee. he
vas a man who never pushed himseh'
who never sought Office declared the
speaker. but he was one OF the hard
st workers in the board, and when
he was given anything to do he dlo
it. He was an honor to us."
Mfdwfnter Dinner Announced.
That nearly 500 tickets have been
sold for the boards midwinter dinner
was announced by Charles ]. Waters.
chairman OF the committee having the
event in charge
An invitation TO the board members
to attend a debate to be held here
Eebruary Il by the New lork ana
Pittsburgh chapters of American IN
stitute Of Banking. on the proposed
repeal OF th.- excess profits tax law
was extended by Charles ID. Boyer on
heralf OF the Washington chapter.
Tn. report dealing with the United
States Chamber of Commerce REFER
,-ndum on federal taxation consumed
the greater part of the meeting. 1t
was submitted by special commit
ice. consisting of Henry II. Mckee.
John joy Edison. William T. Galliher
and Dr. William :. Washburn. Thomas
Bradley. president of the board, sat
with the committee in its delibera :
tIons.
COmmittee's Cancellations.
As preamble to its recommends =
lions the committee called attention n
TO the financial condition of the coun-
try. 1t pointed out that approprta-
tons already made and other expendi- :
lures in sight for the current fiscal
ear will total approximately $1,000
400. 900 Contemplation of this enor-
nous figure, stated the report, in
rvitably leads to the following con-
rlusions:
First, the cost of governmental ac-
tivities should be reduced by economy
20 the lowest amount consistent with
efficient administration: second. pri-