Evening star., 1922-04-29
MARSHAL CITIZENS
TO FIGHT TAX RAISE
Civic Leaders Unite to Voice
Opposition at Stadium
Mass Meeting.

Citizens of Washington who have
the welfare of the city at heart are
being marshaled today by civic lead
ers to unite with the business and
real estate men in waging a vigor-
Gus campaign against the fiscal rela-
tions plans as proposed by the con-
ferees on the District appropriation
bill. The citizens will be given their
first opportunity to openly indicate
their opposition to the plan at a mass
meeting to be held in the stadium of
Central High School tomorrow after
noon at 2:45 o'clock.
Realtors Ready for War.
The realtors today are busy COM
pleting their arrangements for fight
ing the plan. while the business mon
are marking time pending the meet
>ings of their respective associations
called for next week. The board Of
directors of the Board of Trade will
meet Monday afternoon to take ac-
ton on the plan, the Chamber of
Commerce Tuesday night, and the
Merchants and Manufacturers Asso-
A special meeting of the Federation
Of Citizens Associations also has
been called by President Charles A.
Baker to consider the proposed
change in taxation for Monday night
at o'clock. in the boardroom of the
District building.
Planning Mask Meeting.
Plans for the mass meeting were
well under way today and all ar
rangements are expected to be con-
cluded by tonight.
Mr.. Baker is to preside. Thomas J.
Donovan. president of the Central
Citizens Association. is handling the
preliminary arrangements and oc-
cupies the virtual role of sponsor for
the mass meeting. Mr.. Baker said
today that the program thus far in
cluded speakers from the Board of
zens' Associations and General Fed
Grafton of Women's Clubs of Wash
ington. Names of the speakers and
details of the program are to be an
nounced later.
Mr.. Donovan today declared that
complain of the snap Judgment that
is taken against them in many things
that pass the Congress will be given
an opportunity to express their dis
approval at the arbitrary action that
is contemplated to be taken in the
passage of the appropriation bill for
the fiscal year. 1923"
VIII Show Opinion.
'"The meeting" he added. has been
called for the purpose Of expressing
to the Congress the very definite and
practically unanimous opinion Of
voteless Washington regarding the
matter Of establishing a sinking fund
that will in five years develop to such
proportions that in the future no ad-
tfonal Treasury to carry on affairs
locally, not even for a day.
The right Of petition has not yet
been denied us, but the right of petit
ton presupposes that the people af-
fected would know what was con-
templated in legislation that Is to
materially affect every taxpayer. This
has not been done in this instance,
and it is only shining mark to the
general policy that Is rapidly assum-
ing q real menace, when it lies within
the province Of a committee Of Con-
gress to arrange for a practical revo-
luton in the fiscal affairs OF this
great community.
Has Some Rights.
.'Ine average WdSnln8tOnl ID u
patriotic and law-abiding citizen, pay
ing his obligations as he goes along.
whether they be taxes or grocers' bill.
but in the ordinary affairs OF general
attitude to his neighbor and his credi-
tors he properly presumes that ne
has some rights that need be respect
ed, and so governs himself. yet IL the
nresent conferees' report uDon the an.
preparation bill is accepted as pre-
sented, the average citizen of the
country who does not know his Wash
ington, would properly assume that
his disposition is to evade his re-
sponsibilities. This is not true.
ut is, Of course. we'll known that
the work of Congress has vastly in
creased in recent years. and that
committees must naturally assemble
the legislation that the whole body
Of Congress is asked to pass upon.
and the work OF any committee to
Justify it's acceptance by the whole
body of Congress-. in matters that 80
vitality affect the whole community
as the pending appropriation bill
does, would at lelast give to those.
who are to pay the bills, an oppor-
tunity to be heard before recon-
mending such drastic changes, this
has not been done.
'The citizens Of the city may very
properly, under the circumstances.
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