Evening star., 1924-06-08
6O-4O ADJUSTMENT
FLAYED BY CITIZENS
Federation Denounces Congress
Action as Unfair and
Un-American.
PERMANENT BODY ASKED
Committee Chosen to Investigate
-. Fiscal Relations.

ondemnation of the action OF Con-
grses in abrogating the s0-40 fiscal
relations between the District and
federal governments. and a proposal
for an official commission consisting
Of citizens Of the District and mem
bers Of Congress to arrange a per
manent fiscal relations plan were con-
tanned in a resolution adopted by the
Federation of Citizens Associations
at q meeting held last night in the
District building.
The resolution, which was adopted
after debate lasting more than an
hour, during which some opposition
to the language of the motion was
voiced was as follows:
Resolved by the Federation Of Ciu
zens' Associations this 7th day OF
June. 1924, that the action of Con-
gress in changing the fiscal relations
which have existed between the Fed
sral government and the District of
Columbia for nearly half century,
without adequate inquiry and consid-
Grafton. is so manifeStly unfair, un-
just, inequitabIe and subversive of
the best interests of both the federal
government and the District of CO.
lumbia that 1T merits and should re-
ceiye the unqualified condemnation
not only of every resident of the
District, but of every citizen of the
United States Interested in the Capital
city.
Action Called Arbitrary.
THAT it is the desire OF the people
framing this provision of the present
District OF Columbia appropriation
bill is 80 arbitrary and one sided, and
therefore un-American, that it can
only be regarded as a temporary ex-
pedient.
That it is the desire Of the people
OF the District Of Columbia finally to
set at rest the ever-recurring agita-
ton in Congress involving the federal
goveEnments OBLIGATIONS in and to
rangement entered into after full in
quiry and due consideration in which
the people of this District, who meet
by their taxes the major portion of
the expenses, shall be officially repre-
sented, and to this end we call upon
Congress before passing another ap-
Precipitation bill for the District of
GAMBIA to provide for an Of
fitTal commission. consisting of an
equal number Of members of the Con-
gress and bona fide residents and tax
payers of the District of Columbia to
make proper inquiries and report to
Congress and the people OF the Dis
trict of Columbia a permanent plan
for the equitable apportionment be-
tween the federal government and
the District of Columbia of the ex-
penses of maintaining. expanding and
beautifying the Nations Capital.
Queries TO be Investigated.
The committee on fiscal relation,
consisting of Jesse C. Suter, George
A. Finch and William S. Torbert, was
instructed to investigate and report
as soon as practicable on the follow
ing five queries: !. The amount and
value of property owned by the fed
eral government in the District of
Columbia. .. The amount and value
ments within the District of Colum-
bia. ). The amount and value of all
other property within the District of CO.
lumbia exempted from taxation. 4.
The proportion which such amounts
and values bear to the amount and
value OF the entire property within
the District of Columbia. S. To-
gether with such collateral informa-
tion as may be of interest and value
to the federation.
Mr.. Suter stated that one-fourth
of the area of the District was bear
eral government owned property here
to the value of $3T5000,0 900. MI
Suter pointed out that legations and
educational and religious headquar-
ters were establishing themselves in
the District by reason of this being
the National Capital, and that Con-
gress was eliminating the necessity of
these institutions paying taxes. Mr..
to be responsible for the expense to
the District of all properties they ex-
empted from taxes here. An appro-
priation of SIS was voted to the fiscal
relations committee to carry out its
Investigations and inquiries during
the summer.
DenOunce Car Toll.
Abolition Of the half-cent toll on
the Rosslyn cars of the Capitol Trac-
tion Company was urged upon Con-
gresS by the organization in resolu-
tion which declared this toll a 'vex-
The abolition of this tax by the Pub
lie Utilities Commission pending the
next session of Congress will be asked
The Commissioners of the District
will be asked to facilitate the dis
trfbution of automobile tags by au-
thorizing them to be issued through
the twelve police precinct stations,
in addition to the present method Of
distribution. This would be effective
January 1, 1925. The Parkyiew and
Petworth Citizens' Association backed
this measure.
The Commissioners were asked to
communicate to the federation their
reasons Tor supporting the bill pro-
posins an iHcIease III tneir nunl-
cipal powers and to furnish the or
ganization with a copy of their brief
in this regard for the purpose of
permitting the federation to study
the question before acting upon it,
The bill as it now is, was termed by
a member as vaguely and rudely
drawn"
Charles A. Baker, president of the
federation, announced that he desired
all organizations affiliated with the
federation to act promptly in the
signing of the petitions which will
in the near future be sent to all the
major civic organizations by the
citizens joint committee on fiscal re-
lations. This petition will ask OF
Congress representation in the House
and Senate and the electoral college.
Richmond Park Citizens Assoca-
finn WAS admitted to mem be rShip in