Evening star., 1924-05-07
MOVE TO MAKE D. C.
PAY ALL SUSPECTED
Lloyd Says Cramton Measure
Opens Way to Load All Tax
ation on Citizens.
BY TRADE BOARD
Great Mass Meeting Proposed if
Amendment Is Adopted.

Full payment of the expenses OF
the District of Columbia by its tax
payers is the ultimate goal of the
Cramton amendment adopted by the
House as a part of the District ap-
preparation bill, the board of direc-
tors of the Washington Chamber of
Commerce was told last night during
debate on this matter. The Cramton
amendment proposes that the federal
government participation in the ex-
penses of the District shall be changed
from the 60-40 ratio to u fixed sum
of $4,000 900 a year.
While the chamber took no action
last night, in view of the fact that
it is represented on the citizens joint
committee, which has the matter in
charge, nevertheless, there was much
discussion, during which it was pro-
posed, in the event that the Senate
did not reject the amendment, that
the entire citizenry of the District
attend one gigantic mass meeting
and march on the President to de-
mand some consideration of their
rights.
Could Lower sum.
1.-The Cramton amendment" said
James Il. Lloyd. lis Jone of the most
serious propositions that have faced
the District for some time" and he
said he wanted to warn the chamber
and the people of just what it meant
He told the directorate that il made
no difference whether Congress fixed
the sum "a sS.000,00 or $4,000, 900 any
subsequent Congress could reduce il.
Any member of the House when the
matter came up in an appropriation
bill could move its reduction and that
amendment would be in order under
rule in force for years and found
most effective. But an amendment
raising the amount would be subject
to a point of order, he said. So there
would be ample opportunity to reduce
it from year to year, but no oppor-
tunity to increase it. Mr.. Lloyd for
merly represented a Missouri district
in Congress.
Mr.. Lloyd said that this amend
ment is the entering wedge for the
District paying all of its expenses.
and is more serious than it appears
on its face.
Need Men in Congress-.
IT is hard for the people of the Dis
tict to get a square deal from Con-
gress, NJ. A. Leese said. He said he
hoped to see the time when the Dis
trict would have some one on the
| floor of both houses to represent it.,
and object just as strenuously as Mr..
| Blanton does, when a matter detri-
mental to the interest of the District
comes up, such as the Cramton
| amendment. There should be some
one in Congress to look after the
| Districts interests. he continued, and.
until there is, this sort of thing will
| continue. The District is no longer
a small town, but a large city of more
than 100000 population, which pays
| a large and substantial tax.
There should be an active body
! here to send broadcast over the coun-
| try literature to counteract that of
| congressional publications which
have given the people of the coun-
| try that the District is way under
| taxed. Every publication that goes
| out of Congress. he said. gives the
impression that the people of the
District are not bearing a. just burden
Of taxes. when. as a matter of fact
they are paying more than their
share.
Tells of Efforts.
Robert \. Harper. a member of the
subcommittee of the citizens joint
committee, briefly outlined the re-
suits of the recent meeting of the
full committee and told of the work
to be done in an effort to have the
Cramton amendment defeated.
Us there any one here or in the
District who doesn't believe that
this matter will come up every year."
asked Ross p. Andrews. 1T will con-
tinue to come up from year to year.
No one here objects to paying just
taxes. I would be willing to pay
twice as much. if Congress would
permit US to spend our money as we
see fit
Following the reading of a letter
from the school and civic association
of Mclean. Va containing a reSolu-
tion calling attention to the dan
gerous condition of Chain Bridge and
asking support of the chamber in
getting II rebuilt, on motion Of r.
p. Andrews the directors voted to
take up the matter and get behind
II. Isaac Cans, president. appointed
r. p. Andrews, George Whitwell and
James T. Lloyd members of a special
committee to take steps to have the
bridge rebuilt
Reports on Great Falls.
Charles Clagett reported briefly
on the Great Falls project, saying
that the report had been prepared,
and asked permission to present the
report at the September meeting of
the chamber. the directors having
voted last night to make the May
meeting the last one of the season.
Capt Craig of the Marine Corps
outlined some of the details for the
base ball game here May 10 between
the Quantico Marine team, the pur-
pose of which is to raise the Dis
trict's quota of $4,000 for the fund
to send the American team to the
Olympic games. The chamber will as
sist in the sale of tickets.
1t was announced that the Chicago
Opera Company would show in the
new itorium in February, 1925.
The following were elected to mem
bership: Alfred L. Stern, Grant Al
len, Rev. Dr. John O'Grady. Sidney
B. Lust, Robert Z. Buckley, A. c.
Case, George IT. Murchison and Mil
ton Kronheim. The chamber voted to
send flowers to Ernest E. Herrell,
| who was seriously injured in an au-
| tomobile accident, and to A. E. Sey-
mour, secretary, who is ill in the