Evening star., 1926-11-17
MORE BUILDINGS
IN REAR OF PRESENT
URGED FOR DISTRICT

Continued from First Page)
treasury and District taxpayers
should be on a scientific basis. Mr..
Houston said that the present lump
sum experiment has no basis in fact.
The two members Of the subCOmnit.
tee agreed with Auditor Donovan that
what is needed and what will bring
the people OF the District and members
of Congress to a common interest IN
the National Capital and it's upbulld
ing, is for the Congress to determine.
after careful study and consideration
of all the equities and obligations in
volved. what is fair and just between
the Federal Government and the
people of the District.
Calls Hearing Profitable.
Mr.. Gibson said that he believed the
hearing today had been a particularly
profitable one and that much Of the
testimony drawn from Auditor Don
ovan had convinced the members Of
the need for a joint committee in
Congress to frame needed legislation
for the Capital. Mr.. Gibson question
ed Maj. Donovan regarding the cor
poration counsel's office. 1t was
brought out that the assista nts are APP
pointed by the Commissioners and that
there are now eight assistants, with
salaries ranging from s2,400 to $4,000.
| This is not a sufficient number to
properly carry on the work. and the
corporation counsel has asked. and the
Commissioners have approved in the
budget, an estimate Of $500 for one
assistant, to be charged with handling
condemnation proceedings. 1t was
empha sized that in this very impor-
tant work the District government
has been embarra ssed by the fact
that the Department of JOstice and
outside business have attracted away
at much higher salaries those who
become expert in this class of work
for the District. 1t is thought that
the 5000 salary may induce an ex-
pert to remain on the job for the city.
Discuss Tax Issue.
The subcommittee discussed at
length with the District auditor the
| millions Of dollars due in back taxes,
and the reason for 81 ,2oO. 900 outsta nd
ing in charges against some half
dozen Of the largest public service
corpora tions. The principle involved in
these ca ses has been argued In the trial
court. but the decision has not been
rendered. and will doubtless go on
appeal to the higher court.
The corporation counsel has also
asked for two additional assistants at
81 400 each to be assigned to Police
Court work.
The subcommittee decided to call
on Frank Sebring. clerk Of the Police
Court, for a statement regarding the
number of cases that are handled.
The committee also went on record
as intending to secure recommends
tionS from the courts on the question
of reorganizing the court work.
Court Conditions Criticized.
It was brought out also that the
Commissioners have appointed COM
mittee to investigate the blity
Of setting up a magisteral system,
with judges sitting in police precincts
to handle minor cases that do not
call for jury trial and thus expedite
procedure.
Mr.. Gibson emphatically declared
| that the conditions existing here of
congestion In the courts ought not to
obtain in any jurisdiction. and that
such a condition Is detrimental to re-
spect for the law. 1t was brought
out particularly. that the entire court
system is in arrears on its work. and
this Is especially true with regard to
criminal cases. Mr.. Houston said
Congress should find the cause and
correct it. Mr.. Gibson said that If
the cause is lack of appropriat
Congress should take the blame. and
that If the cause is incompetent Of
f1cials they should be gotten rid Of.
Again Mr. Houston empha sized that
the condition shouldn't be as it is.
and can be corrected
Stresses Need for Space.
The members of the committee
agreed with Auditor Donovan and
with the report of the United States
Bureau of Efficiency that the Re
corder of Deeds ought to be under the
District Commissioners, and should
occupy part of the municipal estab-
lishment. The question of establish
ing phostat records to do away with
very large number of errors. and to
effect considerable economy, was dis
cussed Mr.. Houston raised the ques-
ton of permanency, and Maj. Dono-
van explained that an expert from
the Bureau Of Standards had declared
that a phostat is a permanent record,
but depends upon the quality of the
operator.
Mr.. Gibson in a series Of questions
established the practical benefits in
the administration of District affairs
by having the activities of the District
government grouped together Maj
Donovan, in reply to a question. said
he did not know where the new public
utilities commission can be quartered,
as the present District Building is
already overcrOwded.
Mr.. Gibson also put into the record
statement that the cost of admins.
tration and overhead would be greatly
reduced by housing all the District
activities III a municipal group. Maj.
Donovan was asked to have a diagram