Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-23

of the taxpayers of the District. which
has been current for several months.
broke out again in this joint meeting.
Council Plan Criticized.
Oficials of both the Board of Trade
and the Chamber of Commerce de-
clared the Advisory Council could in
no wise represent the business in
terests of the District nor the tax.
PAYERS and repudiated their recon-.
nendations which call for tax rate
for the l928.29 fiscal year ranging
from Sl.70 to $3.50.
throughout the discussion yester-
dav officials of the trade bodies voiced
the conviction that District taxpayers
should not be expected to bear the
ma or burden Of the development and
maintenance of the National Capital.
Again and again the declaration was
made that the Commissioners should
limit the estimates TO figure which
would be provided for by just tax
rate and leave to Congress provision
Of additional funds required for per-
manent or Capital improvements.
At the outset OF the session, Mr..
Graham. speaking for the Board of
Trade and pointing out that his organ
ization had called on the Commission
ers to limit the 192S.29 budget to a
figure which would make possible Il
SI.65 tax rate. declared: THE prime
responsibility for the upbuilding and
maintenance of the National Capital
rests with the Federal Government
The taxes paid by the residents or
the District Is incidental to the ques-
ton of what should he decided to be
the needed permanent development
program for the Capital.
Two Courses Left.
''If Congress is unwilling to appro'
pirate more than $9,000.000 toward the
operation of the District" he asserted.
there are but two alternatives before
us: To cut the estimates below the
figure of S43,500. 900, which has been
recommended by the Board Of Trade,
or to seek an advance from the
Federal Treasury of funds sufficient
to paw for these needed permanent
improvements.
Mr.. Graham pointed out that under
the increased assessment, which be-
comes effective next month. tax rate
of S1.55 would provide as much
revenue as the present rate of 81 so
under the current assessment. The
tax rate of S1.65 was proposed, he
said. in order that some additional
needed improvements might be pro-
vided.
"A tax rate of S1.65 on the new
assessment" Mr.. Graham asserted.
lis as much as Washington can stand
and some think that is too high.
Endorses Unified Action.
Indorsing the movement for unified
action by the three trade bodies, Mr..
Graham declared that only through
such concerted action could the Dis
trict get fair treatment before Con-
gress.
Speaking for the Merchants and
Manufacturers Association, Mr.. Han.
ma asserted that while loads and
loads of advice have been given to the
Commissioners as to how they should
spend money on the development of
the National Capital. but little or no
advice has been given as to where
the necessary funds were to come
from" He recommended that rate
be fixed as the limit which the Dis
trict could pay and put the question
Of additional needs before Congress.
On motion of Charles w. Darr,
speaking for the Chamber of Com
merce. the joint committee adopted
resolution protesting against the es-
Establishment of a tax rate any higher
than $1.65 for the ensuing year, and
the presidents of the three associa-
tons were delegated to appear before
the Commissioners this morning.
Moves United Report.
Gen. Stephan then moved that a
united report on the 1928-29 budget be
drafted and the motion was unani-
mously adopted
Edwin c. Brandenburg then launched
an attack upon the Citizens Advisory
Council, declaring that he viewed with
chagrin" the endeavors Of this or
ganization to represent the views of
the taxpayers of the District.
81 sincerely hope" he said, that
the District auditor and the Commits
sioners will feel justified in giving
careful consideration to the reports of
the trade bodies on the estimates and
tax rate"
Urging the Commissioners to limit
the tax rate to at least $1.65. Mr..
Brandenburg declared, 1T is an out.
rage that Congress has appropriated
but 100000 a year as it's share of
the upkeep Of the National Capital"
Joining in the attack upon the Ad