Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-26
District Finances Arouse Interest
On the Part of All WashingtOnians

journey, strange things are happen
ing.
The Citizens Advisory Council
duly recognized by the Commission,
ers. studies the estimates carefully
and submits recommendations for
the budget and the tax rate required
to support 1t. In the enthusiasm OF
the moment, perhaps. with the spot
light of publicity shedding a cheer
full glow. they come right out with
tentative" recommendation fSr a
larger budget and higher tax rate.
Later they modify both in their for
NAL recommendations to the Commits
sioners. But the fat is in the fire.
The beans, vulgarly speaking, have
been spilled Economy has been
adopted as the national countersign.
Congress, in addition, has assumed
an unnatural attitude toward bear
ing it's share of Capital expenses.
Each year witnesses some new at
tempt on its part to saddle Washing
ton with extra costs. Nothing could
be more unpopular, at the present
time, than the advocacy Of a higher
tax rate. The city's three trade or
CARNATIONS, representing, they claim.
some 80 per cent of the taxes paid
in Washington, utter loud and deri-
sive Kisses, indicative of disgust and
utter disapproval. The Board OF
Trade, the Chamber of Commerce and
the Merchants and Manufacturers
Association-organ priding
themselves on their individuality and
dependence-meet together and
take joint action, for the first time
in the city's history protesting
against the danger of increasing the
tax rate, and warning that the city;s
laudable ambitions toward develop
ment must be tempered with the
thought that responsibility for main
tanning the Nations Capital does
not rest with the citizens of Wash
| ington alone.
"Too many cooks" Is hardly apr0pos
as regards the preparation OF the DIS
trict's estimates under the present
system. 1t is well for the Capital
| that an active and healthy interest in
| the city's running expenses should be
| taken by as many citizens as possible.
| The study of the estimates by the
| Citizens Advisory Council and sepa-
| rate examination by the trade aSsoci-
| tions certainly assures the Commits.
| sioners of extensive advice regarding
| the wishes of the citizens whom they
| represent. Nor is there particular
| cause for alarm over a difference Of
| opinion regarding the budget, so long
| as the opinions which conflict are
soundly held. There are many groups
working for the betterment of the
Capital, and it is only natural that
some of them should not agree.
But the present split between the
| Advisory Council and the trade or.
CARNATIONS is unfortunate. Both
claim to represent the citizens OF
| Washington, yet neither will agree
that the other is entitled to that privi.
lege, each contending that the other
represents a certain group only, and
not the citizens as whole. Until the
| tax rate and budget questions brought
| the matter to a head, this difference
of opinion over the right to represent
and speak for citizens was felt, more
than spoken. But now 1t has CONS
out in the open. Members of the trade
associations are saying, II told YOU
| So" in reference to the action of this
| Advisory Council on the tax rate
| Some of them have come out publicly
in their denunciation of the council'a
right to speak for the citizens of
I! Washington. The city is divided into
two camps-the members of the trade
bodies and the constituents of the Ad.
| visOry Council. And the division has
been brought about-of all things--
over District finances. question upon
which Washington should present q
solid front ,.-