Evening star., 1928-12-31

DOTLdnCe anu SIZE VI lIlc IVA
tional Capital, the major trade
bodies of the District during 1928 made
comprehensive studies of virtually the
entire range of complicated problems
facing the city and submitted rec
concentrations to both local and Federal
authorities. 1t proved to be what is
characterized as the most engroSslng
year in the history of the organizations
and witnessed a continued rise in the
influence of the business associations.
Acting separately on the findings OF
their committees, the Board OF Trade,
Washington Chamber of Commerce and
the Merchants and Manufacturers As
sociaticn arrived at practically the
same conclusions on the more import
ant matters of city-wide concern. The
trade bodies played prominent roles in
the drafting of legislation on a number
of vital subjects and laid recommended
tionS before the Commissioners and
Congress.
The business organizations, after
careful study of the subjects actively
promoted the development of NUM-
cipal airport on the Gravelly Point site
on the Potomac, continued with un-
abated determination the movement for
national representation for the District
and for more equitable adjustment of
the fiscal relations between the Federal
and local governments; indorSed the
community chest plan for financing
local charities, which now has been af-
fected; recommended that the tax rate
for the current fiscal year be maintained
.at $1.70; conducted vigorous campaigns
to prevent the operation here of schools
of the diploma mill' character, aided
| in the drafting of needed legislation
to this effect and impressed members
of Congress with the necessity of its
enactment, and advocated merger of
the street railways.
Back Fixed Ratio Plan.
While impressed with the mounting
| list of Capital improvements needed to
| take care of the growth of the city, the
trade bodies warned of the danger of
raising local taxes and urged limitation
of the budget for 1929 to the minimum
figure and pointed to the justice of
abolition of the $4,000, 900 lump Federal
appropriation and return to the fixed
ratio plan.
The three major trade bodies cooper
ated with the citizens joint committee
on fiscal relations in championing the
movement for fiscal equity and contin-
ued actively to sponsor the plea of local
citizens for the right to vote in national
GIGCtlOIlS, LllG IISIlb W representation All
the Houses of Congress and access to
the Federal courts, for which nation
wide movement now is being conducted
under the leadership of the citizens
joint committee on national representa-
ton.
The Board of Trade during the year
presented to Congress the results of its
national tax and assessment survey
completed during the Winter of 1927.
and won ardent supporters in both
House and Senate. In the latter body
determined fight was waged to provide
for liberal Federal contribution to the
District.
The trade body continued compila-
ton of its tax data, which showed that
Washington stands second in the list of
the larger cities Of the country in per
capita assessment and fourteenth in the
list for per capita tax paid. The survey
data is being kept up to date and ad-
ditional information added and will
again be used at sessions of the next
Congress.
Favor Long Term Budget.
After serious consideration of the pro-
posed budget for the next fiscal year,
the board recommended as the mini
mum total of SAL .288, 900, predicated
on Federal contribution of $10,738,-
900, instead of the $9,000,000 lump sum.
1t urged the Commissioners to decline
to base the budget on an expected
SO, 10000 Federal contribution, holding
that such action would prove stum-
bling block to the movement to set
aside the lump sum plan.
The board also condemned the year.
to-year method of making estimates for
fINn Ic fOrr, ,1xYln
ton of 3 iong-term budget plan.
One of the major new activities of
the Board of Trade was the launching
of a model community survey for Wash
ington, using an outline drawn by the
community development department of
the Chamber of Commerce of the
United States. Several thousand dollars
have been subscribed for the survey,
and work is to be started soon.
The Board of Trade started move
ment urging that the Roosevelt Me-
mortal to be erected in Washington take
the form of great stadium or COLI
scum where athletic games and other
events of national character might be
staged. The proposal was laid before
directors of the Roosevelt Memorial As
sociation, who now are giving the mat
ter consideration.
Back GraVeIly POlnL Site.
The board has worked vigorously in
behalf of development of a municipal
airport on the Gravelly Point site, and
a survey of the possibilities of this loca-
ton was made by newly formed COM
mittee on aviation. headed by Lawrence
E. Williams, which is composed for the
most part of practical flyers.
On the findings of its committee or
S|.I4 I'LL aI.-
the board urged change in the or
ganization of the Police Trial Board. |
now in effect, and made a survey of
police department work here and in
other cities. Recently committee was
named to compile statistics on local po-
lice work. The public order committee
co-operated with the department in
drafting q vagrancy law with teeth"
in it, now awaiting action by Congress:
and also prepared fugitive law, a DILL |
to legalize amateur boxing in the Dis
trict, firemen's control law, and urged |
an increase in the pay of firemen and |
policemen.
Appropriate development of the north |
side OF Pennsylvania avenue and estab- |
liShment of a new civic center on the |
site between Third and Sixth streets |
was urged on recommendation of its |
committee on public and private build |
ings, Robert F. Beresford, chairman.
The board favored the proposed mer-
ger of the street railways of the city. |
The matters of valuation and rates |
were left to the Public Utilities Com
mission.
The diploma mill'' legislation was
indorsed and plan for stepping-up
water pressure in the downtown area
through installation of electric pumps
at the Bryant street station was APP
proved. Its committees also Spon-
sored "Buy-in- Washington" campaign
launched study of the cost of medi-
cal attention in the city. urged adop-
ton of five-year building program
for bridges, supported the Community
Chest plan, drafted a new law for
Gov,anoti0YH Of Io,aI 1trooI var0x,jei0,1 |