Evening star., 1928-04-04
PH|PPS 6|)-4OPLEA
LAUDED BY c. OF c.
Directors Ask End of Lump
Sum-IndorSe Golden Rule
~ Safety Campaign.

Heartily indorSinG the strong stand
taken by Senator Phipps, Republican,
Colorado, and by the Senate appropria-
tions committee in, urging a return 10
the 60-4o fiscal plan of meeting the
costs Of the National Capital. as pro-
vided in substantive law for the Dis
trict the directors of the Washington
Chamber Of Commerce last night
adopted resolution urgently petition
ing abolition of the lump sum ap-
preparation plan at this session OF
CongreS.
The directors point out that because
Of the tremendous rise in the tax bur-
den here in the past 10 years many
needed permanent city improvements
are being delayed due to the inability
of local taxpayers to meet the costs OF
such Improvements under the present
Federal fiscal plan.
The chamber directors last night also
voted Endorsement of the Welch bill
providing for increases in the salaries
Of Government employees, unanimously
adopted a resolution indorSing the
Golden Rule safety campaign conducted
by The Star and urging motorists TO
Join III the movement for safe driving,
and adopted a report by a special COM
raittee headed by Charles J. Stockman
ncS-sing the proposed new insurance
code for the District, now before Con-
gresS. which would give the District
superintendent of insurance power TO
supervise and regulate local insurance
rates
Text of Report.
The Star and other newspapers were
commended for publicity given to the
pleas OF Government workers for pas
sage ot the WEIGH bill.
The report on fiscal relations. pre-
sented by Rudolph Jose, chairman of
the committee on District finance, tax
alton and assessment. reads as follows:
The board Of directors Of the Wash
tngton Chamber of Commerce indorseS
most emphatically the sentiments eX-
pressed by Laurence c. Phipps, chair
man of the District appropriation COM
mittee. in his recent address TO the
United States Senate in which he ad-
vocsted a return to the 60-40 basis of
fiscal relationship between the Federal
and District governments. as provided
IN substantive law. and they are deeply
ENCOURAGED TO learn that the Senate
appropriation committee has recon-
mended favorable action by the Senate
on an amendment to effect this change.
The business men of washington de-
sire to do everything in their power to
make Washington a National Capital OF
outstanding charm and beauty. They
believe, with President Coolidge. that
Washington should express the soul OF
America, and they have been urgent IN
their advocacy Of more parks and play
grounds, the improvement of the wa
ter front and of the AnacoStia River.
and of other projects too numerous 70
mention. the cost of which has fallen
most heavily upon their shoulders. al
though the resulting benefits became
the heritage Of every American citizen.
Tax Burden Heavy.
However, the tax burden during re-
cent years has increased so largely and
at such exceptional rate-over 100 per
cent in four years and over 200 per
cent In 10 years - that washington
business men during the past year
have not dared 70 advocate further
expenditures, but have felt it impera-
tive 10 urge upon the District Com.1is-
sionerS the utmost economy in the 1929
budget to prevent serious arrangement
of the business structure OF the COM
munity.
In taking their present stand square
! IL supporting the 60-40 plan. and IN
for appropriation increases not included
in the District bill as originally intro
Cuced. the Senate appropriations COM
n1ittee have proclaimed themselves as
definitely opposed TO the exploitation
OF the voteless citizens of the District
and as strongly in favor OF proper Fed
eral aid in the upbuilding OF the Cap
itai City as consistently recommended
By past congressional Investigations and
as embodied in statute Law.
The WASHINGTON Chamber OF Com
merce directly and through its repre-
sentatives on the citizens joint COM
mittee on fiscal relations, composed OF
delegates from washington's leading
civic and trade bodies. advocates most
earnestly the return during the seven-
tieth session Of Congress TO the 60-40
basis of fiscal relationship and 1t
urgently petitions every member Of the
House Of Representatives TO give his
best thought and effort to achieve this
purpose which is Of such y1tal fnpor-
tance to the future welfare and deyel-
scpnent Of the National Capital"
Fire Risk Rates Hit.
Evidence that fire insurance rates In
the District Of Columbia are greater
than necessary to produce reason
able" profit for the insurance COM
panies over and above losses paid 70
the insured was presented in the re-
port on fire insurance rates and the
proposed District insurance code. sub
mitted by Mr.. Stockman for the sub
committee Of the chamber committee
on police and FIRE protection and public
safety.
The report by the insurance depart
naent Of the District for 1925, Mr.
Etocknan declared. showed that the
aggregate IRE insurance premiums COL
lected by the insurance companies doing
business here for the ten years prior TO
1926 amounted tc sle.22i 93i; that the
losses paid for the same period in the
District aggregated Sc 49s $40: 50 that
during this period the difference be-
tween losses paid and premiums re-
eeiYed amounts 70 Sl2.725.4s0. or al
most twice the amount Of the losses.
These figures mean, the report ex-
planned that for each dollar received
In premiums the companies were called
upon 10 pay out only about "a cents.
Prom 1925. inclusive. the aggTe-
gate Of premiums received was SO e40,-
I53. while the aggregate losses paid was
a5s2z7 .5z5. or SO cents on the dollar
Higher Than Rest Of u. \.
Quoting figures from the reports by
she Bureau of Efficiency On this subject
showing that there is wider divergence
between Losses paid out and the total
premiums received IN the District OF
Columbia than The average throughout
the United States. the Stockman report
Goncluoes.
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