Evening star., 1928-05-06
SEEKS FISCAL DATA
FROM OTHER CITIES
Efficiency Bureau to Send
Agents Out to Gather
Tax Statistics.

In continuation of its inquiry into the
fiscal affairs of the District govern
ment, which has been in progress since
January. the United States Bureau of
Efficiency will send investigators this
Summer TO other cities similar in size
TO Washington, to get financial statiS-
tics upon which TO base a comparison
Of their rates of taxation and munic-
ipal expenses with those of this city.
A report. which is expected to shed
much light on the question of a fair
gpportsonrnent of the expenses of the
District between the Federal Govern
ment and the people of the Capital, win
be made to the Budget Bureau in the
Fall for transmission 70 President Cool
idge and Congress.
Among the cities which viii be visit
ed are Cleveland Detroit and Cincln-
natl Other municipalities in the Wash
ington population group" including
these where populations are slightly
above or below that of the Capital. viii
be studied
The investigation, said Herbert
D. Brown. Chief of the Bureau of Eff
cheney last night, will be the same
that we have been making fer the last
three months. At present Herbert H
Rapp OF the bureau Is continuing his
studies of Census Bureau reports on the
financial statistics OF other cities, and
of the history of the financial relations
that have existed between the Federal
and local Governments in the past,
back TO the time when the $3.50 ratio
was IN effect.
win Gather Data.
"As soon as Congress afioli~ns and
We have more time 10 devote 70 the
District inquiry, we expect TO send MIR.
Rapp and perhaps several other men
into the field to gather data for the
purpose Of making fair comparisons. 4"
Mr.. Brown explained that the present
inquiry is being conducted at the re-
quest OF Director Lord of the Budget
Bureau. He said that the inquiries up
TO this time by the Efficiency Bureau
INTO District affairs have been made at
the request either Of the Senate and
House appropriations committees. the
Gibson committee Of the House the
Duuget bureau. or the District Com
mssSioners.
Representative Blanton of Texas hae
criticized the bureau for conducting
what he called an unauthorized" in
Vestis2tion of District affairs. In order
10 clear up this point, Congress in
serted IN the independent Offices ap-
preparation bill, which has just passed
ootn houses, a provision specifically
authorizing the Efficiency Bureau 10
condnct an investigation into District
affairs, similar TO that which IL is
authorized TO conduct into the financial
anairs OF all Government departments
and agencies.
We do not consider that the new
provision gives the bureau any authority
with regard TO District affairs which IL
does not already have" said Mr. Brown
We are going ahead with the inquiry
Just as we would have done If the new
provision had not been passed by Con-
gross. The purpose of the INQUIRY Is
10 find out what sort Of an arrange
ment should exist between the Federal
Government and the District with re-
gard TO financial affairs
win Compare Taxes.
Discussing the investigation with
representative OF The Star last night.
Mf. Rapp said that the purpose OF the
proposed visits 10 other cities is to dis
cover what taxes their people pay and
10 get information upon which to base
comparison Of their true tax rates
with the true tax rate of Washington.
he SAID he would study the relationship
between the assessed value of real estate
Tor the purpose Of taxation and It's true
value as disclosed by actual sales over
a period OF time.
In order 10 make the comparison fair.
Mr.. Rapp said that 1t would have To be
determined how much OF the expenses
OF other cities are met by borrowing
money by bond Issues In such cases,
he explained, the tax rate might be
lower than that OF Washington. but as
washington has no bonded indebted
ness, the comparison would not be n
lair one unless this fact was taken into
consideration, II other cities have re-
uuced their taxes because they have
borrowed money, that fact will be
shown
Such questions as tax exemptions.
taxes on real and personal property,
business aud non-btIhineas licenses, and
similar information, will be carefully
studied in other cities. as well as In
Washington, IN order 10 give complete
picture 0t the financial affairs Of the
Capital and that OF cities oi similar
Size, MIR. Rapp explained
While the Efficiency Bureaus inVesti-
CATION relates 10 the same subject as
that which is being considered by the
conferees ot the House and Senate,
who are wrestling with the District
appropriation bill. the bureaus work
has no bearing upon the present sltu-
alton In Congress, II Ia intended To
furnish facts 10 assist In reaching All
intelligent and fair solution Of the
problem by the time Congress eonyenes
next Winter
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Mason Quits Chicago u.