Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-17
Field Survey Started as Basis
for Reaching Apportion-
ment for Capital.
WILL SUBMIT RESULTS
TO DECEMBER SESSION
Bureau of Efficiency Men Gain
Valuable Data on Problems of
New York Municipalities.

Two Federal experts in the field.
gathering comparative data from many
cities, and a force of clerks here, all
working under the direction Of Herbert
d. Brown, chief of the United States
Bureau of Efficiency, are now engaged
IN the most extensive investigation of
the tax question and the general flnan-
eial affairs Of the District of Columbia
ever undertaken by an official agency.
Malcolm Kerlin, assistant to Dir.
Brown and in charge of organization
and methods in the bureau, stated this
morning that the present undertaking
is the most important independent IN
quiry now being conducted by the
Efficiency Bureau. 1t is in direct charge
OF Herbert H. Rapp, head of the
accounting division of the bureau, who
is at present visiting various cities in
New York State studying conditions
and obtaining information which viii
aid In an analysis OF conditions In
Washington.
MIR. Brown and Mr.. Kerlin expect
that the result of this inquiry will BE-
mass OF data and report which
VIII be OF supreme interest to the resi-
dents OF Washington and of great value
to Congress when 1t is faced again
during the coming Winter with tbs
question Of determining a fair appor-
tionment of the expenses of this cit
between the National Government an:
the residents OF the National Capital.
May Last Into Fan.
The inquiry will last well into ths
Fail. All the time possible will b.
taken to make it as complete as cir
curnstances will permit and still have
a report ready for Congress when 1t re-
eonvenes in December. 1t is expected
fhat copy of the report viii be sub
mitted simultaneously to the Bureau OF
the Buugef Tor the information of that
agency and of President Coolidge.
With Mr.. Rapp In the field Is vp
Summons, another accounting expert of
the Bureau of Efficiency. At last re-
ports they were in Buffalo, and intended
TO visit Rochester next The field in
qtiiry VIII take Mr.. Rapp and MFR. Sim
mons to most important cities COM
parable In size to WASHINGTON In the
East and many in the Middle West.
The first city studied was Baltimore
Next the investigators went to New
YORK 70 examine certain phases of mu-
nicipal taxation and expenditures, after
which they went to Albany. There they
obtained some exceedingly valuable
data. according TO MFR. Kerlin, not only
With relation to the municipal affairs
of that city. but In respect to the taxa
ton problem in many other cities of
New York State.
Our Investigators" said Mr.. Keriin.
are receiving willing assistance from
municipal and State officials wherever
they go. The cooperation has been
active and hearty. Everybody seems to
be interested in this important problem
OF city expenses and taxes"
Although 1t is the present intention
OF Mr.. Rapp not to carry his field iE-
quiries TO the Pacific Coast or the Rocky
Mountain region, he may go as far West
as Kansas City. Probably Cleveland
Cincinnati. Detroit and ST. Louis will
oe IN the itinerary. Other cities In the
East and the Middle West also win be
included.
Changing Problem.
We feel" said Mr. Kerlin this morn
Ing. that We always viii have the QueS-
ton of taxes with us. The local tax
problem has been studied by keen In
teliigences for many years and there is
always more to be learned. We do not
feel that We should try to finish this
job In q hurry. We win take as much
time as We can between now and the
time Congress meets.
Municipal taxation Is a continually
changing problem, for conditions in
cities develop from year to year. While
the bureau Is engaged in other inpor-
tant Investigations in conjunction with
other agencies. the present INQUIRY into
the fiscal affairs Of the District Is prob
ably the most important and extensiye
independent Investigation now being
undertaken by the bureau We hope the
results will be commensurate with the
effort that is being put forth.
We have no idea how Ii will come
out. We are not shooting for any con-
clusion, but VIII analyze all the data
We obtain from other cities, comparing
lt with the data obtained here, and lei
the conclusion follow In the natural
course. We have no preconceived idea
Of what our recommendation viii be,
Continued ON Page z, Column L..