Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-15
FISCAL RELATIONS
|STUDY IS URGED BY
MERCHANTS GROUP
Petition to Congress for Com
mission to Make Survey Is
Given Impetus.
MOVEMENT is ENDORSED
BY MAJOR TRADE BODIES
Determination Of Equitable Divi-
sion of District Government Costs
Is Object Of Associations.

The three major trade bodies of
Washington, representing the business
interests Of the city and great Sec
ton OF the taxpayers Of the District.
now are unanimous in petitionins for
the appointment of a presidential COM
mission of experts to study the fiscal
relations between the local and Fed
eral Governments to determine the por-
ton of the costs of the National Cap
ital which should be borne by the Ma
tional Government.
The petition became unanimous late
yesterday when the board Of governors
of the Merchants and Manufacturers
Association, without dissenting vote,
adopted resolution urging COMPRESSION
al sanction for appointment OF sucn
commission.
The officers and committee chairr11en
of the Board Of Trade this week went
on record urging commission OF quail
ified and disinterested experts to de-
ternine the division of costs as between
the local and Federal governments, and
last week the Chamber of Commerce
reiterated this proposal, which 1t had
made more than a year ago
Equitable Settlement l. Sought.
The objective of the trade bodies In
making the petition, 1t Is explained, Is
to obtain facts as a basis for an equtt-
able settlement of the question OF how
much the Federal Government should
contribute to the maintenance and
operation of the National Capital, and
to end the controversy which arises
each year over the 100000 lump sum
appropriation, which is made despite
the fact that substantive law for the
District calls for 60-40 division OF the
costs.
The proposal was urged at the rner-
chants meeting yesterday by Gen. Anton
Stephan, president of the association,
budget of the District of which each
year the 100000 Federal contribu-
ton becomes a smaller portion.
The merchants governing board yes
terday also went on record urging con-
tinuation of the $l.70 tax rate on real
estate and tangible personal property,
and also reiterated its petition that
provision be included In the five-year
tentative budget program prepared by
the District auditor for an armory for
the District National Guard.
A committee was directed to make
additional study Of the law proposed
by Representative Gibson concerning
business licenses assessed by the Dis
trict. and favorable action was taken
on the bill to prohibit the sending of
unsolicited merchandise through the
mails on approval by the recipient.
Traffic Program Discussed.
There was considerable discussion of
the program of the traffic director for
installation during the coming fiscal
year of 514 additional traffic-control
lights at a cost of $125, 900, and it was
decided to call special conference Of
local merchants next week to take ac-
ton on this subject Members of the
board declared In favor Of more de-
tailed study of the needs for the addi-
tional lights before they are installed.
Questions were raised as to the adj
visibility of the additional lights unless
traffic studies definitely show the need
for them.
Reports were made on the twentieth
annual booster outing recently made
by members of the association.