Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-06
CITY AIRPORT BILL
IS RECOMMENDED
FOR EARLY ACTION
District Committee Wants
Stalker Measure Moved With
Preferred Legislation.
FAVORABLE REPORT MADE
ON THREE LOCAL ISSUES
Library Expansion, Intangible
Taxes and National Church
Are Given o. K.

The House District committee today
directed Chairman Zihlman to confer
with House Leader Tilson and the Re-
publican steering committee urging
that the Stalker bill for establishment
of municipal airport at Gravelly
Point, to be paid for on $3.50 basis
between the Federal Government and
District taxpayers, should be allowed
to come up for early action on the
program of preferred legislation in the
House.
The committee also reported favorably
on three bills, the most important of
which is the Gibson bill providing for
expansion of the Public Library IA
cilities to all parts of the District;
another designed to give District off,
Gals authority to compel payment of
taxes on intangible personal property
and a third carrying amendments to
the District Code to facilitate erection
of national church here by the Uni
versaliSt creed.
Proposed Changes.
The last-named bill is fathered by
Representative Stobbs, Republican, of
Massachusetts,. The proposed changes
are: First, so that majority of the
incorporators need not necessarily be
| residents of Washington; second, strik-
ing out a provision that such benevo-
lent, charitable, educational or religious
organizations shall be prohibited from
holding real or personal property that
brings an income of more than 5000
year; making III possible for quorum
to be as provided by by-lays rather than
a majority of the board, as specified in
| the code.
Representative Gibson, Republican.
of Vermont, recommended that the
committee make a selection of the Dis
trict measures that should receive con-
| sideration at this session of Congress.
He suggested the school building pro-
gram, the public library expansion pro-
| gram and the airport bill.
| Mr.. Stalker insisted the airport bill
is of prime Importance. He said that
| Washington should take leadership in
establishment of such a field He GEN.
sured the appropriations committee for
attempting to usurp some of the prov
inces OF the legislative committee for
the District. Mr.. Stalker said the ap-
preparations committee should not take
itself too seriously and that its activ-
tiles should be curbed.
| Representative Hall, Republican, of
l
| suggested to him by members of the
appropriations committee that the Fed
eral Government might pay the entire
| cost of providing an airport. Chair
| man Zihlman commented that it was
| one progressive development in which
| the Government should contribute gen.
! erously. Stalker said that the selection
| OF Gravelly Point carries approval of
all experts from "Lindbergh down"
Chairman zihlman informed the
committee that he had held confer
ence with Chairman Simmons of the
subcommittee on District appropria-
tons, who is author of the school build
ing bill, who advised him that there is
no need for haste in pressing this
measure for action because they are
still continuing work under the 5-year
school building program. On this ac-
count, this measure was laid aside for
the present session.
Calls Up Library Bill.
Mr.. Gibson called up his Library ex-
pansion bill, which, he said, is sup
ported by the Library trustees and to-
which there is no opposition. He ex-
planned the plan that when a new
school building is erected, a special
wing will be added for a library. Rep
resentative Blanton supported Mr.. Glib
sons plea and the bill was reported
favorably.
Mr.. Gibson, who introduced recently
comprehensive licensing bill, turned
over to Chairman Beers of the sub
committee on fiscal relations q report
of special interdepartmental commit
tee which drafted the bill. He reserved
I the right to offer amendments to it.
Mr.. Beers urged for prompt action, at
the request of District Commissioners,
bill which has already passed the SEN
ate providing better means of collect
ing taxes on intangible property. MIR.
Blanton protested that tax on intangi-
bles had been raised from three -tenths
Of i per cent to one-half of / per cent
and urged an amendment to increase
this levy to per cent. He was sup
ported by Representative Lampert.
Several minor amendments to the bill,
recommended by District Commission
ers. were made.
The Blanton amendment, by agree
ment, Is to be offered on the floor, it
being made plain that raising con-
troversial question would result in no
action on this measure at the present
session. Mr.. Blanton estimated that
his amendment, which would affect
only wealthy people, would yield S.
200 additional in taxes.
Mr.. Gibson emphasized that the auto
tax ought to be revised so that hereafter
there would be no need to bother with
returns on automobiles.
The municipal condemnation bill was
discussed, and the Senate bill was re-
ported to be substituted for the House
bill now on the calendar. Gibson urged
that the same provision should be put
In this bill as is carried in the Federal
condemnation bills to protect prop
critics being acquired by the Govern
ment from being despoiled' of trees and
other natural advantages.