The Washington times., 1930-07-08
MAY
LIST CHOICE
BY WIRE
Simmons Opposed and Favor
ed as Probe Member; Studies
Will Embrace Other Taxes

Indicating the widespread local
interest in the personnel Of the
select House committee of seven
members to make a midsummer
study of the fiscal relations be-
tween the Federal and District gov
ernments, numerous telephone
calls are reaching the Capitol
Building from District residents.
Within the past "a hours both
the House Appropriations Com
mittee and the District legislative
committee have received dozens Of
telephone inquiries regarding the
probable makeup of the inquiry
board, which is to be appointed by
Speaker Longworth. The Speaker
left for his home in Cincinnati
within a few minutes after the
House adopted the Simmons reso-
luton to create such an investi-
eating committee. and therefore
announced no appointments.
Speaker Stays Away
1t was said at the Capitol today
that Mr.. Longworth might make
announcement of his selections
from Cincinnati by wire. How
ever, there was also probability
that the Speaker would notify his
office here and let the committee
list be given out at this end. The
understanding is that Mr.. Long
worth has no intention of return
ing to Washington for some time
and is going to take a long rest.
Many of the inquirerS telephon-
ing Capitol offices concerning ap-
pointments to the special commit
tee ask if Representative Sim
| mons is slated for membership
| thereon. In view of the speakers
absence no information is avail
able on this point and it is I'M
derstood that even Mr.. Simmons
himself does not knoW.
Simmons Opposes.
Mr.. Simmons left for his home
in Scottsbluff, Nebr. last night
and will canvass his far-flung dis
trict although he is not opposed
for the Republican denomination.
The date of the return to Wash
ington of the District subcommit-
tee chairman of the House Appro-
priationS Committee is uncertain.
Observers say there are reasons
both for and against the naming
Of Representative Simmons on the
select investigating committee on
fiscal affairs between the Federal
Treasury and the Capital city. 1t
is admitted that for several years
past Mr.. Simmons has given ex-
haustive study and unnumbered
hours to the seemingly unending
controversy over the 60-40 law,
the 100000 lump sum" allow
ance which prevailed for five
years. and the entire taxation
question here. On the House
floor recently he was compli-
mented by the leaders for his ar
duous laborS. ..-,-
.. Extra Taxes Studied
,, On the other hand, Mr.. Sim
mons is apparently irrevocably
committed to a Federal contribu-
ton of not exceeding $4,000, 600
and he repeatedly asserted that
the Senate had been unable to
produce ANY facts" justifying a
larger Federal allowance. Nor
could the citizens of Washington
produce such data, he claimed.
Simmons investigating resclu.
tion calls for an inquiry into not
only fiscal relations" but whether
District residents ought to be
more heavily taxed on incomes.
personal property, inheritances
and intangible property. Whether,
under such circumstances the
Speaker will be inclined to put
Simmons on special investigat-
ing board, is still a matter of
speculation. AS a rule, neverthe-
less, the author of resolution of
investigation ordinarily is made a
member of the investigating
group.