Evening star., 1930-12-02
RELATIONS
HEARINGS WILL Be
OPENED TOMORROW
Simmons and Cramton First
on List of Those
to Testify.

The special House committee ap-
pointed by the Speaker to make an
intensive study Of fiscal relations be-
tween the Federal Government and the
District taxpayers, of which Represent
ative Carl Mapes of Michigan is chair
man, will start hearings in the District
Of Columbia committee room tomorrow
morning at GAS o'clock.
The committee held its first meeting
today, with Representative Crisp, DEM
ocrat. of Georgia, sitting in. although
he has emphasized his determination
not to serve with the committee to
which he was appointed by the Speaker.
Many years aeo Mr.. Crisp introduced
resolution to abolish the then time
honored half-and- half principle of A.
nancing the District. appropriation bill.
The members of the committee ex-
pressed regret today that Mr.. Crisp will
not serve. The Speaker is expected to
announce Mr.. Crisp's successor some
time today.
Committee Accepts Rapp.
Chairman Mapes announced that the
committee has accepted the services of
Herbert Rapp, an expert economist and
research worker from the United States
Bureau of Efficiency, who has previously
made an extensive study of this subject.
The hearings for the present will be
of two hours duration and the commit
tee does not plan, as yet, to sit during
sessions Of the House.
The committee will first hear state
nlent from Representative Simmons Of
Nebraska, chairman of the subcommit-
tee on District appropriations, who is
the father of the resolution providing
for this fiscal relations study.
The second witness IS to be Repre-
sentative Cramton, Republican, of
Michigan, who is father Of the lump
sum proposition, while he was serving
temporarily as chairman of the SUBJ
committee on District appropriations.
ID. C. Ofiicials to Be Heard.
Following these the Mapes commit
tee will hear the District Commission
ers, the District assessor, William P.
Richards. and the District auditor. Mai.
Daniel j. Donovan, and other District
officials whom the Commissioners de-
sire to present.
The Mapes Committee will then re-
ceive a report from the Bureau of Eff
ficiency, presented by Thomas F. Muir
phy covering the bureaus study OF Dis
trict finances and fiscal relations, as
prepared several years ago, for the
House Appropriations Commi4ee, and
brought to date for the Mapes Com
mittee.
Mr.. Mapes said his committee will
then be ready to throw the hearings
open for testimony by representatives
of the citizenship of the District.
He said that the plan of the COM
mittee is to hold public hearings to give
the people of the District an opportunity
to be heard fully. He expressed the
hope that different interests, such as
business, civic and other organizations
would get together and select their
representatives to present their opinions
on District finances without duplication
and to avoid as much as possible, repe-
tition of the mass Of material that has
previously been presented at other hear
ing on this subject.
TiIson FavOrs $9,5OO,O0O.
House Leader Tilson is favorable to
continuing the $9,500,000 contribution
by the Federal Government
"I believe that this was clear COM
promise for the present fiscal year, and
IL ~ tldS DccIl uSCQ DCA1cfC Sllck ~ ID
a still further indication that it is a
fair contribution from the Federal Gov
ernment," said Mr.. TilSon.
"If the budget recommends SO, 500, 900,
as has been published in the press, as
basis for the appropriations for the Dis
trict government, believe that is still
further evidence that this is a fair
amount for a lump-sum contribution
until We have determined, after careful
study, what more exact ratio between
the Federal Government and the Dis
trict taxpayers would be-.
"I would be opposed, on the other
hand" said Mr.. Tilson, ito increasing
the amount above $9,500,000 until we
have evidence to show that such In
crease should be fairly drawn from the
Federal Treasury. / believe this is a
very bad time to increase appropria-
tions," he concluded.