Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-08
ECONOMY IS URGED
BEFORE TRADE BODY
TO KEEP TAX DOWN
Leaders Advise Eye to Cost
in Recommending City
Work to Congress.
PLANS TO BE PRESSED
FOR VOTE FOR DISTRICT
Last Census Shows BAL ,456 OF
Voting Age Here, More Than
in Ten States.

A prodigious program of activities
for tine current season, ranging from
promotion of national representation
and an equitable tax burden for the
District to study of technical phases of
city development, was mapped out for
the Washington Board of Trade by its
officers. directors and committee chair
men in annual session last night,
AS the various group chairmen set up
oblectiEeS for the ensuing season, the
keynote was struck as several leaders
of the 1000 members Of the board
sounded a request that the tax rate for
the next fiscal year be held to a
minimum and that an economy budget
be adopted.
1t was urged that the trade organi-
Iation should consider the cost of all
in the light of the ability of the Dis
trict to pay for them before recon-
mending 10 Congress that they be
adopted.
Should Consider Taxpayers.
This note was emphasized by Ed
ward F. Colladay. chairman Of the
Citizens Joint Committee on Fiscal Re-
lations: E. C. Brandenburg, general
Evans, jr., chairman Of the Municipal
Finance Committee of the board. and
Proctor l.. Dougherty, former District
Commissioner.
Mr.. Colladay pointed out that there
are many major improvements which
the District would do we'll to provide,
but that the Board OF Trade should
consider them in the light OF their cost
to taxpayers now and the effect on the
tax rate. before recommending their
immediate adoption.
Mr.. Brandenburg stressed the point
that District taxpayers now are carry
ing a higher burden of taxation per
person than those of other jurisdictions,
due TO the fact that property here is
assessed at full value, whereas, in To-
calities where the actual tax rate may
be higher assessments run as low as 40
per cent OF full value.
Mapes Committee to Report.
Mr.. Evans pointed out that the
Mapes Committee of the House this ses-
sion is to make a report of its study of
what should be the division of the costs
Of the National Capital as between the
Federal and local governments.
This matter will be studied by the
Municipal Finance Committee along
with a proposal for establishing long
term budget for needed items for the
the new Municipal Center and the bud
get for the next fiscal year.
Theodore w. Noyes, chairman of
the Citizens Joint Committee on Ma
tional Representation, and head of a
similar committee of the Board Of
Trade, received an ovation when he
arose to tell of plans for continuing the
campaign to provide voting representa-
tier in Congress for the now disfran-
chlsed citizens Of the District
The justice Of the demand for
"Americanizing'' the Washingtonian,
he pointed out. is shown clearly in the
1880 census reports. which show that
residing in the District, greater num-
Der than in 10 States, including Mon
tana, New Hampshire and Utah.
Even eliminating from this figure
a generous estimate of the number of
local residents who still claim voting
residence in States where they formerly
lived, he said. there still would remain,
after deducting 10000 from the total,
Isl, 439 persons of voting age who
are denied a voice in their Govern
ment only because they live In the Ma
tioral Capital. The campaign to correct
this anomalous condition here. he said.
would be continued with vigor.
Voters Steadily Increasing.
The potential voting strength Of
25l,439 for the District, Mr.. Noyes
pointed out. is greater than that OF the
States of Vermont, Delaware, Idaho,
Wyoming, New Mexico, Arizona and
Nevada.
do not the Districts quarter million
Of potential voters, steadily increasing,
indicate a potential political strength
worthy of consideration by the poll
ticians?" he asked.
After suffering all reasonable, care
fully calculated reductions, the poten-
tial voters of the District constitute a
great army for whose favor the worldly
compete with sincere display Of sympa-
thetic helpful consideration instead Of
slurringly and contemptuously imput-
ing to the community incurable political
unfitness, and to the Nation impotence
to cure this evil"
Urges Insurance Code.
Adoption of a new and effective in
surance code for the District has be-
come imperative, David M Lea, insur-
ance committee chairman, told the
trade body officials This subject, he
pointed out, has been before Congress
for the past rs years and has failed
of enactment because of dissenSion
among insurance interests. He urged
I0e DOdrQ 10 aQOpC IL dS 0Lle Oh lGS nlOSL
important detectives.
There is no State in the country. he
declared, that has an Insurance code
that is so ineffective in setting up pro-
lection for the public as that existing
in the District.
> Enactment of the automobile safety
&, responsibility Law for the District at
I the Forthcoming session of Congress, in
f form similar to that which has been
: adopted by many other jurisdictions,
will be one of the chief aims Of the
Traffic Committee Mr.. T. p. Moves. It's
chairman, told the board. It is urgently
needed he asserted. in order to drive
reckless and insolvent motorists from
the public highways and to assure pay
rnent of compensation to the innocent
victims of accidents.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Noyes' re-
port, George w. Offutt, president Of the
trade body. gave the traffic chairman
credit for being the originator Of the
safety responsibility legislation.
! Will Seek Realty Code.
Passage by Congress OF legislation OF
a reasonable, sane and needed type.
providing for proper regulation of
realty transactions In the District will
be sought by the law committee,
Joseph A. Burkart, chairman, reported.
He characterized the blue sky" bill
and the proposed mortgage foreclosure
bills of Senator Blaine, which died at
the last session Of Congress, as UNI
necessarily harsh and predicted that
amended bills would be presented be-
fr- the new CoporesS