Evening star., 1932-09-21
RATED
.TOPHEAVY IN j. S.
Consolidation of Governing
Units Urged to Relieve Tax
payers of Burden.
Continued From First Page.

Continued From First Page.)
that any politician who has the inter-
est OF the small home owner and rent
| consistently urge the substitution of a
| general sales tax for real estate taxes.
II we are to adopt sales taxes, let us
do so after an intelligent appraisal Of
their merits and defects. To propose
substitution of general sales taxes for
| taxes on real estate as a measure of
relief for the small man is an insult
to intelligence and an affront to COM
mon sense.
II believe that the taxes on real es-
tate are heavier than desirable. Waste
and extravaganza is present in some
of our New York municipalities. 1t is
present in an unpardcnable degree in
very heavily for what receive from
the city and would like to have my
burden reduced.
"On the other hand, however, I see
no reason why some stenographer should
pay more for her stick of chewing gum
or her movie ticket or why some truck
driver should pay more for his cigar
cite or his seat at the ball game to pay
for the collection Of the garbage from
my kitchen"
New Tax Sources Seen.
A third speaker, F. L. Bird, assistant
director Of the Municipal Administra-
tion Service, New York, pointed out
such undeveloped sources of municipal
revenue as vaults under sidewalks, cellar
I urh lf a
public thoroughfares, and sewers which
provide purely private accommodation
for the taxpayer and which, he con-
tended, should be taxed.
Charges that saving of so per cent
could be made in the Post once De-
partment alone by application Of sound
business principles to the problem of
personnel were made by H. Eliot Kap-
Ian, secretary of the National Civil
Service Reform League, speaking at the
Municipal League luncheon this after
noon.
The growth Of the civilian army
in the past quarter century" he de-
clared, has been tremendous, and at
present totals over 100000. One per-
son in every 40 draws compensation
from the public treasury, either ma
tional, State or municipal, The annual
pay roll Of this civilian army is more
than $4,000, ,ooo, ,ooo."
Huge Loss Estimated.
He said the absence Of a sound per-
sonnel system through a properly de-
viSed competitive system Of selection Of
public employees based on competence.
training and experience is costing the
American taxpayer at least a quarter
Of a billion dollars a year.
The other speaker at the luncheon,
Henry Bentley, president Of the Gin
cinnati City Charter Committee, said
the form Of most municipal govern
ments in this country tends to ex-
clude the ordinary citizens from any
share in political control.
This exclusion" he said, "has re-
suited from three defects in the struc-
| tural provisions of our municipal
charters; the first, a system of pri-
mary elections that separates persons
from principles. although every one
knows that a principle has power only
when incarnated in q person: the
second, multiplicity of elected Off
cials with divided responsibilities and
the third. system Of general elections
that grants undue influence to an or
ganized minority
Virginia Tour Planned.
A party of more than 100 Of the
delegates to the Bicentennial Confer
ence on Planning. Parks and Govern
ment, will leave tonight on the Norfolk
boat for Old Point Comfort. and to-
morrow will tour the Colonial Ma
tional Monument and other historic
areas in Tidewater. Va.
The group, including men and women
y1Y Cfofn 10o 4
busses at Old Point Comfort tomorrow
morning, and ride to jamestown, York
town and Williamsburg, having lunch
con at Williamsburg There they will
inspect the restoration of the town and
then leave for Wakefield, birthplace of
Washington, for an inspection Of the
old colonial home recently reproduced
The delegates will have q buffet sup
per at Wakefield and then return to
Washington.
Friday afternoon they will leave by
private automobiles for a week end in
spection of the Shenandoah National
Park, arriving at Skyland. Va, in time
for banquet at which Horace M. Al
bright. director Of the National Park
Service, will preside.
Speakers At Banquet.
Speakers at the banquet will be the
associate director of the park service,
Arno B. Cammerer; Harlan P. Kelsey
noted botanist, and William E. Carson,
chairman of the Virginia Commission
on Conservation and Development. Mo-
tion pictures Of the Shenandoah coun-
try will be shown by DR.. Roy Lyman
Sexton.
On Saturday there will be hikes and
horseback trips to outstanding scenic
points and a trip through White Oak
Canyon, followed by barbecue chicken
dinner at Crescent Rock Cliffs.
The delegates will be taken to Sky
land over the scenic new Skyline Drive,
not yet opened to the public, for which
passes have been issued by the Nation
al Park Service.
Grant Debates Brownlow.
Lieut.. Col. U. S. Grant, Sd, Of the
Once Of Public Buildings and Public
Parks, engaged In debate last night
with Louis Brownlow, director Of the
Public Administration Clearing House,
on the adviSability Of municipalities dis
pensing with their park boards and
leaving the administration of the nnu-
inequalities recreational facilities to
other municipal organizations a an
economy measure.
Col Grant: who was toastmaster at
ing the conference, rose to the defense
Of the park boards after Brownlow had
| finished q speech suggesting doing away