Evening star., 1932-01-06
TAX HOLIDAY GOES
TO SUBCOMMITTEE
Realty Moratorium Plan Sent
to House Group Yet to
Be Appointed.

The House District Committee today
referred to subcommittee yet to be
appointed the Norton bill providing for
one-year moratorium as emergency
relief for delinquent real estate tax
debtors and the bill to incorporate the
National Society Army of the Philip
pines, by special recognition of Congress.
The committee substituted the bill
which has already passed the Senate for
the similar House bill previously ia
vorably reported to incorporate the Dis
trict of Columbia Bicentennial Commis-
sion.
Tables Car Merger Bill.
1t tabled the street car merger bill
and requested report from the Dis
trict Commissioners on the bill pro-
posing to name Sixteenth street en-
trance to the District, Blair place, The
director of the Park and Planning Com.
mission has reported in favor of nam
| ing this entrance Blair Portal"
The District Commissioners favorably
reported the bill to incorporate the
National Society Army of the Philip
pines and Corporation Counsel William
| w Bride, said similar action had been
| taken by Congress on recommends
| tion of the House District Committee
| for recognition by Congress looking
| to incorporation of other national pa
| triotic organizations.
Representative Bowman, Republican,
of West Virginia, suggested the COM
mittee should set up a steering SubCom-
mittee to weed out large number of
controversial measures which never
would be acted upon. After some dis
| cussion, it was decided this should be
done by the full committee in execu-
tive session.
Welfare Probe Asked.
| Representative Bowman also present.
| ed a resolution, growing out of the
Edith Riley case, calling for an inves-
tigation of welfare and similar organi-
cations in the District. His resolu-
| ton provided that Mrs. Norton, as
chairman of the committee, should be
directed to appoint a subcommittee Of
three with authority to make COM
plete investigation of all administrative
and judicial services pertaining to the
care of dependents, feeble minded, neg
lected and delinquent children and in
| digent citizens. The investigation also
would cover all activities and institu-
tions under the supervision of the Board
of Public Welfare.
| There was considerable discussion on
| this proposal with nearly every men,
Der emphasizing the intention to have
no part in authorizing any investigation
| that might in any way interfere with
| the Community Chest drive soon to be
started. With this thought in mind,
| the resolution was amended so as to
leave out any reference to any char
liable organization.
1t was emphasized the immediate
purpose is to determine responsibility
| for failure to give adequate child pro-
! lection
Defect Pointed Out
Representative Harlan, who is presi-
| dent of the Ohio State Humane So
| ciety pointed out the Riley case
| brought to light a defect in child pro-
| lection agencies and not in charitable
or welfare work
On motion of Representative Black
of New York, the Bowman resolution
was referred to a subcommittee with
instructions to call before it the Dis
trict officials particularly concerned in
| the Riley case.
! Mrs. Norton'S proposal for one-year
moratorium for District real estate tax
debtors whose property has been ad-
VertlSed for sale also was referred to
subcommittee with Instructions, to
| draft the new bill providing for one
year extension of time.s
Jesse C. Duke, an attorney, urged
passage of the moratorium measure.
| He introduced Howard S. Gott, real
estate man, and Joseph L. Pepper, at
! torney, who discussed the situation re-
Sulting from the present system of sale
of real estate in the District for nom
! payment of taxes
On question of Representative Black
| as to how many persons were engaged
| in the business of buying such prop
erty at tax sales, Mr.. Duke said that
there were only four or five and that
| this virtually constituted a trust.
Chairman Norton referred to it as a
| racket"