Evening star., 1932-04-19
EQUITABLE j. S.
SHARE IN CAPITAL
EXPENSES URGED
Interfederation Conference
Suggests Thorough Probe
of Fiscal Relations.
LUMP SUM ATTACKED
AS UNFAIR METHOD
Extension of Community Chest
Into Nearby Areas to Be Studied
by Committee.

The appropriation of an equitable
share Of Federal contribution toward
the expenses of the District of Colum-
bia was advocated as the only fair
method In view of the great property
holdings of the United States in the
District, in report OF the Committee
of the Interfederation Conference on
the Mapes financial bills which was
adopted by the conference at a meet
ing at the United States Chamber of
Commerce last night.
The conference recommended that a
thorough investigation should be made
by an agency or commission created
for the purpose OF determining an equit-
able formula, which formula shall from
time to time fix the proportionate share
of the expenses of the District of Co.
lumbia to be borne by the Federal gov
eminent"
Resolution Is Authorized.
The committee was authorized to pre-
pare and present to the Senate Com
mittee on the District Of Columbia at
an appropriate time a resolution to the
effect that no measures be enacted i'm
posing additional tax burdens on the
people of the District until such time
as determination is made on the basis
of the said formula fixing the PROPOSE
ton Of the expense of the District gov
ernment that should fairly be borne by
the Federal Government.
The report of the committee, headed
by H. j. McGrath of the Arlington
County Civic Federation, attacked the
lump sum method of appropriating to-
ward the expenses of the District with
out following definite formula on the
grounds that it is arbitrary, unfair and
unscientific. and because it appears
that the determination of the amount
is based to a large degree on the con-
dition of the Federal Treasury at the
time and comparison of taxes paid by
residents of the District of Columbia
and residents of tie various States and
cities.
Speaking in favor Of the establish
ment of some formula on which the
amount Of Federal contribution might
be determined from year to year, Ed
win S. Hege of the District of Co.
lumbia Federation of Citizens Associa-
tions pointed to the constantly chang
ing conditions by the withdrawal Of
property from taxation for Federal de-
yelopment and suggested that some
plan could De worked out along the
line of ap. lying the tax rate to Fed
eral property.
Sunday Opening Suggested.
On motion of Frederic P. Lee of
Montgomery County, a committee,
headed by Mrs. C. S. Semones of Ar
lington County, chairman, was set up
to study the question of having the
Library Of Congress, the National Mu-
scum, the Washington Monument,
Mount Vernon. the Pan-American
Union and other public and semi-pub-
lie buildings in and near Washington
open all day on Sundays for the oc-
commodation of tourists. It was sug-
gested that these places be kept open
all day Sunday and that the employees
be given a holiday some other day.
Chairman Stephen James, who pre-
sided, appointed a committee to in
vestigate the proposal of ElWood Street,
director OF the Washington Community
Chest, that the area of the Chest be
extended into nearby territory. This
committee consists of Frederic P. Lee
of Montgomery County, chairman; Will
liam G.. Hull and Robert N. Anderson
of Arlington County; Mr.. Coxhead and
Mr.. Bishop of Washington and DR..
L. M. Christie of Montgomery County
Frederic P. Lee proposed that the
conference take action on the McNary-
Crosser bill regarding lighter -than-air
craft now before Congress and it was
voted to urge the Washington Chamber
Of Commerce, the Washington Board of
Trade and the Alexandria Chamber
of Commerce to increase their efforts
to have the American terminus of the
transatlantic Zeppelin line
established near WASHINGTON