Evening star., 1932-05-17

time the budget was in course Of prepa-
ration.
This means that in the two fiscal
years, 1882 and 1888, the District Is
| confronted with the strong probability
of loss of about S3.000,000 in current
revenues. In addition to this, as has
! been shown, the cash fund of 100000
required to be maintained by the act
of June 20, 1922, of which amount 1t
was believed about $l.850,000 would re-
main at the close Of the fiscal year
| 1882, it Is now found in the revised
estimate of May 1, 1882, will be slightly
under $500,000 by the end of that fiscal
year.
"The application of this small balance
| to the apparent deficit in revenue col
| lections in 1888 will, of course, entirely
| extinguish the cash fund. The question
as to whether or not IL will be neceS-
sary to re-establish the cash fund OF
/ So 900 900 in whole or In part is one
| that need not be considered at this
time"
Opposes Tax Increase.
After setting forth briefly the extent
| to which the city's surplus and cash
working fund have been used up in the
last two years Donovan continued:
"All of this naturally brings up the
| important question of how the DIS
| trict Is to obtain additional revenues
! to provide for its normal operating ex-
penses and the necessary improvements:
| It Is the opinion Of the auditor ana
the assessor that real estate In the
| District of Columbia is today taxed as
much as it reasonably and equitaoly
should be and that to increase the tax
on real estate would be burdensome
and unjust and very likely to lead TO
| a mounting increase in the delinquent
tax list. as is unfortunately rather gen
erally the case in other cities OF the
country today. It is very evident at
this time that at the close Of the pres
ent fiscal year, on June 80, 1882, the
| District of Columbia will have the
| largest delinquent tax list In its history.
'The income from the tax on tangible
and intangible personal property Is fall
! ing of and not increasing.
THE present sources of District reVe-
nue. are apparently tapped to the limit
of ability to produce any further
money"
Donovan followed this statement
with the conclusion that these facts
lead to the conclusive and convincing
Justification not only for continuance
without abatement in any part OF the
Federal contribution of Ss,5oo.ooO but
also the provision Of new and additional
sources Of revenue"
Cites District Burden.
The statement that real property in
the District already Is bearing just
and fair tax and that it would be un-
Just to increase it was made by Dono-
van when Senator Dickinson OF Iowa
| inquired If there were not hexiblity
enough in the District tax rate to
enable 1t to meet the anticipated deficit.
Senator Bingham wanted to know
if any revision had been made in as
sessments on real property recently. He
said it is well known that some prop
! erty has sold for half of the assessed
value or even less and inquired If the
assessor had taken notice of the fall
ing off in prices.
Donovan said this had not been done
vet. The present total assessment, he
| said, is about $3.50 900 900. Donovan
said the assessor is afraid the present
level of assessments cannot be main
| tanned much longer, that 1t represents
a maximum level and that within the
next year or two he will have to bring
assessments down generally through
out the city
Mrs. Noyes Makes Plea.
Mrs. Frank B. Noyes appeared before
the committee to appeal for adequate
appropriations for the preservation OF
| the trees and shrubs on the streets and
in the parks of the National Capital.
She said the allotment for the parks
! used to be at the rate Of $225 per acre,
| but it is now down to Sl65 per acre.
She told the committee it ought to be
at least 5000 per acre. Mrs. Noyes
also suggested the District should CO.
ordinate with Department Of Agricul-
ture experts in the work Of caring for
| the trees and shrubs.
DR.. George F. Bowerman, librarian
of the free public library system, ex-
planned the need for the proposed
Georgetown branch library, which was
left out of the bill in the House. DR..
George c. Havenner also spoke on this
I item.
Capt. H. C. Whitehurst, District
highway engineer, explained the street
items that were eliminated from the
bill. laying particular stress on the
urgent need for a new bridge across
Rock Greek at P street. Commissioner
Crosby joined in this recommendation,
pointing out that the building of this
new bridge would expedite the compile
ton Of the Rock Creek and Potomac
connecting parkway and thereby create
traffic artery to the center Of the
city that would greatly relieve traffic
congestion on other thoroughfares.
The committee adjourned shortly
after / o'clock until 7 o'clock tonight,
when it will hear other District Off
cials.
Senator Bingham announced that
tomorrow evening at o'clock the
committee will hear witnesses on the
proposed appropriation of 100000 for
emergency unemployment relief.