Evening star., 1933-03-30
Texan Says House Is Ready
to Act if Commissioners
Don't Cut Rate.
SAVING OF $2,6O0,0OO
FOR PAYERS SEEN HERE
Surplus Under New Budget Esti-
mates Would Be Decreased to
About 81, 100000.

A 20-cent reduction in the District
tax rate in the coming fiscal year was
promised today by Representative Blan-
ton, Democrat, of Texas.
Blanton declared that if the Commits
sioners should not voluntarily cut the
levy by that amount he was confident
Congress would do so. He said he had
already discussed the proposed reduction
with the Commissioners and with Mai.
Daniel j. Donovan, District auditor and
budget officer, as a means of cutting
down the huge surplus of tax revenues
which is expected to accumulate in the
next fiscal year as a result of the
Budget Bureaus drastic slashing of the
1884 estimates.
A 20-cent reduction in the tax rate
would bring the levy down from sl.7o
to s1.50 and save taxpayers approxi-
mately s2,6oo,oo0 year. The tax rate
would be cut about II per cent, while
the Federal contribution has been cut
26 per cent.
s10,000,00o Surplus.
The anticipated surplus, District off,
cials have estimated, will amount to
approximately $4,000 900 on the basis
OF the Budget Bureaus appropriation
recommendations for 1884.
The tax reduction would still leave
an accumulation of about s7,4OO 900, but
Blanton indicated that other plans are
contemplated to prevent the accumula-
ton of any revenues in excess of the
cash operating fund of $4,000, 600. which
the law requires to be maintained in
the United States Treasury.
Although Blanton in previous years
mas taken the position that the tax rate
IN the District is low in comparison with
other cities, he said he is advocating a
reduction at this time so the public can
get some immediate benefit from the
prospective surplus
In the Senate, Walsh of Massa-
chusetts made plea for fair play and
Just treatment of the unrepresented
taxpayers of the District in the franz
ing Of the new bill.
Wants Equitable Bill.
"As the people of the District have
no representation" Senator Walsh
opinion that all doubts as to the con-
tribution the Federal Government
should make toward maintenance of
the Nations Capital should be resolved
IN favor of the taxpayers of the
District"
Senator Walsh said Congress should
be particularly careful at this time not
to increase unduly the taxes of the
people OF the District "by implication
by any shift in the relative proportions
OF the budget borne by the Federal
government and the people OF the
District"
Referring to the drastically reduced
oudget and the accompanying cut to
button, Senator Walsh said the pend
ing proposal smacks of inequity, espe-
cially under existing conditions. I feel
confident Congress will not do any
injustice to the District of Columbia
and that the final agreement will be
as 1t should be, fair. just and equitable"
The House subcommittee on appro-
priations made preparations today to
mark up the 1884 District appropriation
Dill with view to reporting it to the
House not later than Monday.
Chairman Buchanan of the'Appropri-
atoms Committee, announced that
nitely slated for Tuesday.
Only two perfunctory hearings have
been held by the Deficiencies Commit
tee, in charge Of the bill, and no de-
cision has been reached whether civic
organizations will be given an oppor-
tunity to appear before the measure is
reported.
Another Session Planned.
Another session of the committee Is
expected to be held tomorrow or Satur-
day. but Mr.. Buchanan said he did not
know whether any witnesses would be
called.
The three District Commissioners
and Maj. Donovan were called into
the first executive session, but were
not allowed, it is understood, to make
any recommendations for increases
above the amounts recommended by
the Budget Bureau.