Evening star., 1933-02-11
ID. c. SUPPLY BILL
REPORTED IN HOUSE
Carries $34,451,565 - In
cIudes ST Intangible Prop
erty Tax, Minority Report.
Continued From First Page.)


Continued From First Page.)
such minority views have been filed on
District appropriation bill.
Representative Simmons minority
report is as follows:
Il have had no part in the prepara-
ton Of this report. regret that can
not join in 1t. am not In accord with
a number of its proposals. I mention
only two.
Large Surplus Shown.
"The report shows q probable sur
plus of several millions of dollars, un-
obligated, in the District treasury. As
suming that the bill makes adequate
provision for the fiscal needs of the
District of Columbia, it then becomes
apparent that the District property
holder is being taxed in excess of the
amount needed to operate the city gov
ernment. II that is true, the COM
mittee should recommend q reduction
of tangible personal and real estate
taxes. But, in the face Of the surplus
of several millions Of dollars, the COM
mittee recommends an increase Of in
tangible property taxes Of 20 per cent.
I cannot Justify increased taxes with an
unobligatd surplus In the treasury.
1.-THE increased taxes are to pay the
cost of unemployment relief. The COM
mittee, however, recommends the elm
nation of approximately $l,000,000 Of
work on highways, sewers
and other classes of work where hand
labor is q material part Of the cost. I
cannot justify the elimination Of items
that will, If left in the bill. create en-
ployment, and at the same time, levy
increased taxes to provide unemploy-
ment relief.
For these and other reasons, I &C.
cordingly wish the record to show that
do not join in the recommendation
Of the committee"
The determination Of the Appropria-
tionS Committee to prevent the order
of the Public Utilities Commission re-
quiring taxicabs to be equipped with
meters was shown In specific provi-
sion Of the bill reported today as fol-
lows:
mo part of the appropriations shall
be used for or in connection with the
issuance, publication or en-
forcement of any regulation or order OF
the Public Utilities Commission requir-
ing the installation of meters in taxi
cabs"
The committee, however, specifically
states that this prohibition shall not
be construed to affect any order Of the
Public Utilities Commission other than
with respect to the requirement of the
installation Of such meters"
In his report on the bill, Chairman
Cannon of the subcommittee which
considered the District budget explained
the $2.969, ,205 decrease from the budget
estimate as made Notwithstanding the
addition of new schools, an increase in
hospital facilities and general rise in
the population supported in the various
institutions coming under the Board of
Public Welfare"
Park Areas Affected.
not only for all strictly
activities of the District Of
COLUMBIA, but 1t includes also appropria-
tions on account Of park areas under
the Jurisdiction Of the director Of Pub
lie Buildings and Public Parks, the Ma
tional Capital Park and Planning Com
the Geological Park and for
certain work being performed under the
supervision OF the Engineer Department
of the Army.
In discussing the Federal contribu-
tions in his report, Chairman Cannon
Federal contribution of s6,500, 900,
which Is $1.275,o00 less than the
amount of such contribution for the
current fiscal year and a like amount
under the budget recommendation. The
action proposed by the bill is the same
taken in reporting the District appro-
priation bill to the House last year and
is IN harmony with the policy adopted
by the House in the passage Of the
legislation recommended by the select
committee Of the House appointed by
the Speaker under the authority con-
tanned in a House resolution OF the
Seventy first Congress"
The financial condition Of the Dis
trict Government is discussed In Chair
man Cannon's report. The committee
was advised that the estimate for 1894
Tor this bill as submitted in the budget
would result in a surplus amounting to
approximately $3,366,000 at the end
Of the fiscal year 1894 on the basis of
Federal contribution in the sum of
81, ,0o0., In decreasing the contri-
button OF the Federal Government by
sl,275 900, the committee proposes to
Increase the amount to be charged to
The revenues of the District to that ex-
tent, put 1t has also recommended de-
auction in appropriation In the sum of
~ 1863, ,205, which resulted in an actual
net increase in the estimated balance
on hand at the end Of the fiscal year
1884 OF 81 1894, ,205 and total estimated
surplus Of $5,o6o.205.
Street Work Provisions.
OF this latter sum. $3.50, 900 may be
expended only for street improvements
under the gasoline tax fund and $751;
BOO Is available only for expenditures
In connection with the water service
leaving a total surplus for the general
fund estimated at S4,329205.
In explaining why all salary appro-
priations in the bill reported today show
a substantial reduction below the cur
rent year, Chairman Cannon points out
that in the economy act last year,
savings were not cut from the individual
appropriations, but were required to re-
main unexpended and to lapse at the
end Of the year, while in the estimates
for the coming fiscal year, these savings
were taken out of the individual items
of appropriation.
ut is estimated" said Chairman
Cannon, that during the fiscal year
1888, the savings under the economy
act will amount to $2,235, ,463, Of which
s2,053,688 Is due to the legislative fur
Tough and compensation deductions au-
thorized in the economy act; $140,43
is chargable to the section in the
economy act requiring a 10 per cent
reduction on construction and SAL $50
is due to the operation Of the section
regarding fees of jurors and witnesses" j."
The bill reported today contemplates
a total savings of $2,200,000 under the
continuance of certain pro-
visions Of the economy act.
In explaining the emergency relief
fund and the new legislation for in
creasing the tax on intangible personal
Chairman Cannon said that
"in order to comply with the recon-
mendations made by the District Com
missioners that the unemployment re-
lief fund should be provided wholly
from revenues of the District, the COM
mittee has included a provision in
crea SING the taY IN into poihIo r>nrSopa1