Evening star., 1933-04-02
FEDERATION ASKS
'NEWDEAL' 'FORD.C.
Cut in Estimates Protested.
Slash in Taxes and Realty
N Assessment Sought.

The Federation of Citizens Associa.
tions last night adopted a series OF
resolutions, submitted by its principal
committees, protesting generally against
the drastically reduced estimates for
the 1894 fiscal year presented to Con-
gress by the Bureau Of the Budget, de-
manding lower taxes, and requesting to
be heard before congressional COM
mittees dealing with District fiscal mat
tiers. principally before the subcommittee
Of the House Appropriations Committee
The first of the resolutions was pre-
sented by Chairman George e. Sullivan
of the Law and Legislation Committee,
and it was unanimously adopted with
out debate.
A second resolution decried the
specific reductions proposed for high
way expenditures, especiaLTAs the
gasoline tax collections hcient
to carry the entire highway costs, and
urged that these collections be not
diverted to other uses.
A third, presented by the Fiscal Re
lations Committee, protested any re-
duction in the Federal contribution
toward the cost Of maintaining the
District, and specifically the Mapes
Committee tax bills recently reintro-
duced "as being designed to increase
the tax burden at time when there
is no need for additional revenue"
Ask Realty Assessment Cut.
This resolution opposed the building
I'D of a surplus. but instead, advocated
appropriations for construction work in
proportion to the amount Of anticipated
revenues, especially the revenues OF Spe-
cial classes which may not be diverted
from the purpose for which they are
levied.
Still another resolution, also from the
Fiscal Relations Committee, demanded
fiat 20 per cent reduction in all real
estate assessments, effective Immediately.
This resolution pointed out that the as
sessments on land have increased by
$32,000,0 900 since 1929. Remarking on
the great decrease in values, the report
says, "if the assessment was right In
1929 it is wrong now"
This resolution was unanimously
adopted, but several delegates rose to
criticize Tax Assessor William P. Rich
ards for declining to reduce assessments
in individual cases.
Another resolution, from the Com
mittee on Education, urged that there
be no reduction in funds for school
construction, library and playground
maintenance, as carried in the present
budget. f
d. C. Representation Urged.
The Committee on National Repre-
sentation submitted report indorsing
Senate joint resolution No. 8, provid-
ing for an amendment to the United
States Constitution to give the people
of the District representation In the
House and Senate, and opposing
pending bill to allow the District COM
missioners to name delegate for the
District, who would have the floor
privilege in the House.
Both these sections of the report
were approved by every delegate who
spoke. A third section, however, rec
ommending adoption by the House and
Senate Of rules permitting a spokes-
man from the District, to be selected
by the federation, the privilege Of the
floor in both House and Senate aroused
considerable opposition. The debate
lasted until nearly midnight, and
finally w. j. Neale Of Cleveland Park
settled the matter by q motion to make
the entire report the special order Of
business at the federation's next meet
ing, April IS. william NICK. Clayton.
among those opposing this provision.
Mr.. Sullivan favored 1t. The report
put the suggestion forward as an ener-
gency measure only.
Beer license Limit Favored.
The federation unanimously adopted
q resolution calling for appropriate
classification and limitation" of the
places to be allowed to sell beer under
the prospective District beer bill. The
resolution especially recommended that
drug stores be not licensed to sell the
brew, and that licenses to delicatessens
be limited to permission to sell the beer
in bottles, not to be consumed on the
premises.
There was a long debate on a prac-
tice golf course at Georgia avenue and
Blair road, which citizens of that Sec
tion have been attempting to suppress
for some time. The federation finally
adopted a report from its Zoning Com
mittee recommending that the Com
missionerS and the corporation counsel
seek settlement Of the case which has
been pending in Police Court for more
than year. The report also called
for general reforms In zoning procedure,
particularly In giving interested citizens
more effective notice of the pendency
of petitions for rezoning.
Former Supt. OF Police Pelham D.
Glassford addressed the federation in
behalf Of camp for transient boys he
proposes to establish about 20 miles
from Washington on the Potomac.