Evening star., 1933-02-05
FEDERATION ASKS
ASSESSMENT CUT
Says Valuation Too High.
Disapproves Bill Permitting
R. F. c. Relief Loan.

S'SAHrs WV SU W SssuesUiS
R. F. c. Relief Loan.
The Federation Of Citisens' A,vocia-
tions refused TO approve the report Of
Its Fiscal Committee last night. BY which
1t would have indorsed the bill to allow
the District to borrow relief funds from
the Reconstruction Finance Corpora
tion. The molten to approve the report
was lost by 2S to 8 votes.
George 3. Sullivan took the floor IN
oppoeition TO the committee recon-
declaring that to borrow
from the r. =. G. would be like iiSuing
bonds for the District. The way TO
help out emergency relief here. he said,
Is by carrying On productive enterprises
In the District, such - needed school
buildings, rather than by contributing
money to INDECENT persons. Harry N.
stul was ukewi.e heard In opposition
to the plan, contendtng that II the COM
mittee report were adopted it will
mean the end Of the Community
Chest" because tho program suggested
Is tantamount to . dole. He xuggested
that the District would have to repay
the loan to tho Reconstruction Finance
Corporation BY making up the money
out Of real estate taxes.
Urges Excess for Needy.
Edwin 8. Hege declared that the Dis
trict should take the excess Of the gaso-
instead Of paying the highway person.
mel, such as u now being asked for, In
A. 8. Gregory told the
federation that II the District borrowed
"a, 500 900, the poor man would not be
able to own . place here.
Friends Of the committee report
pointed out that the authorization for
81 SOC. 900 borrowing by the CommiS-
sioners, In an emergency, would take
care Of situations such - was recently
when the District found
itself without emergency relief funds.
due to tangle In the deficiency appro-
priation bill. Tho District would not be
borrowing any moro money. they said,
but would merely be getting advance
funds from the Reconstruction Finance
Corporation, to be paid back, with in
terest, out Of the next regular appropri-
alton by Congress for relief here.
Devoting . good share Of the evening
to fiscal affairs, the Federation adopted
q resolution favoring adjustments in
tax valuations. This resolution read:
Resolved, that It Il the sense Of this
Federation that, In justice and fairness
to all owners Of real estate In the Dis
trict Of Columbia, there should be an
early revision Of the present tax valua-
tions. which are quite generally out Of
line, excessive and not IN accord with
the shrinkages which have occurred"
Resolution Q Substitute.
The resolution was adopted On motion
Of Mr.. Sullivan. ~ Q substitute for q
nscal committee suggeet!on that there
be set up . $4,000 exemption on home
property. except those not used for resi-
dences Of the owners. Opponents said
the committees resolution was social
and that 1t would create great deal Of
confusion. ss the hcme owner might be-
come q landlord and vice versa, and
this would throw q great amount of
additional work on the District Gov
ernment.
Proponents Of the committee resolu-
ton asserted that tangible personal
property household goods to the value
Of 81 900 are exempt. while In Intangible
personal property an exemption of $500
is allowable In savings accounts. There
should be Q similar exemption for home
owners, they contended. estimating that
some 10000 homes would fall within
this program. A motion to lay the COM
mittee resolution on the table was lost
by tie vote Of II to II, and then Mr.
SullivAn's substitute motion was adopted
Congress, In another resolution, was
urged to increase the District appropri-
ations or reduce the tax rate, in con-
formity with lowered assessed valuations
here. and the Federation adopted an
legislation to permit payment Of taxes
quarterly, adding that all classes Of
owners should benefit by this.
Notices would be sent to property
owners.
Copeland Housing Bill.
The federation decided that the re-
ports on the Copeland housing bill, de-
signed to carry out the plans of the
American Institute Of Architects here,
In providing for limited dividend cor
porations In the National Capital,
should be recommtted to three COM
mittees-an public welfare, on city
planning and on laws and legislation
to act in unison en- the problem. A
majority report was presented by Mr..
Sullivan. which held that the present
time is most inexpedient for taking up
a housing program under limited divi-
dend corporations. Maj. Clayton Emig
offered the so-called minority report.
which accepted the Copeland bill in
principle as An aid to the Door man.
Declining to favor an exemption Of
reduction OF pay under the economy oct
for the Districts policemen and fire
man. the federation voted disapproval Of
committee report which urged this.
The federation was won over by argu-
ments Of opponents, who insisted that
1t was picking out one class Of munici.
pal employees for favoring and that in
these times, police and hremen should
take their proportionate cuts in sala-
ries. Many delegates said that police
and firemen should be given extra
compensation for extra duty.
Other resolutions adopted included
one OF regret In the death Of Lieut..
Nina c. Van Winkle. late director of
the Woman's Bureau Of the Metropoli-
tan Police Department; cooperation in
tho Inauguration ceremonies and favor
ing pending legislation designed to give
the District notice In personal injury
suits. Marvin Mclean resigned as &
delegate to tho Interfederation Confer
ence and the federations president
James G. Yaden, appointd Mrs. Eliza.
beth Sullivan to act In his stead.
TAKEN IN my RAINS