Evening star., 1933-04-04
House Appropriations Group
Says Tax Rate Could Be
Reduced to S1.5O.
$50, ,292,442 is PROVIDED
FOR 1884 FISCAL YEAR
Sum Is $11, ,901, sos Less Than in
Current Period-Federal Con-
tribution to Be 100, 900.

Representative Taber Of New York,
ranking Republican member of the
Appropriations Committee, told the
House today that the committee is
authorized to offer amendments to
the District appropriation bill allow
ing further expenditure of s1,040,-
600 from the gasoline funds in the
discretion of the President and an
additional s635,0o0 out of water rev.
enues for repairs.
A recommendation fer a cut from
$l.70 to $3.50 in the tax rate on real
and personal property was made by
the House Appropriations Committee
today in reporting to the House
District appropriations bill for the 1884
fiscal year carrying $30,292,442. The
only change made by the committee
was to reduce further the Budget
Bureaus figures.
The figure is $11.9o1.5 sos less than
the amount appropriated to run the
District Government for the current
fiscal year. There were. only two
changes In the budget figures. One
was correction Of clerical .rror in
estimating the salaries OF the Com
missioners under the second economy
act, which Topped OF $1.700. The second
was the elimination of all criers from
District Supreme Court, resulting IN
saving Of s8,o59. Otherwise the bill
reported is exactly the same as the
budget sent forward by Budget Di-
rector Lewis Douglas.
Bill Called Up at 1:55 Pm.
The revised bill was called up in the
House today at 1855 pm, less than two
hours after it was reported from the
Appropriations Committee. General
debate was limited by agreement to
one hour.
Representative Cannon, in a general
statement explaining the bill, pointed
out that the reductions made in the
original bill were in accordance with
the Democratic campaign pledge to re-
duce the cost OF government. He en-
phaslzed, however, that the 1884 bill
Is temporary emergency measure
and would not, despite the severe
slashes in the estimates, reduce the
efficiency of the municipal government.
Mr.. Cannon also declared that the
increase in the cost of the District Gov
eminent In the last 10 years has been
greater than in any other city in the
United States.
Spent $11,0o0,oo0 in 1914"
'In 1914. before the beginning of
the war" he said, "the District spent
sll 100000. But for 1882, in the fiscal
year just closed, the District spent a
total Of about $49, 900 900, although the
cost OF the operation of the Municipal
Government during the period of the
war increased about $4,000 900 over the
period before the war"
MI. Cannon also declared that there
has been an increase In the cost of
construction in the District.
This bill" he declared, "has the
harmonious and the unanimous appro-
val OF the Budget Bureau, the House
subcommittee on Deficiencies and the
Appropriations Committee This is the
first appropriation bill reported out
since the change in the administration.
and 1t Is up to the House to support
the President of the United States"
U. S. Share Is $5,7oo,ooo
The Federal contribution, as sug-
yested by the Budget Bureau, Is placed
n the report at $4,000 a drop Of
s., OTIS 900 under this years figure. The
'otal budget. including permanent and
Indefinite appropriations which recur
Continued on Page 2, Column So