Evening star., 1934-12-14
FISCAL RELATIONS
INQUIRY TO SURVEY
TAXES IN Z CITIES
Haas Formally Is Assigned
to Task of Compiling Fig.
ures for Roosevelt.
STAFF WILL RUSH
DATA TO PRESIDENT
Problem Is Injected Into House
Subcommittee Hearing by
Financial Report.

The taxes Of 10 or IL cities Of this
country, situated similarly to Wash
ington, will be closely studied by the
Division of Research and Statistics
of the Treasury Department in pre-
pairing a special report to President
Roosevelt as a basis for the Chief
Executives consideration of fiscal
equity for the National Capital.
This was learned today at the
Treasury as the official request from
the White House was formally as
signed to George c. Haas, director of
the Division of Research and Statis-
tics. Announcement had been made
the day before by Secretary Morgen-
thau that the study would be given
to Haas and today, when the official
request arrived, it was Immediately
assigned
Haas declined to discuss the survey,
but it was learned on good authority
that it will be the subject not only
of personal attention by Haas him
self. but it will engage the services of
several members of his extensive staff.
The size of the job and the relatively
short time required by the President
will necessitate speedy work, it is
understood, but the Division of Re-
search and Statistics is adequately
equipped with trained personnel to
provide the President with the in
formation he wants.
Roosevelt to Get Report.
A report will be ready to send to
the White House in time for con-
sideration by the President before he
makes any recommendation to Con-
gress regarding the fiscal relations
between the District and the Federal
Government.
The 10 or u cities to be chosen will
be of population comparable to Wash
ington, it was learned.
The disputed issue of a so-called
"evaluated tax" is apparently still
one of the undetermined factors in the
situation. No definite information on
this issue was available today at the
Treasury as to whether the Division
of Research and Statistics will at
tempt to compute the taxes from these
10 or II cities into figure known as
the evaluated tax.
Injected Into Hearing.
The fiscal relations question was
discussed by House appropriations
subcommittee considering the new
budget.
The subject was injected into the
hearing as result of a report by
Maj. Daniel J. Donovan, auditor and
budget officer, showing the financial
situation of the District government
and its ability to support a $4,000
900 budget in the coming fiscal year
if the Federal Government grants
the request of the Commissioners for
contribution of S8,317,500
The subcommittee, however. is not
expected to agree on the amount of
the Federal contributions until the
Treasury experts complete the study.
The Budget Bureau has suggested
contribution of s5,7OO,000 in the COM
ing fiscal year and Chairman Cannon
has indicated no change would be
made in this figure unless the sub
committee is instructed otherwise as
the result of the Presidents tax survey.
After the tax discussion the sub
committee took up the detail estimates
and heard George NJ Roberts, superin-
| tendent of weights, measures and mar
| kets, defend the items in his budget.
Richards Retention Urged.
BY unprecedented action the sub
committee late yesterday urged the
Commissioners to retain in the service
| William P Richards, veteran district
| tax assessor.
/ Richards will be eligible to retire
soon because of age. and the COM
mittee decided to ask the Commission
ers to urge on the President his re-
tention for two years longer.
Chairman Cannon proposed the ex-
| tension. He said:
What would be the attitude of the
committee on recommending the ex-
tension of Mr.. Richards time as as
SCISSOR of the District of Columbia for
the two years permitted under the
statute?"
Mr.. Blanton: Mr. Chairman, I
/ move that it is the sentiment of this
/ committee that the Commissioners
! should take steps to get Mr.. Richards
retirement period extended two years,
which the President can do if they
| request it.
He is 70 years young-not old. A
; man who can climb these three flights
of stairs with all those bundles of
papers, is all right. I think he is
very valuable man for the District"
Mr.. Cannon-And in the prime
| Of usefulness.
! Mr.. Blanton-The most valuable
| element of his usefulness is this:
During the 18 years have been here,
| I have always been able to go to
him and get definite information.
That is worth more to members Of
Congress than anything else.
Mr.. Cannon-Definite and accu-
rate information?
Mr.. Blantor-Yes, definite and
accurate information.
Mr.. Richards-Mr. chairman, 7
should like to say one thing.
value what you gentlemen have said
| more than any extension, and more
than any money.
Carried Unanimously.
Mr.. Cannon-Let the record show
that the motion carried unanimously.
will say that our purpose in pre-
senting such a motion and in call
ing this matter to the attention of
| the Commissioners is not only to pay
a well deserved tribute to a very
faithful public servant, and in recog-
milton of 43 years of distinguished
and invaluable service to the Dis
trict, but also because we consider it
for the best interest of the District
government that his retirement may
be deferred and his service made
available for an additional two years.
| We do not believe any man can be
secured who Will fill the position
as efficiently as Mr.. Richards Is now
filling it. We hope that the Board
of Commissioners will feel disposed
to act favorably on our suggestion.
Mr.. Blanton-And let me say that
he occupies one of the hardest posi-.