Evening star., 1934-12-08

the Adequacy Of the national con-
tribution for Capital upbuildlng
I'VE are in effect promised a re-
newed reweighing of the respective
obligations of Capital and Nation, to
maintain and develop the Nations
City like that conducted by the Con-
gressional Joint Committee in 1875
he said.
Outlining the national obligation to-
ward maintenance and upbulldlng OF
the city Mr.. Noyes referred first to
the large percentage of District area
with improvements held by the Ma
tional Government exempt from taxa
ton, to the cost of the expensive
maintenance of which District tax
PAYERS contribute both in national
and in local taxes.
The Federal Government, Mr.. Noyes
declared. held an obligation based on
the absolute national control it exer-
cises. Political power and financial
obligation" he declared, ARE lnsepa-
rably coupled"
The Federal Government owes an
obligation to the city, further. the
speaker pointed out, by reason of ma
tional patriotic pride" to keep the
Capital an object of national affec-
ton in whose attractiveness the whole
American people take pride
From the point of view of internal
revenue taxes, Mr.. Noyes said that
this city's contribution to these ma
tional funds exceeds that of half of
the States. and lis coupled with denial
to Washington Of participation in fix
ing, collecting and spending this tax
money"
This city has been barred from
many grants, bounties and subsidies
paid to other States, the speaker
pointed out, emphasizing the national
obligation to increase its annual pay
ments for National Capital mainte-
nance.
Welcomes Survey.
Claiming that the obligation of
District taxpayers to contribute to the
expenses Of the city is adequately
met" Mr.. Moves declared that "in
view of its peculiar disabilities it is
heavily taxed"
Referring to the Presidents pro-
posed survey he said, Washington
welcomes a thorough and impartial
investigation of its comparative tax
burden. Its adequacy has been vim
dicated by every competent and un-
biased tribunal which has studied it,
including the Joint Congressional
Committees of 1915. and of 1922
Mr.. Fleming, president of Riggs
National Bank, who represented the
Board of Trade as its president, also
carried further weight to his remarks
by virtue of the fact that he now is
first vice president of the American
Bankers Association, slated to be pres
ident next year.
Referring to the national policy Of
"co-operation" which the A. B. A.
pledged to the Federal administra-
ton, Mr.. Fleming pledged "co-opera-
ton of the Board of Trade with the
District Commissioners plan for
fiscal equity here. He praised the
Commissioners for having taken the
bit in their teeth and asked for an
increase in the Federal payment"
The former SurpluSes which had been
built up in prior years for the District
of Columbia government, he said, no
longer were available and could not
be counted on. He characterized the
1886 budget as starvation" budget,
and called on civic agencies to CO.
operate with united front to demand
increased Federal funds. for the ap-
preparations the city needs. He re-
ferred to the larger bridges and more
expensive municipal facilities required
because it was right that Washington
should be the most beautiful capital
in the world"
Problem Serious.
''No one wants to see an unfair
Federal contribution, said Mr.. Flem-
ing, declaring the exemption from
taxation of so much property here to
be serious problem" He expressed
qualification that the President had
ordered the taxation survey.
Mr.. Yaden, who for many years
has been head of the Federation
of Citizens Associations, objected
strenuouSly to the term contribution"
as applied to the money paid by the
Federal to the municipal government
for upkeep.
Instead Of contribution" he de-
clared, lit is only partial payment"
Pursuing this thought further Yaden
declared, half jocularly, that the Dis
trict should have the right to 60
before the Court of Claims and file
claim for back payments due the Dis
trict from the Federal Government.
He praised the Commissioners, de-
claring it took bravery" to go before
Congress with such demands. Charg-
ing that many members of Congress
did not understand the simplest things
about the District budget and financial