Evening star., 1934-01-17
PETWORTH SEEKS
PROPERTY TAX CUT
Citizens Favor Promoting
Home Ownership by Dis
triCt Residents.

To encourage home ownership here
the Petworth Citizens Association last
night adopted a resolution urging a
further reduction" in the rate of taxes
on real estate and other tangible prop
erty
Or, in lieu of such, favored "a tax
free exemption of the first $1,000 as
sesSed value on property occupied by
the owner as residence. provided that
in no case shall the exemption exceed
SO per cent of the total assessed value
OF any property
The resolution was introduced by j.
A. BurkS, chairman of the associations
Taxation Committee. at the meeting of
the association in the PetWorth School,
section of the resolution said:
1t is the opinion of the association
that the burden of raising revenues for
the District of Columbia through taxa
ton of real estate and other tangible
property has worked undue hardShipS on
many home owners and has prevented
many others from becoming home own
erS. 1t is now apparent there will be
surplus of revenue over expenditures
which may be materially increased
through new sources of revenue" 1t said,
in declaring the justice of such move.
Lump-Sum Increase.
The resolution also favored IAN in
crease in the present inadequate lump
sum appropriation made to cover the
Federal Governments obligation to the
District of Columbia
Copies of the resolution were ordered
sent to Senate and House District Com
mitteeS, the District Commissioners and
to the Federation of Citizens Associa-
tons.
AS a means of obtaining additional
revenues to the credit of the District of
Columbia, the association adopted
resolution urging early enactment by
Congress of an estate tax law for the
District after the order of such laws
now in force in States. Under such
law as favored by the association, the
District, it was explained, would obtain
80 per cent of the total estate taxes
now collected by the Federal Govern
ment under the revenue act of 1926
Under such law there would be no
greater burden through such taxes, but
would merely mean that the District
would receive 80 per cent of such taxes
now collected by the Federal Govern
ment under the act referred to in the
resolution, it was explained.
Repeal of the law which makes it
compulsory that the President name a
military man as one of the District
Commissioners was urged in another
resolution adopted. The association
asked that the law be changed so as
to make it optional with the President
whether he name man from the mill
tary service.
Boys Clubs Approved.
Approval of the organization of boys
clubs in the public schools under the
Community Center Department, as ap-
proved by members of the Board of
Education. was expressed in a resolu-
ton.
In other resolutions the association
urged extending North Capital street
north Of the Soldiers Home grounds.
widening other thoroughfares north of
the grounds where necessary to make
1t equivalent to such an extension; the
placing of a sidewalk on the east side
of Second street, between Upshur and
Varnum street. and the replacing Of
brick sidewalk on the east side of
Georgia avenue north of New Hamp-
shire avenue with concrete.
A resolution Of regret over the recent
death of Edward R. Williams, who was
for three years president of the Roose-
citation. was adopted Steps were under
way previously to elect Mr.. Williams an
honorary member of the association,
and last night he was named honorory
member in memoriam, in a resolution.
Max Tender was named to represent
the association on the Federation of
Citizens Associations Special Commit
tee being organized to aid in citizens
associations membership campaigns.
John T. Thomas, president of the asso-
citation, presided.