Evening star., 1934-09-19
4OPCT. j. s. SHARE
IN BUDGET URGED
T.akoma Leader Says City
Heads Should "Return to
Legal Ratio"

The District Commissioners were
urged today by w. c. Magathan,
president of the Citizens Association
of Takoma, D. c.. to make up the
1886 budget on the basis of a 40 per
cent contribution by the Federal Gov
ernment to avoid an increase in the
forms of taxation.
Magathan, appearing as a witness
at the public hearing on the 1886 de-
partmental estimates, pointed out that
substantive law still in existence Axes
a 60-40 ratio of expenses between the
Federal and District Governments
and declared the Commissioners
should make some effort to have it
carried out"
New taxation should be considered
only in connection with the Federal
contribution" Magathan said. Until
some such settled policy is determined
we should add no new taxation be-
cause it would be only an invitation
further to reduce the Federal contri-
button.
Cites Ratio Law.
Eve now have law fixing a 6040
ratio. Why should not the Commis
sioners make up the budget on this
ratio?"
Maj. Daniel J. Donovan. auditor and
budget officer, explained if the budget
is predicated on that basis and Con-
gress fails to approve it, the only al
tentative for the Commissioners would
be to raise the tax rate.
Magathan replied that at any rate
the Commissioners should make some
effort to return to the 6o-40 ratio.
In the meantime, Commissioner
George E. Allen issued a statement
declaring he has no serious intention
of urging Congress to approve a
municipal lottery as means of raising
revenue. He said his suggestion about
the lottery at the budget hearing yes
terday was intended to be facetious.
"Need for Relief"
There seem to be several" he de-
clared, who do not realize a Com
missioner's need for little relief from
the sober rigors of protracted
hearing"
Magathan also opposed a proposed
25 per cent increase in water rates
and outlined group of needed public
improvements before he appealed to
the Commissioners to work for res
toration of the 6040 fiscal relations
policy. At the outset of his testi-
mony, Commissioner Allen, this time
obviously facetious, asked him if the
citizens of Takoma had held refer
endum on his program.
Megathan replied the Executive
Committee of his association had ap-
proved the item.
Asks New High School.
The program recommended by Ma
gathan included the preparation of
plans for a new senior high school in
the Manor Park section, f1reproofing
of the Takoma Elementary School.
construction of an addition to COM
plete the Paul Junior High School,
preparation of plans for extension of
the Central Public Library, perma-
nent paving of Van Buren, street from
Blair road to Piney Branch road,
paving of Sixth street from Van
Buren, to Whittier streets, and the
widening of surfacing of Blair road
south of Cedar street.
Jesse c. Suter, also member of
the Citizens Association of Takoma,
but appearing as an individual, sup
ported the library program recon-
mended by the trustees of the public
library, and called particular atten-
ton to the need for enlarging the
Central Public Library.
He declared this library had out
grown its building and lacked suf1-
cient personnel properly to serve the
public.
Urges More U. S. Funds.
Suter urged the Commissioners to
make a vigorous effort to have the
Federal contribution increased and
declared the people of the District
are not tax dodgers" but are willing
to pay their fair share of the ex-
penses. He opposed any increase in
the tax rate or the imposition of any
new taxes. Suter declared the Com
missioners in the past have not stood
up and fought with real red blood
for q fair Federal contribution, and
recommended a material cut in
emergency relief funds. He said there
was too much bunk in the talk
about relief which had grown up to
be a racket"
Commissioner Allen asked him
what facts he had to support that
statement and Suter replied he had
only a general impression gained
from things that had been told him.
Commissioner Allen said: 1T seems