Evening star., 1934-09-13
UNFAIR FEDERAL
AID FOR DISTRICT
| SCORED BY HAzEN
Set-up of City Government
Also Hit in Talk to Young
| Democrats. Il
REVENUE OF $4,000, 600
IN TAX ON U. S. SEEN
Full Authority for Commissioners
in Matters Concerning D. G.
| Also Urged. A

Commissioner Melvin c. Hazen last
night attacked the Districts govern-
mental set-up and criticized the Fed
eral Governments unfair" contribu-
tons toward support Of the city.
He declared. In an address before the
District division of the Young Demo-
cratic Clubs of America at the willard
Hotel that the Federal Government
owns property here valued at some
$3.50, ,000, 000-much Of which would be
taxable If left in private ownership.
II the Federal Government paid taxes
on such large property holdings. he
said. the United States would con-
tribute about $4,000. 900 yearly to the
Districts income, whereas last year
1t voted but IS, ,7o0, GOO gross as its con-
tribution. From this was deducted 40
per cent Of Federal grants for sewer
and park improvements from the
Public Works Administration.
$14,ooo,o0o for Schools.
This Is unfair" Commissioner
Hazen asserted. for out Of . 5.o00,-
900 budget, cut down to that figure
by the Budget Bureau and Congress
from much larger estimate, nearly
$l4 1000 alone Is needed for school
expenditures.
Criticizing the conflicting form of
government through Joint control by
Congress and District powers, the
Commissioner pointed out the city's
two police agencies, the United States
Park Police, controlled by the Federal
Government, and the Metropolitan
Police Department, under control Of
the District government.
at Is silly" Mr.. Hazen said, "for
one branch to control the parks, hav,
Ing authority only there, while the
metropolitan department rules strict
ly In the metropolitan area, especially
when both are paid by District tax
payers. This only adds to the con-
fusion, and should be changed % that
both bodies would come under. one
general authority"
The District Commissioner should
49, W &<AA4 e@A&a&xQA 44ks x404CA 0aA4xs
AL matters concerning the District
which are supported by local tax
payers.
d. @. Free From Graft.
For Instance he declared, 'the
Board Of Education should be ap-
pointed by the District Commissioners,
who are representatives of the people,
and not by the District Supreme Court
as at present. The Board Of Public
Welfare. too, should be under the
Commissioners control, as Is the Dis
trict Boxing Commission"
washington Is beautiful city,
the Commissioner asserted, "and nnore
free from graft than any other. city
its size In the United States. It
should be beautiful city as the Capt.
tai Of such q wonderful country" A
One Of the chief contentious Of the
Federal Government as to why IL
should not pay taxes ON Federal prop
erty here, Mr.. Hazen said, Is that ssif
1t was not for the Federal Government
there wouldn't be any Washington.
Yet" Hazen pointed out, "if 1t was not
for q certain Detroit business man
there probably wouldn't be any Detroit.
Still, the man pays taxes yearly, and
to the Federal Government as wen as
the city government"
In concluding, he gave word Of
encouragement to organizations similar
to the Young Democratic Clubs, say
ing they would be the next taxpayers
and should take an interest In affairs
Of government.
Upon conclusion of the Commits
sioner's address, Raymond Walter,
president of the District division Of the
club, deplored the action Of the Dis
trict Supreme Court in denying the
residents Of Takoma, d. c., referen-
dunn. District residents should have
some vote. and this, their one chance,
was spoiled by justice. probably from
some far away State, who didn't un-
derstand matters here. he said. As an
argument for this he pointed to the
large population and amount Of taxes
derived from washington residents.