Evening star., 1934-04-26
Request for Additional Data
Considered Indicative of
Liberal Attitude.
FACTS ON ATTENDANCE
IN SCHOOLS REQUESTED
Information Also Sought on Loss
of Taxable Property Due to
Federal Expansion,

Data the Commissioners have been
asked to prepare for the Senate sub
committee now at work on the 1885
District supply bill was taken today as
indicating desire among subcom-
mittee members to arrive at a fairer
division of next years expenses than
was allowed by the House. 1t passed
the measure with the Federal share
reduced to $4,364,2s5 out Of q total
appropriation of s32.65o,oOO.
Continuing the hearings today. the
Senate subcommittee heard the needs
of the Public Utilities Commission, the
free public library system. the re-
corder of deeds Office and the reg
lister of wills.
Public Utility Commissioner Riley
E. Elgen explained to the subcommittee
how the work Of the commission would
be hampered by the House bill. which
cut the expenses of the commission
from $86,823 to S50000. sharply re-
ducing the personnel for supervision
of utilities.
Explains Library Needs.
DR.. George F. Bowerman, librarian,
explained the need for restoring the
Public Library maintenance item to
the budget figure Of s32,500, which
the House reduced to S25 900. Dr.
Bowerman also testified to the i'm
portance of the item placed in the
bill by the House for a new branch
library in Georgetown. to cost $780,
600. There was some discussion of
the advisability of making a small
part of this Immediately available for
the preparation of plans.
The Senate committee two years
ago provided for the Georgetown
branch, but it went out in conference.
1t had been recommended by the
Budget Bureau at that time This
year it was not in the budget esti-
mates. but the House committee
placed it In the bill.
Asks Tax Study.
Senator Thomas, Democrat, Of Okla
homa, chairman. made known late
yesterday that he has asked the Dis
trict heads 70 report on the amount
Of taxable property the city has lost
through the expansion Of Federal
property holdings here
He also called on them to study and
comment on his proposal to reverse
Washington's property tax system by
lowering assessments and raising the
rate, not to increase or diminish the
amount of tax to be paid, but to
place the District on a more COM
parable basis with other cities.
The Oklahoma Senator said another
subject on which he is seeking infor-
nation is the approximate number of
children who have to be provided for
in District schools, due to the large
number of residents whose official
duties bring them temporarily to the
National Capital
In regard to the local tax system,
Senator Thomas made known in an
interview in The Star recently that he
felt Washington's tax levy is often
misjudged in comparison with other
cities by members of Congress and
others who are not aware of the high
level of assessment maintained in the
District.
He pointed out that a person COM
ing here from city which has a rate
Of SO or more per hundred of assessed
value Is apt to get the impression
Washington's rate of $3.50 means a
light taxation, unless the visitor is
aware Of the high level of assess
ments on which the $3.50 rate is ap-
piled to produce the actual tax.
For a number of years an act Of
Congress has required assessment of
District property at full value. Sena-
tor Thomas believes much of the diff
Guilty over the fiscal relations issue
could be avoided If the system fol-
lowed in most other places of low as
sessment and high rate were followed
here.
Subcommittee Adjourns.
The Senate subcommittee adjourned
early this afternoon until tomorrow
morning when the remaining depart
ment heads of the District govern
ment will be heard. Chairman
Thomas said the subcommittee would
not meet Saturday, but on Monday
morning will begin hearing spokes-
men for local civic organizations.
Senator Thomas also announced
District Assessor William P. Richards
will be called at the end of the hear
ings to present In detail the informa-
tion requested yesterday regarding the
increase in the amount of Federal
property in the District and the pro-
posed change in methods of taxation
by adoption Of lower assessments with
a higher rate.
Seeks Property Information.
That the Senate group is endeavor-
ing to arrive at more equitable ap-
portionment Of next years expenses
between Nation and local community
is indicated by the request for latest
information of Federal property hold
ings here. While this is not the sole
reason why the Federal Government
shares the cost Of maintaining the
Capital city, it has become an i'm
portant factor because of the steady
increase in the area of the District
passing into untaxable Federal owner.
ship.
WhiIe the prnnnsed chance in basis