Evening star., 1934-09-17
BUILDING OWNERS
PROTEST TAX RISE.
First Public Hearing on
Budget Requests Opens.
Sales Levy Urged.
Continued From First Page.)


wiped out, their life savings often
lost, mortgages impaired. and an un-
rretedented number Of properties Tor
fsitad to the District for unpaid taxes
when all this has happened-we be-
levs 1t is certainly no time even to
consider a budget which means an
increase in our taxes and a further
burden both upon the owners and
tenants"
A delegation representing the Pet
worm Citizens Association urged ap-
proval OF a sl50.0O0 item Of the trus-
tees Of the Public Library for erection
and equipment of branch library on
TIE campus of the Roosevelt High
School and the Macfarland Junior
IIg1 School. Inclusion of a new item
OF sl25,000 for completion of the
Roosevelt High School also was urged.
Asks School Enlargement.
The branch library item was sup
ported by Horace ]. Phelps, L. H.
Dewey, John Thomas, Earl W. Cooper,
The oclore D. Martin and Mrs. A. C..
Foreross. H. o. Craver, chairman Of
the associations Educational Commit
tee, stressed the Importance of COM
rleting the Roosevelt High School. He
toil ted out that the school, originally
cesizned to accommodate 1900 pupils,
lad an enrolment Of 100 last year
and en- anticipated increase to 1900
this year.
Phelps in his appeal for the branch
library quoted excerpts from the an
rual report of the library trustees
showing branch library on the Roose-
-Macfarland campus would serve
g school population of II 1000. He said
the proposed site is ideal because it
would be accessible by both street cars
and automobiles and would be in a
community in which 10 per cent Of all
tae residents of the District live
Commissioner Hazen asked him If
Re thought the tax rate should be in
creased to provide the branch library
and other needs. and Phelps replied,
Il wouldn't want to answer that"
Speakers Views Asked.
After George L. Gee of the Rhode
Island Avenue Citizens Association
ildorsed the proposed siX-year hien-
way improvement program and noted
the number of Improvements in his
community, including increased Ii
trary facilities and enlargement of
the Bunker Hill School, Commissioner
TaZen asked him how the funds
should be raised to meet all of the
budget needs.
Gee opposed an increase in the tax
rate, out said he thought some other
potential source of revenue might be
tapped. He made specific reference
t0 all income tax Commissioned
Itazen pointed out a weight tax on
commercial vehicles would raise an
additional 81 100000 a year. He said
such tax might have merit" and
deserved a consideration.
Street and sewer improvements in
9akorna were urged by Bert Andrews
CT the Citizens Association of Takoma,
y. C. Erection of a Northern Senior
tIiga School also was requested.
Larger School Asked.
rr. w. M. Ballinger of the Paul
Junior High School PIT. A. recon-
Iaended enlargement of that school
end william A. Mais of the Southeast
Washington Citizens Association sug-
fested a number of improvements in
thag section, including replacement of
the Pennsylvania Avenue Bridge and
completion of the Commodore Barney
Circle.
Mrs. Blanche Updike of the Blow
pierce-Webb PIT. A. Endorsed items
IN the departmental estimates for i'm
provement of the Rosedale Playground
snd Mrs. p G. Gottwals urged i'm
proVements at the Truesdale School,
which she described as a fire trap.
John Petrie outlined needed improve
fnents at the Kenilworth Recreational
Certer.