Evening star., 1935-03-30
Subcommittee Ready to Act.
Thomas Backs Tax Sys.
tenn Change.
SAYS MEMBERS FAIL
TO WEIGH ASSESSMENTS
Change in Law Would Be Neces.
sary to Reduce Value Estimates
Under New Plan.

The District Subcommittee of the
Senate Appropriations Committee will
meet Tuesday morning to take action
on the various amendments for which
civic groups have asked during nearly
three weeks of hearings on the 1896
local supply bill.
Senator Thomas, Democrat, Of Ok
lahoma, who feels that Washington's
tax burden is misunderstood by mem-
bers of Congress and others who come
here, beceuse of the exceptionally high
basis Of assessment which results in a
low rate, is ready to work for a change
in this system, but is inclined to be-
lieve the proposal will have to be han
died by the District Legislative Com
mlttee, presided over by Senator King,
Democrat, of Utah.
The Oklahoman was gratified today
over the support given such a change
in the assessment and tax rate by civic
leaders, who appeared before the Ap-
preparations Subcommittee yesterday
to urge Congress to return to a more
equitable apportiohment of the cost of
maintaining the National Capital be-
tween the Federal Government and
local community.
Copeland Seeks Data.
Senators Copeland of New York
and Tydings of Maryland joined
Thomas yesterday in developing data
from the District Commissioners on
the subject. A change in law is nee
essary to carry out the plan. because
Congress some years ago required the
District to assess property at full
value
With other cities throughout the
country assessing at various per-
centageS less than true value, the tax
rates are correspondingly higher. In
Washington, with assessments up
virtually to 100 per cent of true value.
the rate is lower. Members Of the
Senate group point out that persons
who hear of this rate, without giving
due consideration to the high basis
of assessment to which it is applied
get a wrong impression of Washing
tons actual tax burden. They believe
the proposed change would eliminate
somc of the difficulty of consider
ing what the Federal Governments
share of National Capital expenses
should be.
Backs s8,317,000 Share.
While Edward F. Colladay was pre-
senting yesterday the appeal OF the
Citizens Joint Committee on Fiscal
Relations Between the United States
and the District of Columbia for an
increase in the Federal share, he was
asked what he thought would be a
fair lump-sum payment for next year.
AS the bill came from the House, it
held the Federal lump sum down to
this years figure of SIS, 700 900. Cola
day said he thought the recommends
ton the Commissioners made last
Summer for S8,317 900 would be q fair
compromise.
This is approximately the average
of the various lump sums that have
been made since the lump-sum prac-
tice began 10 years ago. The Citizens
Committee called attention to the fact
that the $40 substantive law of 1922
has never been repealed and urged a
more equitable payment as long as an.
nual lump-sum departures from the
fixed ratio law are continued.
Cab Petition Filed.
Before closing the hearings yester-
day the subcommittee received a petit
tion from Carey E. Quinn, represent
ing the Cab Drivers Protective Union,
opposing the House provision which
seeks to prevent the Public Utilities
Commission from taking steps toward
installation Of meters in cabs 1t
would prevent funds of the commission
from being Used for any purpose in
connection with taxicabS, except to
establish a uniform zone rate system
Quinn's organization, which is affih-
ated with organized labor, asked for
some system with rates based on the
cost of operation OF cabs and q fair.
recompense :or the drivers. The petit
ton stated that to leave the House
provision in The bill is to argue that
there is no need for a utilities COM
mission, or that it cannot be left to
exercise its duties.