Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-02-28
nation IN NEED
OF COOPERATION,
SAYS PRESIDENT.
Interstate Assembly Told
Difficulty in Taxation
and Other Fields.
ORIGINATED EFFORTS
CONSTANTLY REQUIRED
Federal, State and Local Problems
Discussed in Message to
Legislators Session.

Better cooperation" between Fed
eral, State and local governments in
taxation and other fields was urged
today by President Roosevelt In a
message to the second interstate as
sembly Of the American Legislators
Association as it opened q three day
convention at the Mayfiower Hotel.
1T is apparent, I think. to all stu
dents Of Government that there Is
urgent need for better machinery Of
cooperation between Federal, State
and local governments In many fields, I"
the President wrote.
Both the Congress and the execu-
tive departments Of the National Gov
eminent are constantly confronted
with problems whose solution requires
co-ordinated effort on the part Of the
States and the Federal Government.
1.-TWO notable instances are the CO.
ordination of law enforcement and
the INTERPOLATION Of fields of taxation
This latter question has long seemed
to me one Of prime Importance.
Only recently directed the Secre-
tary of the Treasury to undertake q
study Of source of taxation with par
ticular reference to the matter of con-
fiict or overlapping of Federal, State
and local taxation. When this study is
complete It should furnish the basis
OF discussion Of the problem involved
with representatives Of the States.
Tax Experts Attend.
Undersecretary of the Treasury
Thomas Jefferson Coolidge and prom
inent taxation experts from all 48
States attended the opening session.
The assembly represents the first
OF its kind to be held since adoption
Of the Federal Constitution in 1889,
according to officials Of the assembly.
The purpose of the assembly, which
meets every two years, is to work out
the intimate. direct. systematic COM
munication and relationship between
the States and to harmonic their
activities Of government with the
Federal Government.
1t also is designed to consider ali
suitable subjects-such as crime pre-
vention, public health and other mat
tiers Affecting interstate relationships.
Or. Robert Murray Haig Of Column
bis University, former president Of the
National Tax Association, speaking ct
the assembly. this morning, recon-
mended establishment Of an impair
tial, disinterested commission Of the
highest possible dignity and standing,
to be headed by Chief Justice Charles
Evans Hughes. to represent the people
Of the United States In taxation mat
tiers.
For Formulating Policies.
This proposed commission would
formulate policies, but would not be q
negotiating or administrative body. It
would investigate and deliberate. The
commission would invite q submission
OF testimony from every competent
source and would publish the evidence
in full. 1t also would be provided with
technical assistants for prosecuting in
dependent studies on its own initiative.
The other two members of the COM
mission suggested by DR.. Haig would
be A. Lawrence Lowell and Edwin r.
A. Seligman. DR.. Haig said no active
politician would be allowed to serve
on the commission.
Henry w. Toll, director Of the
Council Of State Government, told
the convention I'VE may smile at the
fact that the States have developed
. tendency to take over the functions
Of the county. In other words, the
counties are 5000 little fishes, which
are being swallowed by 48 large fishes
and the large fishes are being swal-
lowed by one whale.
Cooperation Of States.
IF We are not to be subjected to
extreme liberalization within q short
time 1t can only be because the States
are on the verge Of cooperating with
each other as they have never CO.
operated before. The failure Of the
States to harmonic their govern
mental activities during the last CEN
tury and a half has been inevitable
because the States have not had the
machinery Of Government which was
necessary for harmony"
Advocating q general sales tax,
Mark Graves, president of the New
York State Tax Commission, said his
experience with New York States re-
tail sales tax convinced him that this
form Of levy was not suited to State
use.
Tax recommendations to be pre-
sented to the Assembly include:
That persons paying State personal
income taxes be permitted to offset
the amount against the Federal in
come tax; that the Federal Govern
ment repeal its tax on gasoline: that
Congress enact the amended Harrison
sales tax bill and that local units of
Government refrain from placing
heavy taxes on beer except for regu-
latory purposes.