Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-08-12
CITY HEADS SEEK
POWER TO CONTROL
LOCAL SECURITY
Changes to Be Urged at
Meeting of King Com
mittee Wednesday.
FINANCIAL PROBLEMS
STUDIED BY BOARD
Jobless Insurance Alteration to
Omit Contribution by D. C.
Government Asked.

The District Commissioners will seek
revision of local social security legiS-
lation TO center in themselves absolute
control over administration of old-age
and blind pensions and unemployment
insurance, they announced today.
Chairman King. Democrat, of Utah
has called a meeting Of his Senate
District Committee for 10 am. We'd
nesday and the Commissioners OF
their representatives will appear at
that time TO urge the changes they
desire.
A special meeting Of the Board OF
Commissioners was held today to con-
slider what changes are necessary and
TO study revision of the tax program
TO meet the annual Sl800,000 addi-
tional expenditure which the security
bills will entail.
After the meeting Corporation
Counsel E. Barrett Prettyman an
nounced the Commissioners will ask
that the local bills which have passed
specifically in the Commissioners the
administration of these New Deal
measures.
Ask Insurance Bill Change.
At the Senate District Committee
session Wednesday the Commissioners
will urge that the unemployment in
surance> bill be changed so that the
District Government will not have to
contribute, Prettyman stated.
Faced with the necessity for funds
10 finance operation of the security
laws. the Commissioners said they
will request a 100000 deficiency APP
preparation at the next session of Con-
greSs. A committee was named 10
survey the possible sources of income
1t was composed of District Auditor
Daniel j. Donovan. Tax Assessor w
P Richards. Public Utilities Commits
sioner Richmond B. Keech. Director O.
Highways H. c. Whitehurst ana
Prettyman.
This committee was instructed tC
turn its attention to three groups OF
taxes The first group concerned
local inheritance and income taxes
the second. gasoline and motor vehicle
weight taxes. and the third, the utility
tax
Special attention IS called TO the
possibility Of revenue from motion pic
ture theaterS, chain stores public en-
tertainments and any other field
where there is opportunity OF escap-
ing a just tax" stated the Commits
sioners' announcement.
Wish TO Avoid Hardship.
1T is not the purpose Of the Com
missioners to place a hardship or ar
unreasonable tax on any of the classes
referred TO. but only that all should
bear a just and proportionate part
toward the support of the District
government.
These instructions are not intended
to include real estate"
The committee was directed to pre-
pare a report on its findings and to
recommend legislation.
Much interest is being centered in g
series of amendments to the Ellen
bogen unemployment insurance bill
which will be taken up Wednesday by
the Senators. The amendments were
asked for by the Commissioners and
local organizations, who told the Sen
atorS at a hearing last month that
the unemployment bill as passed by
the House would make the District
plan more drastic than any State
has undertaken thus far. They point
ed out also that the House measure
goes beyond the standards indicated
in the national bill.
There is virtually no controversy
over the other two billS-dealing with
old-age pensions and pensions for the
blind-eXcept on the question OF
whether the District should be al
lowed to recover from immediate rela-
tives who are financially able, part
of the aid given to pensioners. 1t
is believed this question will be worked
out without difficulty.
Early Decisions Indicated.
Since the Senate committee ha.
held hearings on all three bills. deci.
sions are looked for Wednesday with
cut further debate, except by CON-
mittee members.
Important changes in the House un.
employment bill that have been urged
either by the Commissioners or by
local organizations. include:
Elimination of the tax on the Dis
trict government, equal to per cent
of the pay rolls of employers affected
by the plan, which would call for al
least 81 $500 year from taxpayers
generally.
Authority to reduce the employers
pay roll tax below the per cent
(See SECURITY, page p
NaEn m NJ IN nHlnAVFn