Evening star., 1936-10-22
D. c. UNIT READY
TO PRESENT PLAN
| FOR RF|SCAL EQUITY
Citizens Committee Com
pIetes Arrangements for
Plea to Board.
FORMAL ARGUMENT
ACCORDED APPROVAL
Spokesman Appointed to Appear
Before Group Named by
President.

Announcement was made today Of
arrangements for the presentation Of
the Districts plea for fiscal equity by
representatives of the Citizens Joint
Committee on Fiscal Relations before
the director and advisory committee
making the United States-District Of
Columbia fiscal relations study for the
President. Detailed plans and ap-
proval of the joint committees formal
argument of 246 pages and the desig-
nation of spokesmen were made at a
meeting of the executive committee Of
the Citizens Joint Committee at Board
of Trade headquarters earlier in the
week.
The report Of the subcommittee on
brief to the Executive Committee set
out that an intensive study of the
problem had been made during the
Summer with the resulting prepara-
ton of the argument which had all
ready been filed with the director Of
the study, j. L. Jacobs and the Ad-
visory Committee. George McAneny.
James w. Martin and Clarence A.
Dykstra. The argument follows In
general way the position heretofore
taken by the joint committee at pre-
vious hearings and furnishes numer-
GUS recent illustrations which are rep
resented as strengthening the Dis
tricts case. The time set for the
hearing of the Joint Committee Is at
pm. tomorrow and the Committee
on Brief consisting of Theodore w.
Noyes, chairman: Edward F. Colladay.
vice chairman; L. A. Carruthers.
Robert ]. Cottrell, John Locher,
Thomas E. Lodge, B. M. McKelway
and Jesse c. Suter will represent the
committee. The principal spokesman
will be Mr.. Colladay.
At its recent meeting the Executive
Committee reaffirmed the position
taken by the Citizens Joint Commit
tee from its inception in 1915 in
demanding fiscal equity for reasons
set forth in each brief, argument and
petition made by the Joint Commit
tee through its Executive Committee.
The traditional stand has been for the
definite fixed ratio plan for dividing
the expenses of the National Capital
between the United States and the
District of Columbia rather than use
of the recent lump-sum practice.
Further, it has been the contention
of the committee that while the lump.
sum practice continues it should be
largely increased.
The constituent organizations in
the Citizens Joint Committee on Fis-
cal Relations Between the United
States and the District of Columbia
are as follows: Board of Trade, Fed
Grafton of Citizens Associations, Gen.
trail Labor Union. Federation OF
women's Clubs, Merchants and Man.
ufacturers' Association, Voteless Dis.
trict of Columbia League of Women
Voters, District of Columbia Bankers
Association, District of Columbia
Building and Loan League, District OF
Columbia Bar Association, Women's
Bar Association. Washington Real
Estate Board, Federation of Business
Mems Associations, Association of Old
est Inhabitants, Society of Natives Of
the District of Columbia, Northeast
Washington Citizens Association.
Rotary Club, Kiwanis Club. Cosmopol-
itan Club and Soroptimist Club.
The serious financial plight OF the
District government was pictured by
Mai. Daniel ]. Donovan, auditor and
budget officer, at an executive con-
ference late yesterday between the
Commissioners, their Special Tax
Committee and Jacobs.
The conference came as prelude to
the public hearings to be held tomor-
row and Saturday.
Sees $4,000, 900 Shortage.
Mai. Donovan pointed out that the
District will end the current fiscal
year with an estimated revenue deficit
of more than 81 900, 900, and that on
the basis of prospective revenue in
the following fiscal year, the munich
pal government will be $3,0O0,OOO
short of operating expenses. He
stressed the fact that unless the
Federal contribution is increased, the
District would be forced to resort to
some other means Of balancing its
budget.
50 Reports Given Jacobs.
Department heads of the District
have submitted more than so detailed
reports to Jacobs showing the cost
to municipal government of services
provided Federal agencies. These re-
ports, together with briefs filed by
the civic and business organizations
as well as the testimony Of their
representatives at the public hearings.
will be considered by the committee
before it prepares recommendations
for Congress.
The hearings are scheduled to start
at 10 am. tomorrow, and will continue
throughout the day, and in the night
If necessary. Another hearing will be
held Saturday. beginning at 1880 pm.