Evening star., 1937-01-10
Fiscal
Continued From First Page. }

probably will begin consideration OF
the report this week.
Other than declaring the report
TO be "a good argument for national
representation" for the District, Mrs
Norton declined to comment on the
proposed new fiscal relations plan,
the adoption of which would force
the District to raise nearly $4,000. 900
in additional tax revenue in the COM
ing fiscal year.
Il want to reserve my comment
until I have made a careful study of
the report" she said. From what !
have read, however, I do believe the
plan is unfair and decidedly inequit-
able to the District
Statutory Changes Suggested.
While some Of the proposed statu-
tory changes in the report are rela-
lively minor in character, those of
major Importance on which the COM
mittee probably will hold extensive
hearings, follow:
Abolition of the Federal contribu-
tion to District expenses by repeal of
the 60-40 ratio law.
Creation of a municipal survey
agency as a branch of the Budget
Bureau.
Establishment of an advisory coun-
ell of representatives of the Federal
and District governments and civic
representatives.
Provisions for making effective the
proposed three point formula for
measuring the division of expenses
between the Federal and District gov
ernments.
Revision of the organic act of the
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission.
Legislation also is necessary to carry
out the reports recommendations for
transferring the jurisdiction of the
District Courts to the Justice Depart
ment, Freedmen's Hospital from the
Interior Department to the District.
the National Geological Park from
the Smithsonian Institution to the
District and the Temporary Home for
Ex-Soldiers. Sailors and Marines from
the District to the Veterans Admins
tration.
Another proposed change-transfer
OF the Woman's Bureau of the Police
Department to the Board of Public
Welfare-will not require legislation
because this bureau was not created
by law, but set up by order of the
District Commissioners.
Tax Legislation Proposed.
The District Committee also will
have to consider and pass on all of
the new tax legislation recommended
IN the report. Specifically, the report,
IN urging reduction in the i'm
portance of the property tax ais a
source Of revenue, suggested five
methods Of doing this:
!. Adoption of an income tax.
!. Adoption Of an inheritance or
estate tax.
). An increase in the gasoline tax.
4. Adoption of weight tax for COM
mercial vehicles.
5. Re-examination of existing busi-
ness taxes.
Mrs. Norton indicated all of the
legislative recommendations would be
subjected to public hearings to give
the disfranchised residents an oppor-
tunity to express their views on the
new plan for solving the fiscal rela-
tions problem. All of the proposed
statutory changes probably will be
referred to one special subcommittee
and the recommendations for adop-
tion OF new tax measures to another
Under such an arrangement, two spe-
eial subcommittees would be working
simultaneously on various phases OF
the recommendations
]. L. Jacobs, Chicago efficiency en-
eineer and tax expert, who directed
the fiscal relations study, as well as
members Of his advisory committee
who assisted him, are expected to be
called before these two special SUBJ
committees The advisory committee
consisted Of George McAneny, presi-
dent Of the Title Guaranty Trust Co.,
Of New York City: Clarence A. Dykstra
city manager of Cincinnati. and James
W. Martin, chairman of the Kentucky
State Tax Commission.
Jacobs left Washington yesterday
for his home in Chicago, expecting to
return In several weeks.