Evening star., 1937-12-05
Civic Problems, Civic Bodies
Still Chance to Do Your Duty for the Chest;
about Local Suffrage; Budget and
Taxation Disclosures Awaited.

form was set up In 1871 and con-
tinued until 1874.
Under this form of government
there was local Legislature con-
sisting Of Council Of IL members.
appointed by the President and
confirmed by the Senate, and .
lower House of Delegates of %
members elected by the people.
None Of the acts of this Legislature
were successfully attacked in the
courts during its short life, but
some Of its legislation was reviewed
and declared unconstitutional by
the courts at later day.
Space will not permit the dis
cdssion here OF these cases wherein
the Supreme Court OF the United
States and the District OF Colum-
bia Supreme Court. in general
term. held that Congress could not
delegate general legislative power
to the local Legislature and hence
held the acts in question void be-
cause unconstitutional. Please
refer to Stoughtenburgh vs.. Hen
nick az u. s. 14l, lat, 148) and
also to Van Ryswick VS.. Roach
tMacA. & NJ. II D. c.. I'D.
Eminent legal opinion supports
the belief that Congress cannot
delegate any worthwhile legislative
powers to q local body unless q
case could be carried up through
the courts and a more liberal in
depreciation be given to the power
of Congress to delegate legislative
power. Without such 4 reversing
decision another constitutional
amendment, it is held, may be re-
quired.
Civic Groups Await Disclosures
Regarding Taxation and Budget.
THERE Is no disposition appar-
ent either in the Board Of Trade
Committee on Municipal Finance
or in the Federation of Citizens
Associations to fire q solid shot at
either the budget or any specific
form Of taxation until there is
something definite to shoot at. The
full information regarding the
budget will not be available for
civic body scrutiny until sent to
Congress with the Presidents
budget message after the regular
session convenes. Until then it will
continue to be dark mystery,
though the hearings of District
officials will get under way shortly.
Some citizens may even have an
opportunity to testify before the
House Appropriations Subcommit-
tee before the veil is lifted.
As to the size of the budget, the
sentiment for holding down to that
for the current year continues
strong. The only modification sug-
gested Is that increases may be
made in the earmarked water and
motor vehicle taxes. which have
been increased largely under the
new tax law.
Regarding q new tax program,
organized civic Washington awaits
the reports Of the Commissioners
Tax Committee and the Citizens'
Advisory Committee. Some doubt
is expressed as to the ability Of
these committees to get together
on 4 taxation program. The pro-
ceedings of the committees are in
executive session and it is UNDER
stood that nothing will be di-
vulged until released by the Dis
trict Commissioners.
The Board Of Trade committee
is losing no time while awaiting
developments. as it Is engaged in
compiling considerable pertinent
statistical data which will be Of
practical value in hearings both
on taxation and appropriations.
Tables and charts completed indi-
cate an ascending municipal cost
and tax burden, increased obli-
cations by reason of the expansion
of the Government tablishment,
diminishing real estate taxable
areas and . diminished rather than
. logically increasing Federal pay
ment. This is regarded As surely
some problem for . voteless and
unrepresented community to have
to face.