Evening star., 1937-12-01
Trade Board Studies City
Load, but Defers Action
on Levy Preference.
FINANCE Committee
HAS CLOSED Meeting
Next Move Awaits Results of Sur.
vey Of Operating Costs of
Other Municipalities.

capita load for support of the munich
pal government has increased So per
cent since 1920. the Municipal Finance
Committee Of the Board OF Trade yes
terday reiterated its opposition to any
increase in the 1899 District supply
bill over and above that of the current
year, except where such, increases are
unavoidable due to increased collec-
tions in special funds.
The committee meeting behind
closed doors in the boards offices,
failed to take any action that might
indicate just what type of tax pro-
gram 1t would support in the next
fiscal year, as was expected.
Several reasons were given for this.
First, it was pointed out the District
Commissioners themselves have not
yet made known their desires regard
ing revenue measures. Second, the
committee has not had time to ana
lyze the results of an exhaustive sur
vey conducted by tie board Of tax pro-
grams and operating costs Of other
municipalities.
Members Views Awaited.
The committee also expressed a de-
sire to defer final action until it could
study closely the answers to question
naires sent out recently to the more
than 1000 board members to get
cross-sectional view on taxes. Only
about $50 questionnaires have been re-
turned so far.
The data gathered in the study Of
various kinds Of taxes in use in other
localities was presented to the COM
mittee in the form of a progress re-
port. Later this will be put into shape
for close scrutiny by the committee
members.
Presenting to the committee a pic
ture of the growth in the tax burden
and increase in the expenditures since
1920, Edgar Morris, committee chair
man, said he had no specific recon-
mendations to make at this time. He
added. however, that he believes the
large increase in municipal operating
costs indicates that we should care
fully scrutinize the operation of the
District government and make an
effort at least not to allow. further
increases to take place during the next
few years"
Charts Picture Trends.
He presented to each member a
chart, made from the statement of
District Auditor Daniel J. Donovan,
showing the variations in receipts and
expenditures between 1920 and 1898
and the corresponding change in the
per capita load The chart shows the
per capita load for the total operating
costs as well as for each department
from 1920 and 1898 fiscal years.
In 1920 the per capita load Of mu-
nicipal costs was $45.75, and for 1898
it was estimated at $744s This is an
increase of 81 per cent. The popula-
tion, the chart showed. has increased
from 439,976 in 1920 to an estimated
$4,000 today.
The chart showed that for some
| departments. such as the Office Of the
recorder of deeds, the per capita load
has increased as much as 1900 per
cent. Mr.. Morris emphasized, however,
that departmental charges and other
extraordinary items were not taken
into account in the chart. A few de-
partments, such as the coroner's office
and the Office Of the collector Of taxes,
are spending less on a per capita basis
than they did 10 years ago.
Realty Taxes Soar.
Mr.. Morris exhibited another chart
showing revenue collections since 1920.
From 1920 to 1887 real estate taxes
almost trebled. and with the increase
in effect for the current year, there
will be further Jump of about 1879
per cent. Tangible personal property
shows a small increase and the in
tangible tax has almost trebled during
the period. he said.
Insurance taxes also have almost
trebled and taxes on motor vehicles
are three times as large now as they
were 18 years ago, with further in
crease due in 1898. The total of re-
ceipts from licenses was six times as
high in 1887 as in 1920, and to this
can be added the increase which will
result from the business privilege tax,
Mr.. Morris pointed out.
He emphasized that, while the chart
shows the grand total of collections
have trebled in 18 years, the payment
by the Federal Government has been
cut in half.
The departmental appropriations
chart revealed that the per capita load
for expenditures by the Department
Of Vehicles and Trafic increased 400
per cent; for the corporation coun-
sells Office, 1881 per cent; building
inspection division, 1902 per cent:
auditor, 85.1 per cent; streets, trees
and parking, % per cent; Water De-
partment. SO per cent; Public L.
brary, 1882 per cent; sewers. 1896
per cent; Fairgrounds, 61.9 per cent
Police, STA per cent; schools, 1863
per cent; Fire Department., 40 per
cent; electrical department, Al per
cent; National Capital parks, 40 per
cent; Zoo. 80 per cent; courts, 6S
per cent; Health Department, 1855 per
cent; Gallinger Hospital, 140 per cent;
tuberculosis sanitoria, 4l2 per cent;
Board Of Public Welfare. 145 per cent;
administration, rs per cent; jail, 81
per cent; workhouse and reformatory,
n per cent; Freedmen's Hospital. ls5
per cent, and st. Elizabeth's Hospital
"a per cent.
The committee yesterday discussed
proposed plan to have the auditor
make monthly statement showing
receipts and expenditures. No definite
action was taken, but the members
agreed to investigate the proposal.
nnuhls. nAck pus cucnAss