Evening star., 1937-07-11
District Graves Sympathetic
Congressional Understanding.

CONGRESSIONAL CnoerStAnoink.
CIV1C leaders attending congress
~ sional committee hearings on
District matters are impressed con-
tinually with the lack OF = sympa-
theiic understanding by members
OF Congress OF our local situation
and problems This is regarded as
very unfortunate and Is in itself
serious problem.
The idea prevails among a num-
Der Of members Of both the House
and Senate that Washington is
taxed far below other communities
of comparable size Incomplete and
unfair statistics are offered to sus-
tain such opinions. On the other
hand. thoroughly reliable statistics,
based on Government figures and
compiled at the instance OF the
Citizens Joint Committee on Fiscal
Relations and the Washington
Board Of Trade, are completely ig-
nored
Such aforementioned statistical
studies are convincing to any one
with an open mind and a disposi-
ton to be tAr-that the District Is
not undertaxed when = fair COM
parison is made with other cities
Of comparable size 1t IS true that
the tax rate on real estate and
tangible personal property in the
District is low, but 1t is also true
that the Districts rate Of assess
ment on real property ranks among
the highest IN the United States.
In considering matters Of finance
relating to the District, Senator'S
and Representatives frequently
overlook the fact that the Dis
trict Is not a self-determining and
self-taxing community. Here the
Congress, in which the District has
no representation, completely con-
trolls every element entering into
the financing of the community.
Recently prominent member Of
the House District Committee re-
marked at hearing that there was
a hesitation on the part Of the
Congress to lend any money to the
District because OF the sad ex-
perience OF the past. He then went
on to relate what he believed to be
= fact but which IS entirely erron-
eous.
What he said was that some
years ago the District had plunged
itself hopelessly into debt and be-
came virtually bankrupt and that
it then became necessary for the
Congress to step in and arrange
for the United States to pay the
indebtedness. The real facts are
that the indebtedness mentioned
WAS incurred by Federally ap-
pointed officials who acted under
the full authority Of congressional
legislation.
As to the United States having
to assume the entire Indebtedness,
this also does not agree with the
facts. Uncle Sam did assume so
per cent Of the debt, but the other
half was discharged by the Dis
trict taxpayers.
The foregoing IS merely illustra-
tive OF the condition with which
the District Is confronted. The
problem Is, just how may we get
this correct information across to
those in Congress who take 4
friendly interest in District of Co.
lumbia affairs, in order that they
may have that sympathetic under
standing which u 20 needed by q
voteless and unrepresented people.
New Main Library
Pressed as Urgent Need,
II RRESENTATIVE ROSS A.
COLLINS OF Mississippi, chair
man of the House District Ap-
preparations Subcommittee. ap-
peared before the House District
Committee last Wednesday In sup
port Of his bill Oh. r. 341o) which
would authorize An appropriation
Of $2,5o0,0 900 for the purchase of 4
suitable site and the erection there
on OF a new main building for the
Public Library. Representative
Collins IS = flrm believer in the
practical value OF municipal IL
braries. He has made 4 thorough
study Of the local library problem
and is convinced that it is essential
that there be no delay in pro-
viding = new main building to re-
place the present central library,
the facilities of which have been
long since outsrown.
DR.. Boverman, librarian; mem
bers of the Board Of Library Trm-
tees. the Board Of Trade and sev-
agl &hDazy asDocaA&aons woss heard