Evening star., 1937-03-19
PROBE DISCUSSED
0VERHAUL|NG
D. c. GOVERNMENT
House District Unit to Be
Asked for Special Sub.
committee.
PLAN WOULD GO BEYOND
JACOBS REPORT STUDY
Idea Is Conceived in Conference
Between Chairman Norton
and Kennedy.
BY JAMES E. CHINN.

in the interest of efficiency and econ
omy were discussed today by leading
members of the House District Com
mlttee as an aftermath of the short
lived investigation of the Jacobs three
point fiscal relations formula.
The full committee will be asked at
its regular meeting next Wednesday to
authorize the appointment of a spe-
clal subcommittee of three members
to make the study, and at the same
time, complete the analysis of the
Jacobs plan.
The idea for the reorganization
study, conceived at a conference be-
tween Chairman Norton and Repre-
sentative Kennedy, Democrat, of Mary
land, goes beyond the scope of the
original plan of the committee 20 con-
flne the investigation. to recommen-
dations in the Jacobs report TOR l9
statutory changes and new revenue
legislation.
Prepare Supply Bill.
In the meantime, the House Sub
Committee on Appropriations whipped
the 1888 District supply bill into final
shape. Speaker Bankhead announced
earlier in the week that he expected
the measure to be reported next
Thursday.
In connection with the measure.
the subcommittee has planned to pre-
sent to the House a group of tax in
crease bills designed to raise sufficient
revenue to offset deficit in the
coming fiscal year.
These revenue bills, it is under
stood, will provide for an increase in
the gasoline tax, a weight tax on
automobiles, increased amusement
taxes, increased taxes on utilities. tax
alton of insurance companies, privi-
lege taxes on corporations and revi-
sion of the licensing act of 1882.
which will increase fees paid by such
organizations as the Washington base
ball club, which now is operating on
privilege tax of SIS per year.
Makes Bill Provision.
Some of these proposed tax in
creases are provided in the Mapes
bill introduced early in the present
session Of Congress and referred to
the District Legislative Committee.
While the Appropriations Committee
has no authority under House rules
to increase taxes in a supply bill,
Chairman Collins of the District Sub
committee indicated his group would
sponsor the new tax increase meas
ures as means of giving support to
the increases proposed in the Mapes
bill
TwOfold View is Urged.
Kennedy, who is expected to be
| named chairman of the new subcom-
mittee if the full committee approves
the reorganization study, believes it
should embrace the entire set-up of
the District government and the re-
vision of existing statutes with two
fold view:
Ito give Washington an efficient
form of self government
2-To eliminate overlapping serv-
ices and effect economies wherever
possible.
Kennedy thinks the subcommittee
should employ an expert on District
affairs to serve as an advisor during
the proposed study. The job is ex-
pected to be offered to either E. Bar
rett Prettyman, former corporation
counsel, or William A. Roberts, former
corporation counsel.
Roberts was a member of a COM
mittee that made a comprehensive
f1i1ofinro CT Ixr Lo -
District Committee about three years
ago. Former Budget Director Douglas
and Maj. Daniel J. Donovan, District
auditor and budget officer. also served
on this committee
The plan under consideration by
members of the House District Com
mittee, is similar to one proposed
several weeks ago by Chairman King
of the Senate District Committee.
| Senator King, however, has not taken
any definite steps to carry it out, be-
cause he is waiting for the Senate to
authorize an appropriation of $4,000
to finance it.
Citizens Study Reorganizing.
Aside from Senator Kings plan, a
special committee Of District citizens,
appointed by the Commissioners is
now making a reorganization study.
Kennedy said the House subcommittee
could call on the citizens committee
for assistance during its study.
The inquiry into the Jacobs plan
came to sudden halt yesterday after
noon at the close of the testimony Of
the first two witnesses-J. L. Jacobs,
Chicago efficiency engineer, who di-
rected the survey on which his three
point formula was predicated, and
George McAneny, who served as chair
man of his Advisory Committee. The
two special subcommittee assigned
the task of analyzing the plan came
to the conclusion the subjects their
respective groups were studying were
so closely allied, the job should be as
signed to one subcommittee.
Kennedy headed one of the subcom-
mittees and Representative Nichols,
Democrat, Of Oklahoma, the other.
Kennedy's subcommittee was charged
with analyzing the revenue legislation
recommended in the Jacobs report,
and Nichols subcommittee the 10 pro-
posed legislative changes.
Chairman Norton approved the tenn
porary suspension of the fiscal rela-
tions study after Nichols had con-
fronted her with the problem confront
ing the two subcommittee.
Interest in Hearings Small.
About four hours altogether were
spent by the two subcommittee in
listening to Jacobs and McAneny
explain the complicated three-point
formula, before the study was tempo
rarily closed. The two hearings held
by the subcommittee not only failed
to interest the members, but the public