Evening star., 1937-09-12
Budget
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go beyond the estimated $4,000. 900.
and that returns from the new in
heritance and estates tax will be fiow-
ing into the Districts Golfers by the
beginning of the 1889 fiscal year.
Commissioner Hazen also disclosed
that as soon as the Commissioners
finish trimming the departmental es-
Inmates, the Special Tax Committee.
headed by Maj. Donovan, will begin
the task of overhauling the Districts
tax structure with view to working
out a more scientific and equitable
program for Congress to consider
when it convenes in January. He
hopes the committee will prepare
schedule that will permit reduction
from Sits to $3.50 in the real and
personal property tax levy in the new
fiscal year.
40 Leaders Appeared.
A review Of the two-day budget
hearing shows that more than 40
business and civic leaders paraded
before the Commissioners, most of
them bearing requests for new schools,
new bridges, additional free library
facilities and various other forms of
public Improvements. Virtually all
of them, however, registered vigorous
opposition to a 1889 budget that would
in any way add to the present tax
burden.
A proposal for a $4,000, 900 bond
issue to aid in financing the s65 ,000,-
600 budget of the department heads
proposal injected near the close of
the hearing-met serious objection.
The chief opponent was Washington
/. Cleveland, manager of the District
Motor Club of the American Automo-
bile Association, who declared "the
one redeeming feature of the financial
set-up of the District government is
its freedom from bonded indebted
ness"
Cleveland argued that if the budget
goes beyond the limit to finance out
of available revenue, the Federal Gov
eminent should be forced to increase
its annual payment toward District
expenses.
Only one of the final witnesses,
Marvin H. Mclean, representing the
Brookland Citizens Association, said
he would favor a modest" bond is
sue Of about SIS, 900 900 to provide ad-
ditional school facilities If the neces-
sary funds cannot be raised from any
other source.
Hits Suffrage Moves.
Mclean also deplored moves for
local suffrage as well as continued
criticism OF Congress, particularly
members OF the House subcommittee
on District appropriations Such at
tscks, he said are harmful to the
District and should be checked"
"Of course, the Commissioners can
stand criticism because they are used
to it," Mclean declared But criti-
cism makes members OF Congress
sore"
A protest against forcing taxpayers
to pay the cost of building or main
tanning schemes of grandeur" be-
cause of the Federal character of
Washington came from w. o. Maya
than of the Citizens Association of
Takoma, D. c.
Like many other civic representa-
tives he urged that the 1889 budget
be kept within income.
We feel that there are many
charges in the budget which are bona
fide not chargeable to the people of
the District. If necessary, we feel that
two budgets should be submitted
one chargeable to the people of the
District and one chareeable to the
Federal Government"
Firemen Protest.
Opposition to an increase in taxes
was registered by Charles E. S. Rich.
president Of the Conduit Road Citi-
zens' Association. who voiced hope the