Evening star., 1938-07-10
District Vote
Favored by
.A.A..U.W.
Maladjustrnent of
Authority Seen
AS Factor.
maladjustment Of local au-
thority is an underlying factor
in many OF the pressing Dis

'\hE mAlaQJuStmenL Oh 1oCdA Au-
thority is an underlying factor
in many of the pressing Dis
Il trict problems. according to
Mrs. z. A. Chaplin. chairman OF the
Legislative Committee Of the American
Of University Women.
This fact was brought out In the dis
cussions Of national representation
which took place In the club last win
ter" she said. Evidence that the
club members understood this was
shown in their unanimous Endorsement
Of the Lewis-Randolph bill at the April
meeting"
The motion read. "thAt the club
support 4 constitutional amendment
along the lines Of the wis-Randolph
bill. which shall make it legal for Con-
Rress to grant national representa-
ton to the District Of Columbia and
open the way for . reorganization OF
our local government"
Much Of the work of the Legislative
Committee Of last year centered
around the taxing system in the Dis
trict, although attention was also Civ
en- to the public school system. the
Public Library and the housing situa-
ton. The subjects on which action
was taken, In Mrs. Chapin's opinion,
seemed 50 imperative that they could
not be ignored by body Of the city's
educated women.
Graduated Income Tax.
Tax studies and recommendations
were carried on by Mrs. Eugene Cal
laghan, who will be the legislative
chairman next year. The association
indorsed the movement for grad
uated income tax in the District OF
Columbia, and opposed the raising OF
any District revenues by . sales tax
or any other tax not based on the
ability to pay. Action was taken by
which the club agreed to take part
in the work Of the Citizens Com
mittee on fair taxation. urging the
adoption Of only such District taxes
a. are direct, visible and based or
ability to pay. and opposing sales taxes
and other taxes not based on ability to
pay"
Other legislative action taken by the
association included the Endorsement
Of An appropriation for beginning
work on the pew public library; Pc
tition to the Senate to increase the
relief item Of the District appropria-
tions bill: an expression Of opposition
to any modification OF the District gov
ernment or procedure which would In
fringe on the right OF school authori-
ties to appoint and exercise control
over school employees. and q request for
immediate enactment of the amend
ment to the Alley Dwelling Act of 1884
which would permit the launching oi
a slum reclamation and low-rent pro-
gram for the District.
Support Continued.
The committee has followed up the
clubs statements on these local prob
lens by letters to officials and Con-
gressmen in key positions and mem
bers have appeared at public hear
inss. Support for items held ovez
from previous years has been con-
tinued.
These items included the support
OF the Juvenile Court Act, which be-
came . law; opposition to the long
standing decree which closes the city,
school funds to nursery schools and
opposition to proposals that the Dis
trict Commissioners be given power te
overrule the Board OF Education.
While the list Is not a roll OF tri.
umphs," Mrs. Chaplin said. "the com
mittee does not feel that its effort.
have been wasted. Public opinion
moves slowly in such fields as these
but 1t does move. and 1t does have it.
effect in the end"