Evening star., 1938-05-08
FEDERAT|ONH|TS
EFFORTS TO KILL
D. c. TAXES BILL
Realty Levy Increase to
$1.90 as Alternative Is
Opposed.
PARITY BEFORE W. P. A.
ON LOANS is URGED
Site On br Near East Capitol Street
Is Favored for Shrine to
Jefferson.

Protest against the move to kill the
pending District tax bill and to meet
the revenue emergency by an increase
in the realty tax rate to at least 81. sc
was voiced last night by the Fedora
ton Of Citizens Associations.
Without mentioning Chairman Pal
misano OF the House District Commit
tee, the federation disapproved his ef-
forts to kill the proposed continuation
Of a business privilege tax. Representa-
tive Palmisano is fighting the proposed
revision Of the business privilege tax
on the ground it is basicly unfair to
Baltimore and other nonresident
firms who wish to do business in the
National Capital.
The resolution was offered by A. M.
Edwards, chairman of the Fiscal Re-
lations Committee Of the federation
and was adopted without a dissenting
vote. The federation strongly protest.
ed any development which would force
an increase in the tax on real estate.
Parity Before P. w. A. Urged.
Congress was urged to place the
District on parity with the States
In P. w. A. loans and grants, in a
resolution offered by L. A. Carruthers,
federation president. He explained
that under the act enabling the Dis
trict to apply for P. w. A. loans, it
now can be given only a 80 per cent
grant. whereas the States have grants
up to IS per cent of the cost of a
project.
Mr.. Carruthers protested also that
while the States have up to 20 years
to repay P. w. A. loans, the District
Is required to pay of its loans at
the rate Of 100000 a year. The
District Commissioners have assigned
committee of municipal oficials to
prepare a bill proposing changes in
these conditions. The federation
urged that speed and force be applied
to these proposals.
Development of memorial for
Thomas Jefferson on q site on or
near East Capitol street was advocated
by the federation as 1t reiterated the
stand taken year ago against the
Boylan Commission plan for a me-
mortal structure near Tidal Basin.
Acting on report by Kennth P.
Armstrong Of its City Planning Com
mittee, the federation held that while
the proposed shift in the Tidal Basin
location of the memorial might save
the cherry trees, it still would leave
the question of cost to the District
for highway changes. It was argued
that a more suitable memorial could
be planned.
Zoning Act Features Hit.
Objections to some features of the
proposed amendments to the District
Zoning Act, now before Congress,
were voiced by the body. on recon-
mendation by Myron r. Walker, zon-
ing Committee chairman. The body
approved change which would give
the District power to eliminate non
conforming" uses of property, but
insisted this should not be done
without the consent Of the property
owner.
Opposition also was registered
against any reduction Of zoning re-
strictions on any properties lying
between Connecticut avenue and
Rock Greek Park, north of the Taft
Bridge.
Wilbur S. Finch, a federation dele
gate, who headed the Citizens Com
mittee which conducted the suffrage
referendum week ago, was given
rousing applause and a formal vote
OF thanks for his efforts. The same
tribute was voted to William H. Mon
dell, Harry N Stull, Miss Eta Taggart,
David Babp and many others who
serve on the suffrage campaign body
The federation praised the service
OF Col. Dan I. Sultan, District En-
gineer Commissioner, whose four-year
tour Of duty will expire in August.
The resolution, drafted by Jesse Suter
OF the Society Of Natives is to be for
warded to Col. Sultan, the Board of
Commissioners and to the chief of
engineers of the War Department.
Covell Urged for Engineer.
The federation considered a resolu-
ton urging selection of 1t. Col. Will
liam E. r. Covell, former assistant En-
gineer Commissioner and q native of
Washington, as successor to Col. Sui
tan, but the matter was tabled without
prejudice after some delegates insisted
the federation should not indorse any
individual for any Government job.
John A. Remon was given vote of
thanks for his work in urging starting
Of Improvements to the Washington
Channel, now under way.
Mr.. Remon, in reporting for the
federation's Public welfare Commit
tee, said that while his group had
taken no action on the investigation
of the adequacy Of the District relief
appropriation. he felt I'VE should 90
slow" in agreeing to an increase in
expenditures.