Evening star., 1938-07-24

one or two should be bonafide local
lawyers, of which there Is q wealth
of those who are fully qualified.
On the bench Of the Court OF
Appeals there is not at present q
single judge who was engaged In
the practice OF law in the District
Of Columbia prior to appointment.
Some had been here for a while as
assistants to the United States At
tOrney General or In other Federal
office. The local bar and a large
part Of the layity express them
selves AS believing that there
should be q local man appointed
to f1ll the newly created judgeship.
Another thing developed in a
study Of this problem is the fact
that it used to be the custom in
making appointments of both Dis
trict Commissioners and judges Of
the local courts to name members
Of the two great parties. 1t used
to be that both courts and the
Board Of Commissioners Of the
District Of Columbia were BIZ
partisan bodies. And this was con-
sidered good practice, especially
in a voteless and unrepresented
community which, in theory at
least, was free from partisan poll
iticS.
These are very definite problems,
but what can the local citizens do
to bring about a satisfying solu-
ton?
John Philip SOusa Bridge
Contract Awarded on Thursday.
Work is to be started in about
10 days on construction of the new
pink granite bridge over the Ana
costa River In line with Pennsyl-
vania avenue Sc. The contract
was awarded on Thursday to
Cincinnati firm for 81, l,S44.234. The
construction will require about two
and half years. The contract in
cludes the removal of the old
bridge.
ment for which number of groups
OF citizens have earnestly worked.
There has been some fine civic
team work done to get this project
under way.
While the citizens OF the South
east take particular pride in the
prospect Of the new bridge. the
interest in the project is wide
spread, for the use of the bridge
Is not by any means confined to
the residents of that section. Peo-
pie from all sections have been
mconvenienced and delayed by the
botlle-neck produced by the old
ana decrepit bridge which is being
replaced.
There remains one additional
feature for continued civic team
work. That Is to have Congress
pass the bill naming the new bridge
after John Philip Sousa. The late
Senator Copeland introduced bill
lor that purpose which was passed
by the Senate at the last session.
but failed to receive action bv
the House. Proponents of this bill
Will get members of both Senate
and House to introduce the bill in
the new Congress and press its pas
sage
The reasons for naming this
bridge after the Southeast WASH
ington boy who became the inter-
nationally renowned march king
are many, and there has been no
real objection raised against it,
Passage OF this bill would require
no expenditure OF funds.
Taxation and Fiscal Relations
Are Interlecking Problems.
1t has been intimated that the
study Of the District tax structure
and the planning of a new equit-
able system Of local taxa ton will
not include consideration of the
question OF the fiscal relations be-
tween the United States and its
National Capital. To many in the
civic groups who are familiar with
the District fiscal system it is lm-
possible to dismiss from considera-
ton the question as to what shall
be the share of the expenses of the
District to be borne by the United
States.
Most Of these citizens believe that
the beginning should be just where
the Organic Act of 1878 began
with the Federal share and the
provision following for the remain
DER OF the money required to be
raised by taxation OH local property
and privileges. OF course. the
Organic Act provided for the ap-
preparation OF the funds of the
United States to the extent of SO
per cent. But regardless of the
rate OF percentage involved, the
really important feature was that
definite fixed proportionate share
was named for each of the partners
in the National Capital enterprise.
With this definite start the budget
makers were able to estimate with
a fair degree of accuracy the
amount required to be raised by
local taxation. Without this def
mite point of beginning, budget
making for the District is a fiscal
nightmare.
The survey of the tax structure
which Is just being inaueurated is
under the direction OF the Joint
Congressional Committee on In
ternal Revenue Taxation. This body
has employed New York expert to
make the study. Certain District
officials are being loaned to assist
him In his work The Commits
sioners have appointed an advisory
committee to have a part in the
effort. Just what part this COM
mittee of five District officials and
five citizens will perform has not
been fully explained. It is known
that experts sometimes take advice
and sometimes they ignore it.
Civic Washington Is hopeful that
good will come Of this latest effort
10 iron out the local taxation prob
lem. This study is only to cost
Hl,~