Evening star., 1939-01-20
Roosevelt Says
D. {. Should Paw
More Taxes
Feels City Should
Have Added Funds
For Human Need
BY J. RUSSELL YOUNG,

President Roosevelt said today he
is convinced the District of Colum-
bia should pay more taxes and
should be given more money to
spend, especially for human needs.
At the same time he suggested
that the whole problem may entail
a consideration of the question as
to the proper share of District ex-
penses which the Federal Govern
ment should pay and of proposals
for a change in the form of local
government.
The President asserted at his press
conference that taxes in the District
are low in comparison to other
cities in the country, and he made
particular reference to a comparison
made several years ago of tax bur-
dens in Washington and a number
of other cities.
He said that because there is a
real need for more money by the
District, he believes the first step
to meet financial needs should be a
boost in taxes, to be followed per-
haps by study to determine wheth-
er the United States should increase
its contribution toward fiscal af-
fairs of the Capital.
Might Favor Change.
Making it plain that he has given
considerable thought to local prob
lens, Mr.. Roosevelt limited that he
might favor some change in the
form of District government with a
view to effecting improvements OF
conditions here.
A similar intimation as to the
Presidents views came several days
ago from Representative Randolph
Democrat, of West Virginia, the new
chairman of the House District
Committee. after long conference
with the President regarding Dis
trict problems.
In connection with his reference
to human needs, Mr.. Roosevelt tolo
reporters he is concerned particu-
larly about the health situation
here-the need for better hospitali-
zation and similar requirements in
the realm of public welfare. He
oeAAA 1AS 40 INV az Oil SdllSlleO WlII
health conditions in Washington.
Mr.. Roosevelt said he is trying tc
lind some answer to the tax boost
problem in the findings of the Fed
eral Real Estate Board, which he
created few days ago by executive
order. At that time he specified that
part of the boards duties would be
to recommend what disposition
should be made of surplus real estate
owned by the Federal Government
In the District of Columbia and the
various States. This would deter
mine to what extent the District anc
other communities are affected ad.
versely by the loss of revenue on tax
exempt Federal property acquired
from local authorities.
The new board consists of repre-.
sentatives of the Treasury, Agricul.
ture, Interior. Commerce, Justice anc
Navy Departments and of the T
V. A.
Cites Old Report.
The tax burden comparison re-
port, Mr.. Roosevelt declared, showed
conclusively that on the whole the
property owners of Washington paic
lower taxes than those in cities useo
in the survey.
CThe report to which the Presi-
dent refers was made by the Treas.
ury. Practically no original investi-
CATION went into the report, as il
was based chiefly on studies of lad.
Justed' tax rates made by the De.
troit Bureau of Governmental Re.
search. The figures were not ac-
cepted by Washington organizations
as accurate indices of tax burden
and the method of obtaining the
figures differed sharply from the
methods followed by the Census
Bureau)
The President recently disclosed
that he would seek some improve.
ment In the local health situation
He specified the need for better hos,
pltallzatlon. facilities for providins
more training for colored nurses al
FTeedmen's Hospital here and i'm.
provements at the National Train.
ing Schools for Girls and Boys.
Chairman Randolph of the HOUSE
District Committee, while reluctant
to commit the President in any
way as to what they discussed OF
what they had in mind, indicated
very strongly that these health sub.
Jects were discussed along with the
questions of increasing taxes here
reorganizing local government anc
many other matters affecting Wash,
ington. Chairman Randolph sale
that nothing definite had beer
worked out but that he left tn,
President with the understandings
that details would be discussed al
another White House conference.
Chairman Randolph of the Houss