Evening star., 1939-03-17
Board of Trade Hears Kings
Plea for Federal Economy
D. c. Committee Head Scores Destruction
Of Czecho- -SIovokio by Hitler Regime

Warning that democracies we're
disappearing and that the United
States was intoxicated with the
concept xe can spend ourselves out
OF depression" Chairman King of
the Senate District Committee last
night sounded a call for greater
economy In government to keep
this country of the rocks of fiscal
bankruptcy"
The veteran legislator stirred
members of the Board of Trade, in
session at the Mayf1ower Hotel,
when he scored the "destruction"
of Czecho Slovakia. painted q
gloomy picture of the future of
Europe and challenged Americans
to rededicate American government
to economy, thrift and the princi-
Piles of democracy.
The Gri1enhagen proposals for
reorganization of the District gov
ernment were stoutly defended by
Frank o. Everett, member of the
firm which made the report.
Report Being Studied.
No action was taken by the Board
of Trade last night on the Griffen-
hagen proposals. President Francis
G. Addison, jr., Of the trade body
announced, however, that q special
committee had been making a COM
prehensive study of the subject and
would report its findings Monday
at meeting Of the Board of Direc-
tors. Mr.. Addison said the Board of
Trade desired to be constructive and
helpful in the matter.
Commissioner Melvin c. Hazen
presented medals to policemen and
f1remen for the Committee of Award
for Meritorious Service.
Senator King warned that "de-
mocracies may perish as we'll as
autocracies" The world, he said,
had just witnessed the death" of
Czecho-Slovakia, destroyed by the
ruthless, .cruel, barbarous conduct
Of the Hitler regime" The speaker
predicted Hitler would sweep
through the Balkan states. and still
other nations would be the victims
of the malevolent assault on the
democratic forces of the world"
Dangers of imitation and further
deficits were discussed by Senator
King in the course of his criticism of
the enormous expenditures, waste
and extravaganza that characterize
this administration" He expressed
hope" for economies from reorgan-
ization of the Federal Government.
Sees Harrison on Taxes.
At conferences yesterday with
Chairman Harrison of the Senate
Finance Committee, Senator King
said the two discussed the possible
consolidation of all taxes on cor
porations into one tax, which might
have to run somewhere between 20
and Is per cent of income.
The Griffenhagen report was de-
Tended by Mr.. Everett as the SIM
plest and most effective plan of gov
ernment to provide more service
for the same money, or the same
service for less money"
Mr.. Everett took up several prin-
clpal criticisms made of the Grifen-
hagen report, and answered in some
detail.
Referring to the question of suf-
frage, MIR. Everett said:
I'VE suggested that the admins
trative and operating structure be
SO designed that, in the event that
Congress should grant suffrage to
the District residents, no further
material change should be neces-
sary. The form proposed is such
that 1t should work to better ad-
vantage either way, whether ,suf-
frage is granted or no. Further
more, the proposed form should
be much more responsive to public
opinion. The proposed concentra-
ton of responsibility for action
along definite channels. alone,
should have this result. Besides,
this concentration should make
much easier the next step, If that
step is to be taken, of providing
for direct representation. All the
powers of government would be
combined in one governing body. 4
movement to provide for making
this body elective would be much
more direct, more easy to accom-
plish and more effective than any
movements that could now be un-
dertaken to bring the widely scat
tered local government activities
under popular control"
Taking up criticism that the
plan does not provide for election
of members of the governing body
Mr.. Everett insisted that this was
not a criticism; because "the plan
does not touch that point"
Defends School Plan.
The speaker defended the GrifIen-
hagen report against the contentious
that education must be separate
and more or less independent" and
that the Grifienhagen plan might
be detrimental and likely caIam-
itous" to the welfare Of the school
ehi1dpAn nn y.oin<nd IN a Nossanea