davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1939-01-15
Civic Legislative Program
Yet to Be Formulated.

Though numerous bills and res
olutions affecting the District of
Columbia have been introduced
in the Senate and House of Rep
resentatives thus early in the ses-
sion there has been no opportu-
nifty to list them and learn what
it is all about. When copies are
available and an account of stock
is taken the civic groups will
know what additional matters re-
quire to be drafted and intro
duced. 1t is the hope that a pro-
gram may be devised upon which
most of the groups may unite
their support.
While on this subject of Dis
trict legislation it should be re-
membered that there exists an
organized group which is render
ing a valuable service to many Of
the participating civic bodies.
Little appears to be known of the
District of Columbia Legislative
Conference, In which about Is
groups are represented. This is a
study group which was organized
some four or five years ago and
holds monthly meetings from
october to June.
The policy of the conference
Is to discuss legislative matters
pertaining to or of interest to
the District. And its purpose is
to disseminate knowledge of such
problems to the member organi-
cations and to coordinate action
in the interest Of legislation. Dis
cussions are not confined to
pending legislation but embrace
problems for which legislation is
required.
The conference does not, as
such, support legislation but
seeks to have it thoroughly un-
derstood as to its purpose, its
necessity and what the member
organizations are doing either
for or against such proposals.
1t is proposed to extend the
membership to some of the larger
organizations which are not now
participating in the conference,
in an attempt to further CO.
ordinate the work of organized
civic washington along legisla-
tive lines. 1t is believed that
when the conference becomes
more widely representative in its
membership it will tend to re-
duce the confusion of legisla-
tive demands, Of which many
members Of the Senate and
House complain.
Evening star., 1939-01-15
Civic Problems, Civic Bodies
Key to Revenue Problem Seen in U.S..
Obligation to D. C.-Tox Difficulties

tax. Upon approval by the
Joint Committee of Congress on
Internal Revenue Taxation 1t will
be filed with the two houses and
be referred to the District Com
mittee Of the House for consid-
Grafton.
The Senate Committee on the
District of Columbia has not yet
been called upon to consider NOM
nations for District Commits
sioner or the several judicial
vacancies. Neither have they
had any nomination for the long
vacant Office of peoples council
for which Congress appropriated
a salary in the last District ap-
priation bill. In this connection
it is of interest to note that the
1910 budget omits the salary for
that officer.
The 1910 budget is being studied
by the civic groups and they are
none too well pleased. They fear
that the slashes and omissions
will result in indefinite delay in
obtaining many needed enlarge
ments Of municipal services and
the satisfaction of unmet ac-
cumulated Capital needs.
1t is difficult for civic leaders
to reconcile the heavy slashing
of the Health Department esti-
mates with the reported de-
sire Of the President that there
should be substantial enlarge
ment of the activities of that de-
partment. And this, as a former
chairman of the House subcom-
mittee used to tell every one, is
the Presidents budget, which
that chairman wished to be re-
garded by the District people as
something sacred, unless he diff
fered with it.
The Public Utilities Commits
sion has announced the post
ponement of the taxicab rate
hearing from February l to 8,
because of its conflict with a
meeting of the Zoning Commits
sion the Engineer Commissioner
being a member of both bodies.
Evening star., 1939-01-15

Home" at the association meeting
on January 9.
A school luncheon will be held
Wednesday at noon in the audi
torium.
The study group will meet in the
library on January % at 1:30 pm.
Key.
At the January meeting observa-
ton lessons in the social studies
were presented by each grade. Be-
fore visiting the various classes, Miss
Clara Hickman, principal, explained
social studies"
The association will give lunch
con for the school patrol boys and
girls at noon on January 81.
The February meeting will be
father-son dinner at the Palisades
Field House, at 6 pm, on Febru-
ary IA.
Buchanan.
At the last meeting Miss c. p.
Dulin, principal, explained the work
of the Southeast Neighborhood
Council. Music was furnished by
the Eliot Junior High School Or
chestra.
Mrs. Arthur Guess announces the
Dramatic Club will present a play,
white Iris" in the one-act tour
nament to be held at Roosevelt
High School.
Wednesday win be Bundle day
for Student Aid.
Evening star., 1939-01-15
BY JESSE C. SUTER.

The District civic problems are
lowering around Capitol Hill.
Many of them are still in the
mystery stage when all that the
voteless and unrepresented resi-
dents of the District know about
them are the driblets which have
leaked out from the reports Of
the experts. Little is yet known
as to what these consultants be-
lieve is the matter with old Mr..
Dee See or what treatment is to
be prescribed. Organized civic
Washington is not sure as to
whether the treatment recon-
mended will be followed by Con-
gress or not. They are. however,
reasonably sure that they will be
required to pay all consultation
fees and for the full courses of
treatment whether followed or
not.
The report of the expert on
emergency relief has appeared as
a serial without any one outside
of officialdom being able to grasp
the complete picture. 1t has sue
ceeded in arousing considerable
bitterness at the Offices of the
Board of Public Welfare and in
welfare group circles. The chair
man of the House District Ap-
preparations Subcommittee is re-
ported to be well satisfied with
the report, but he is conceded to
have had the advantage of get
ting the full picture from a study
Of the entire report. Others
have not yet had this oppor-
tunity.
The Chicago engineers who
have been studying the setup of
the government of the District
have completed their work and
the report is expected to go to
Congress the first of the week.
At the request of Representative
Kennedy of Maryland it will first
be submitted to the President as
1t is desired to have his approval
and support.
The other expert report is that
on taxation which is complete and
has been approved by the Com
missioners on the recommended
ton Of their Advisory Commit
tee on Taxation. Two members
of the committee are reported as
Evening star., 1939-01-15
Rough Weather Ahead
Predicted For Tax Bill.

AS viewed by civic workers the
District tax bill is expected to
encounter rough weather ahead
both from within and out of Con-
gress. In the civic circles there
is firm conviction that if the
United States performed its SIM
pie duty in assuming its equitable
share of the annual cost of run
ming and upbulding the National
Capital there would be no need
for additional taxation at this
time.
There is alarm at the pros
pect of the proposed new tax plan
producing a substantial unex-
pended surplus. Whenever there
has been a surplus of District
revenues the District has been
embarrassed seriously.
The presence of surplus is
always regarded as an invitation
to the Federal Government to
reduce its share further, and then
there have been instances when
attempts have been made in Con-
gress to confiscate such a surplus.
Those long in the civic work
recall the trouble over the sur
plus which was only cleared up
and the surplus recognized as
belonging to the District after an
investigation by a Joint Select
Committee of Congress. Even
then the District got the short end
by being required to complete at
its own expense, out of the sur
plus, a project which had been
begun as a joint enterprise. This
was the Rock Creek and Potomac
Connecting Parkway and the sur
plus in question was only accum-
mulated through the failure of
the Congress to appropriate for
urgent needs, some of which are
still unmet.
Instead of being a complete
revision of the Districts tax
structure, which some tax author
ties have long claimed is needed,
the new tax plan centers on a
substitution for the business
privilege tax and the tax on in
tangible personal property of 2
per cent retail sales tax and a
tax on incomes of all persons in
excess Of $4,000. Corporations
would be required to pay a fat
income tax Of 5 per cent and
there would be a readjustment
OF the taxes on the earnings Of
the pubic utility corporations.
The $1.75 real estate tax 1t is
planned to continue for another
year.
The entire tax program is esti-
mated to yield gross of 81, ,O00,-
600 in revenue. When deductions
are made for the repeal of the
tax on intangibles and the lapse
of the business privilege tax the
net increase over the present
revenue is estimated at $1,000, 900.
The estimated deficit under the
present law is between $4,000, 900
and 100000, so that there
would be left an unexpended sur
plus in the 1910 fiscal year of
$3,000,0 900 to $4,000, 900. Because
Of the peculiar voteless and un.
represented situation In the Dis
tr1ct Of Columbia. civic leaders
Evening star., 1939-01-15
do not look with favor upon such

do not look with favor upon such
Q prospect. =.
The battle royal over the plan
Is expected to be fought over the
sales tax and the income tay.
Both in Congress and among the
civic groups there is a wide diff
ference of opinion as to the rela-
tive fairness and desirability Of
these two forms Of taxation. One
school of thought holds that tax
alton should be based on the
theory of ability to pay and in
sists that the income tax is the
only one which can measure up
to such requirement. This school
contends that the retail sales tax
Will impose the heaviest burden
upon the poor and be easy on
the more well to do.
The other school regards the
income tax as being rather
heavily preempted by the United
States and that a local general
income tax is impracticable be-
cause OF the small probability
OF its being applied generally.
They consider it as improbable
that Congress will be willing to
impose an income tax on the
large official population. includ-
ing themselves, and unless it was
all-inclusive it would fall heavily
on the few. The proposed sales
tax, this school believes. would
have a fair general spread which
would be easy to collect and work
no hardship on any one. Such
sales tax, 1t is pointed out, would,
in addition to its application to
all local residents, also produce
a substantial revenue from
transients.
The discussion of this problem
must end as it began with refer
ence to the obligation of the Fed
eral Government to meet its
share. The proportion to be
borne by the United State is re-
garded generally as the logical
starting point either for the
framing of District revenue bill
or the budget. To start without
such knowledge is regarded by
local students of District finance
as cropping in the dark.
Evening star., 1939-01-15
The Search Continues
For Fiscal Equity Formula.

Though Senator Overton has
not yet worked out his formula
for fixing the Federal Govern
ment's equitable share of the cost
of the operation and upbuilding
Of the National Capital, the or
ganized civic groups are in
dorsing it in principle without a
dissenting vote. The idea of ar
irving at a definite proportion
based upon the acreage of the
tax-free holdings of the United
States and in Government use
is believed to be entirely new.
Computations of the acreage
are understood to be under way,
and 1t has been suggested that in
the first figures, which showed
about 81 per cent, there was in
cluded some 200 acres of United
States property being used by the
District, and it is now proposed
to deduct that from the total.
While the matter has not been
mentioned heretofore in the dis
cussion, it appears that there is
a considerable extent of area in
holdings of foreign governments
and national organizations which
have been exempted from taxa
ton by act of Congress. In local
civic circles it is thought that all
OF such property should be treat
ed as if it were owned and in
use by the Federal Government.
All municipal services are re-
quired for such property, just
as any other, and consequently it
stands on the same footing as
United States holdings which are
being used by the Government.
In these acreage computations
1t is understood that the excess
OF park land area, over what
there would be in an ordinary
commercial city, is being taken
into account. 1t is the local be-
lief that in the same manner
account should be taken of the
greater street area in the City of
Washington than in the average
city, and such excess of area
should be figured as a part of the
Government acreage upon which
the percentage yardstick would
be computed.
The reopening of the question
OF equitable fiscal relations has
had a stimulating effect on all
groups, both large and small.
They are hopeful of something
coming of 1t.
It is believed that Senator
Overton will be able to work out
a formula which will have the
approval of the Senate, but
there is considerable doubt ex-
pressed as to its acceptance by
the House. So many members Of
the House are not informed on
the subject and are therefore apt
to be influenced by some old
members who are on record In
favor of emitting the Federal
share altogether that the pros
pect is not considered any too
good.
The real hope of success would
be In ability to get the rank and
file Of the members Of the House
so well informed as to see the
mattny IN v1,1,of njctr{rf na0r1lQ
know is the proper light. If the
interest and aid Of the President
could be obtained. some leaders
Evening star., 1939-01-15
CIVIC CALENDAR.
The following associations ar
cchad,,1od to y,,oa+ fl,ic uooL.


scheduled to meet this week:
Monday, January 16.
Interfederation, United States
Chamber Of Commerce, 8 pm.
Lincoln Park, Kingsman School, 8
pm.
Sixteenth Street Heights, A. r.
Shepherd School, 8 pm.
Tuesday, January II.
Benning, Odd Fellows Hall, Ben
ming road and Minnesota avenue
NE, 8 pm.
Citizens Forum of Columbia
Heights, Powell Junior High School,
8 pm.
Petworth. Petworth School, 8 pm.
Southeast Council, No. II precinct,
SPIN.
Wednesday, January 18.
Chevy Chase, E. v. Brown School,
pm.
Dahlgren Terrace, Crosby s. Noyes
School, 8 pm.
Sixteenth Street Highlands,
Brightwood School, 8 pm.
Thursday. January 10.
Southwest, Jefferson Junior High
School, 8 pm.
Friday, January 20.
Glover Park, Industrial Home
School, 8 pm.
Takoma Park ID. C.-Md), Takoma
Park Library, 7:30 pm.
Saturday, January FL.
B h mthemsh tmehsm themshemshe
Federation, board room, District
Building, pm.
dissenting because Of their objec-
ton to the imposition Of q sales
Evening star., 1939-01-15
approved Overton plan for increase

approved Overton plan for increase
in Federal payment to District.
SUMMIT PARK-Requested eve
ming sessions instead of morning
sessions for public hearings on Dis
trict issues, opposed Patman chain
store tax bill.
BURLEITH-Approved plan of
Senator Overton to increase Federal
share of expenses toward District,
approved plan to substitute meters
in place of zone system for taxicab
owners
RHODE ISLAND AvENUE-Op-
posed Patman chain store tax bill,
elected officers headed by Harold J.
Clay.
NORTH RANDLE COMMUNITY
Renewed request for new eight
room school in vicinity of Mime
sofa avenue and E street S. E., to
take place of present school; re-
quested extension of school bus to
include Orr School as we'll as Randle
Highlands School,
MICHIGAN PARK Approved
Overton plan to abolish lump-sum
payment of Federal Government to
District and substitute plan whereby
the Government would fix its obli-
CATION according to percentage of
Federally used land here, decided to
favor retention of name of Bunker
Hill for new school being constructed
in community.
Evening star., 1939-01-15
PIT. A. Congress Will Hold
First '39 Meeting uesdoy
Certificates to Be Given 18 Completing
Course in Child Psychology
BY MRS. WALTER B. FRY,

President Of Columbia
The first meeting Congress
Parents Teachers the viii be held
in the board the Building prepared
Parent Education Committee will be presented meeting
open.
parents will the meeting after which
associate professor psychology George Washington University
child psychology the 10
Evening star., 1939-01-15
Promotion Progresses.

Curtis Hodges. director in charge
of promotion of the Greater Ma
tional Capital Committee of the
Board of Trade, reports that the
business of publicizing Washington
in connection with the New York
Worlds Fair is going forward at a
satisfactory pace.
He said contracts for printing
100000 special Worlds Fair book
lets have been let by the Promotion
Committee. The committee also has
approved purchase of half million
stickers to be distributed among
Washington business firms for use
on outgoing letters.
Evening star., 1939-01-15
Canadian to Talk.

Christopher Taschereau, vice
president of the Associated Junior
Chambers of Commerce OF Northern
Quebec and president of the Junior
Board OF Trade of Val dor, Quebec.
will be principal speaker at the local
Junior Boards luncheon next
Thursday at the Annapolis Hotel.
Mr.. Taschereau is on an extensive
trip through the eastern part of the
United States and Cuba. He is an
outstanding metallurgical engineer.
Evening star., 1939-01-15

believe that it would go a long
way. Efforts along this line
heretofore have failed, but many
consider it worth trying again.
Evening star., 1939-01-15
Two Unit Meetings.
Ladies' Night Scheduled.

The Junior Board of Commerce
will hold its first ladies' night on
Friday, January g. in the Conti-
mental Room of the Wardman Park
Hotel
The Evening Meetings Program
Committee has discussed plans for
an affair of this kind since last
April and has now received approval
OF the Board of Directors to hold a
non-profit dance.
Evening star., 1939-01-15
0verton Plan Gets
Support Of Many
Civic Groups
Action by Some Of Ia
Meeting This Week
Also Expected

The suggestion Of Senator Over
ton, Democrat, of Louisiana to
abandon the annual lump-sum pay
ment by the Federal Government
toward expenses of the District Of
Columbia in favor of plan whereby
acreage of tax-exempt land required
for Government purposes in Wash
ington would be used as the basis OF
Federal obligation toward the city,
has met with the approval of num-
ber of citizens associations.
In review of associations meet
ing from Thursday, January S,
through Wednesday, January H.,
about one-third of the 26 associa-
tions that met approved the Over
ton plan for settlement of fiscal re-
lations between the District and
Federal Governments.
1t is expected that further sup
port will be given the proposal by a
number of the IA associations meet
ing this week.
Evening star., 1939-01-15
Trade Board Units
Turning 10 Studies
OF D. T.. Affairs
Plans Near Completion
For Midwinter Dinner
February a

With the reconvening Of Con-
gress the activities of the Board OF
Trade again are in full swing. Dur
ing the next few weeks many COM
mittees plan to consider matters of
much interest to the District.
The report by Burdette G. Lewis
on his investigation of the Districts
relief structure has been referred to
both the Municipal Finance Com
mittee and the Charities and Cor
rections Committee for examination
and report. Robert v. Fleming.
chairman of the Municipal Finance
Unit, has appointed a subcommittee
composed Of Lawrence E. Williams,
chairman; Fred A. Smith and L. A.
Carruthers to study the report.
John F. Victory, chairman of the
other committee, also is expected to
appoint study group.
Dinner Plans Advance.
Plans for the annual midwinter
dinner, which this year will be the
golden jubilee" dinner celebrating
the Board of Trades 50th birthday
anniversary, are rapidly being COM
pleted. Thornton w. Owen, chair
man in charge, has announced that
practically all tickets for the event
have been sold. The affair will be
held at the Mayflower Hotel on Sat-
urday, February a.
The Municipal Finance Commit
tee is engaged in developing a
formula to be used in computing
the Federal payment toward District
expenses in line with Senator Over
tons recent suggestion. When the
committee completes its work it will
discuss the problem with the Sen
ator.
The boards meeting last Thurs
day night at the MayfloWer Hotel
was addressed by Senator Edward
R. Burke. Democrat, of Nebraska
and the chairmen of the Senate and
House District Committee: Senator
William H. King and Representa-
tive Jennings Randolph. Others
presented included Senator Overton,
who is chairman of the Senate Sub
committee on District Appropri-
ations, and Representative Ross A.
Collins. chairman of the House Sub
Committee on District Appropri-
ations.
George E. Keneipp, chairman of
the Public Schools Committee, gave
report on progress made by the
committee in its current study of
the District school system.
Two Unit Meetings.
Two committees of the Board of
Trade are scheduled to meet this
week. They are:
Insurance and Fire Protection,
Frederick P. H. Siddons. chairman; !;
at the board Offices in The Star
Building, Thursday at 3:45 pm.
Public Schools Committee Friday
Evening star., 1939-12-07
Advisory Body Named
On Civic Education

The Rt. Rev. Msgr. Joseph M. Cor.
flgan, rector of Catholic University,
today announced appointment of an
ADVISORY committee to aid in prep
aratlon OF a civic education pro-
gram for the parochial schools of
the Nation.
The program is developing from a
request by the late Pope Plus XII.
The American Catholic hierarchy
commissioned the university to carry
out the late pontiff's wishes.
Both Catholic and non- Catholic
leaders are on the committee an
nounced by Msgr. Corrigan. Their
duties are wholly advisory, however,
the detailed work being done by a
special staff.
Members appointed to the commit i.
tee are: Herbert C. F. Bell, profess
sor OF history, Wesleyan University:
Franklin Durham. educational di-
rector, National Broadcasting Co.:
Charles G. Fenwick, professor of DO
htlcal science, Bryn Mawr College:
James l.. Hanley. superintendent of
schools, Providence, R. l.; F. Ernest
johnson, professor of education. Co.
lumola University; Jerome G. Ker-
win, professor of political science,
University of Chicago; David A.
McCabe, professor of economics,
Princeton University; Florence
6tratemeyer, professor of education,
Columbia University; Henry C. Tay-
lor, director, Farm Foundation:
Howard e. Wilson, professor of edu-
cation, Harvard University,
Evening star., 1939-12-07
Dr.. He|ser 10 Address
leper Mission Meetinq

The Rev. DR.. Albert D. Helser
who arrived in this country re-
Gently after passing through sub
marine-infested waters from North
'ern Nigeria, will be the principal
speaker at meeting tomorrow of
the Washington City Auxiliary,
American Mission to Lepers, at the
Mount Pleasant Place Methodist
Church.
A representative of the Sudan
Interior Mission, DR.. Helser has
been aiding more than 800 900
lepers in Northern Nigeria for 10
years.
DR.. Helser will open his lecture
series with a talk before the Ma
tional Cathedral School for Girls
at Washington Cathedral tomorrow
at $3.50 am. At II am. he will
appear at the Mount Vernon Place
Church. MONDAY devotions and
then a luncheon will follow the
lecture.
High point of the afternoon meet
ing, which begins at 2 pm, will be
the showing of "The Healing of
M'Vondo," the first motion picture
in full color ever taken in a Prot
estant leper station.
The Sudan Interior Mission and
the American Mission to Lepers
maintain five leper hospitals abroad.
The American mission is active in
over 100 leper stations, aiding 81, 1000
lepers in one year.