Evening star., 1939-03-02
Oldest Inhabitants
|ndorse 0verton Bill
With Reservations
East Capitol Street
Site Recommended
For Auditorium

tants approved the Overton bill on
| fiscal relations, with stipulated res
ervations, and recommended that
the proposed auditorium be built at
the east end of East Capitol street,
IN a session last night at the Old
Union Engine House.
John Clagett Proctor, vice presi-
dent of the association, presented an
entertaining illustrated lecture on
Pennsylvania avenue, during which
he showed more than 80 stereopti-
con views of historic spots along this
historic thoroughfare.
In his discussion of the famous
street. Mr.. Proctor took up many
of the high lights of the past, and
gave a history of the people, the
buildings, and famous occasions
which have marked this highway
between the Capital and the White
House.
The Overton bill on fiscal rela-
tions was discussed at length before
the association approved it only with
reservations.
Shortcomings Cited.
James F.. Duhamel raised the Ques-
ton with a resolution proposing ap-
proval. Jesse C. Suter declared the
bill was good so far as it went, but
that it did not 60 far enough in
providing fiscal equity for the Dis
trict. The bill generally provides
appropriation by the Federal. Gov
ernment toward support of the Dis
trict of Columbia on ratio based
on the amount of property owned
by the Federal Government in this
city. compared with the area of the
District as a whole. Mr.. Suter esti-
mated this at about 20 per cent,
which he felt was inadequate, par
ticularlv in view of some restrictions
in the bill, such as exempting half
the parks and ignoring the high
property values of most Federally
owned land Another restriction in
the measure to which Mr.. Suter OBJ
jected was that the Overton formula
applied only to the general fund"
of the District, ignoring both the
highway and water funds of the
District.
The association finally adopted
Mr.. Suffers substitute motion, sec
onded by V. w. Payne. approving
the Overton bill with these modi-
flcations:
Il. Add to the area of the land
owned by the United States in the
District of Columbia the tax
exempted lands of foreign govern
ments, national and international,
| and other institutions and organiza-
tions which have been exempted
from local taxation by act of Con-
gress because of their national or
/ international character.
Provides Charge for Water.
20 That the formula so estab-
lished in this bill shall be applied
to the total District of Columbia
appropriations. with the exception
of the water fund and that water
supplied the United States be
through metered service and paid
! for by the Government. as is done
by individual consumers.
| "3. Provide for the complete relief
of the District of Columbia of any
financial obligation for the opera
ton. maintenance and expansion of
the National Geological Park"
Protesting against what he SAID
was virtual support of the Zoo by
Washingtonians. Mr.. Suter charged
that this city had to put up new
buildings for snakes when we didn't
have enough money for school build
inos for our own children"
The principle in the Overton bill
which the District was inclined to
commend" Mr.. Suter said. was
recognition of the principle OF
definite proportional share of the
cost of the municipal government
being met by the Federal Govern
ment."
The resolution on the proposed
auditorium was presented by w. E.
Allen, seconded by Col. Robert N.
Harper. The question was raised
at the association through a letter
from James Waldo FaWcett of the
Evening Star, read to the assembly
by Mr.. Suter The resolution spe-
ciflcally asked the auditorium COM
mission to reconsider its decision to
place the auditorium in the munich
pal center area. at John Marshall
place and Constitution avenue, and
recommended instead East Capitol
street.
Congestion Cited.
Mr. Allen opposed the municipal
center area because of congestion
which he charged would result.
Ia fot fo
ANY plausible argument" for plac-
ing the structure at the municipal
center site. One reason for having
the structure further out, he said,
would be that in case of inaugura-
ton of a President, inside, there
should be plenty of space outside to
accommodate thousands of outsiders
to hear the inaugural ceremonies by
amplification, probably under tenn
porary cover. He was not so much
in favor of the East Capitol street
site, he said, seconding the resolu-
ton, but he was strongly opposed to
the recommended site, in the mu-
nicipal center.
Horace j. Phelps opposed the East
Capitol site as being too far removed
from the downtown section. He felt
it should be nearer the center of
the city and recommended a site
such as New Jersey avenue and K
street, nearer Union Station and
hotels.
Mr.. Proctor favored the East
Capitol site, predicting that in Is
years it might be somewhere near
the center of the city, now rapidly
growing. He predicted the question
of transportation would be more
simply solved by having the audi
torium where automobile parking
problems would not be so difficult
Mr.. Suter pointed out that the
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission, after an exhaustive
study, had already proposed COM
prehensive development at the east
end of East Capitol street with a