Evening star., 1940-04-07
dc. Vote Held
No Substitute
For Fiscal Aid
Citizens Federation
Also Calls for New
Court Building

Also Calls for New
Court Building
The Federation of Citizens
last night declared that
granting Of suffrage, whether ma
tional or local, would not relieve
the Federal Government Of its fis-
cal responsibility to the Capital
At the same time Federal funds
were asked to erect a new District
Court Building on the site of the
General Accounting ONCE in Judi
ciary square and to finance spe-
cial commission to revise the Dis
trict code.
The assessors Office was criti-
cized for changing the valuation of
automobiles without notice and the
delegates voted to urge return to
the old system as more equitable.
They urged also that the assessor
be given additional personnel to
make property assessments accord
ing to law.
Despite long list of other actions
including Endorsement of congress
sional investigation Of the small
loan situation, extension of parking
meters, the Gwynne bill to permit
District residents to sue in Federal
courts of other States, posting Of
warnings on parking lots when the
lot Is closed to prevent "poaching,"
and prior liens to garage men on
repairs and accessories to auto
mobiles, the delegates found time
to hear several guest speakers.
Edward Arnold Speaks.
They heard Edward Arnold,
Hollywood film actor, talk in behalf
of his II am an American" move
ment and voted support although
several delegates urged that some
thing be incorporated to point out
the voteless plight of the District.
The plan would set up June IA as a
day on which youth of voting age
would be made conscious of their
benefits and privileges as citizens.
Ben Neal, founder of the movement,
also spoke.
DR.. Philip A. Caulfield, Of the
District Medical Society, discussed
cancer control.
The statement of the Federal
Government financial respon-
sibility in the District was presented
by L. A. Carruthers, chairman of the
Fiscal Relations Committee, and at
his request passed without discus
sion.
1t was obviously intended to
answer protests against testimony
of Federation officer during hear
ings on the reorganization bill to
the effect that if the $6,000,0 900
Federal contribution were bar to
getting suffrage here, he would ex-
change the contribution for the vote
and believed that most citizens
agreed with him.
Building Called Inadequate.
Mr.. Carruthers' report pointed out
that the Federation was supporting
both suffrage and an equitable fiscal
relationship between the Federal
and District governments.
The request for new District
Court was contained in report
from Chairman Harry S. Wender
of the Committee on Legislation on
the ground that the present build
ing Is inadequate. Three of the
judges of District Court, according
to Vice Chairman James A. Crooks,
are now housed in the Police Court
Building because of lack of room.
It was pointed out that the court
was a Federal one and therefore
that presumably no District funds
would be involved.
Funds for a revision Of the Dis
trict code were recommended in
support of a bill appointing an in
vestigating commission which the
Legislation Committee felt would
modernize archaic provisions" in
the present law.
Lack Of Hearings Cited.
The reports dealing with the as
SCISSORS Office were also presented
by Mr.. Carruthers. The one deailns
with car evaluation expressed regret
there had been no public hearing
or notice of the change so that the
public had no chance to protest. 1t
reminded that when the weight tax
was introduced, abandonment OF the
property tax was contemplated. In
any event the former method of
evaluation, which corresponded with
the present value of the machine.
was considered more equitable.
The report asking enlargement OF
the assessing staff developed out Of
complaint that property is not be-
ing assessed at it's full valuation.
The complaint asked impartial as
sessment by an outside agency but
the Fiscal Relations Committee
recommended the enlargement Of
the local Office.
Most of the business was trans
acted with little or no debate with
the exception of the movement sup
ported by Mr.. Arnold. Among the
suggestions advanced for calling at
tention to the Districts plight were
flying flags at half staff on the ap-
pointed day and holding a suffrage
rally.
Mr.. Arnold and Mr.. Neal were SUBJ
jected to questioning about their
feelings on the situation here but
they avoided any commitments.
Two Plays to Be Given