Evening star., 1940-12-29
Civic Problems, Civic Bodies
National Representation; Fiscal
Equity Remain d. c.. Problems
BY JESSE C. sUTER.

NcIIldlH -. ~. Il IODlC1nS
BY JESSE c. suffer-
ton of the citizen during the past week the
gatherings the practical hepness
extended to the less Some of these
learning another practical angle
looking after their neghbors who
that much the which has welded by
been the it took the
review of the year of the civic problems confronting the
civic groups and the began the 1910 without
joint program legislation there gratifying results The
% s M ] years tn e a many @ @ es h
the estimated and thus avoided taxes increase
Of existing taxes
the failure retain in the
of tuition in the public schools by nonresident children This
stricken in the Senate and continues to impose the
District burden of approximately s25Oo0o year
proposed reorganization dragged
through the undergoing changes and was nay
of local suffrage persisted
local suffrage nothing As there no prospect
receiving consideration by the Senate Committee on
-Kennedy-seal
bill is expected die with the seventys Congress
announced at the beginning OF the session
that there consideration the District budget
by Appropriations District Subcommittee and similar
been made for the 1912 budget This
reminder that the change procedure budget making
outstanding 94O The Bureau of the Budget on its
m ] @ budget put Would onv it that the
the and that the interests of the Federal
Government safeguarded.
than is available to recount
brief detail all of the civic achievements postponemnts
Whlch OF
Some few will be grouped in what follows
D. G. Problem No l. National Representation
1910 will down District of Columbia history
of the lively interest shown in Congress
proposal the Constitution of the United States
permit granting national representation the people Of
the voteless District of Columbia This
Democratic National Convention
ting suffrage plank the National Democratic plat
form This the first time that the District had been honord
by national political party
Committee the Judiciary reported favoraby
with amendment the Summers proposed amendment the Cons
tuition which would for District residents
voting representation in the Congress and the electors
President and Vice President 1t would also empower Congress
to delegate to such local might create all
OF its exclusive legislative powers The committee amendment
not at all acceptable to the author the joint resolution III
25O to the civic forces This would
District from
Senator William King Of Utah. after report
committee promptly
its original form.
been opposed to suffrage for the District of Columbia kind
Last January when King addressed
the question OF suffrage in the District he announced his support OF
proposal whic he heartily approved
Immediately following this the large gathering
arose and gave the Senator ovation long to be remembered
At meeting the this
was given beautiful token OF and sincere regret at his
retirement from the Senate In his stated that he
make his home Washington and will affiliate with the
Trade He also told some his friends that he continue
his interest in District affairs and will do all he can help incd-
ting national representation.
The mnence Of the presidential campaign and the refusal
Of the Rules Committee Of the House Of prevented
nsns the Summers proposal to vote The senate on
the Judiciary withheld action because OF the resolution being pigeon
hoed In the House
will to be the
when is the hope Of the Citizens Joint Committee Dis
t Of Columbia National Representation that the joint resolution
the The
organized citizen groups asking for voting representation in the
takes both the Senate and the House of Representa-
legislative body
With leaders of both the Democratic and the Re
publican principle giving Dis
tc residents part in the councils the Nation there is feeling
local leaders that fair exists getting the
through both of submitted the
State Legislatures for ratification This is claimed is only
sbe accomplishment through united front of the local citizens
D. c. Problem No. 2 Fiscal Equity Needs Action
The only pending proposal grant the District
fiscal the Overton bill which would provide
definite division of the cost Of operation and development
Columbia yardstick of the Ovon bill would be the
eentage of the of land the District owned and used for
tional purposes by the United States.
problem feel
that United would be getting off under this plan
practical logical equitable
than the arbitrary lump District leaders have long
contended for the return definite proporrae sharing cost
equitable intelligent budget making
last week of Senate resolution
emd list of all real estate
in the District from taxation expected to produce
document which will have important bearing the question OF
fiscal relations Among the civic there growing feeling
should
obligation of the Nation of the local taxpayers In other
words conended that Uncle Sam wants to give free
ticket he should be willing to the cost
There will effort made by the organized citzenry to get
some support
acceptable plan for fiscal equity.
Prodress in Meeting Overdue Accumulated Needs
1910 the meeting of the long
needed structures for which both citizens and Of
hca pleading number of structures have been
under being planned
promise held out for still more to come Among the completed