Evening star., 1941-01-18
Board Of Trade
Urges Equitable
U. 5. Payment
Program Asks Broader
DC. Income Tax Bose
And Representation
(Ptcture on Page A-4.)

District income tax, further reduc.
tion of the local unemployment com.
pensation tax rate and more
equitable Federal payment toward
municipal government expenses.
These are the major provisions OF
q legislation program unanimously
approved by the general member
ship of the trade organization last
night as more than 80 District Gov
ernment officials joined with the
board in celebrating District Night
at the Mayf1ower Hotel.
The organization also reaffirmed
Its support of the Summers resolu-
ton for constitutional amendment
empowering Congress to grant ma
tional representation to the District,
declaring it will continue its efforts,
begun 25 years ago, to secure the
rights of citizenship for District resi-
dents"
Would Keep Tax Rate.
The legislative program was SUBJ
mitted to the members by James E.
Collif1oWer, president of the board.
1t also urges Congress to make no
increases in the present local income
and real estate tax rates.
BY their applause, the several hum
dred trade board members assembled
in the Mayf1ower ballroom also in
dicated their support of other major
provisions of the Commissioners
tentative legislative program, which
was outlined for them by Commis-
sioner John Russell Young. Among
these we're:
A bill to establish a separate civil
service system for the municipal
government
Legislation to give the city heads
authority over the use of the Ma
tional Guard Armory and to lease
the building for athletic or other
events, the net receipts to go into
a fund for future construction of a
stadium here.
A bill to increase the number of
appointments from the District to
the Naval Academy from 5 to IS,
and the appointments to the Mill
tary Academy from to 9.
A bill to prohibit the carrying of
contraband articles into District
penal institutions.
Broader Commissioner Power.
A bill to give the Commissioners
authority to act without congress
sional legislation in certain purely
municipal functions.
A bill to amend the female eight
hour law to enlarge its scope and
place jurisdiction in the Minimum
Wage Board.
Discussing the proposed separate
civil service system for the District,
Commissioner Young said the Com
missioners have adopted a policy of
appointing only bona-fide District
residents to District jobs.
He said he is 100 per cent behind
the program outlined by President
CollifoWer, and emphasized par
ticularly the need for Qualification
of the recent income tax law SC
that it will be made applicable to
all persons earning money in the
District, whether or not they can
prove they are domiciled in another
State. He cited an Internal Revenue
Bureau statement that more than
$4,000 Washington wage earners
subject to the Federal income tax
failed to file returns under the
District Act last year. More than
5000 others filed returns, but have
f1nl a1oiy,oc rof,1r,Ic ol1nriy,n
domicile outside the District.
Reviewing the 1912 District sup
ply bill recently submitted to Con-
gress, Engineer Commissioner David
McCoach, jr., assured the gathering
no tax increases are contemplated
for the next fiscal year, even though
the Commissioners budget exceeds
current appropriations by approx
mately S2,OOOO0O
Cites "Uncensored" Budget.
Expressing satisfaction with the
new system which lodges full re-
sponsibility for the preparation and
handling of the budget in the Com
missioners, Col. McCoach said:
The budget offered to Congress
represents the uncensored opinion
Of the Commissioners as to the most
advantageous way to use available
revenues" One of the most impor-
tant projects provided, he said, is
the grade separation structure at
Fourteenth street and Maine ave-
nue. S.W.
Col McCoach, in discussing the
proposed appropriations for the
Highway Department, criticized the
present system of taking retirement
pay for highway employees out of
the general fund. He said he feels
this money should come out of the
highway fund, and suggested that
the trade board study this question.
Expressing a belief that the Dis
trict can expect greater yields from
present taxes at present rates be-
cause Washington lis the most
rapidly growing major city in the
United States" Mr.. CollifloWer rec
commended no increase in the income
and real estate taxes, but demanded
that the income levy be made ap-
plicable to all wage earners here.
Property owners now are paying
IAN extremely high" amount in real
estate taxes, he said, warning that
a property tax increase would mean
increased rent and increased hous-
ing costs.
Overton's Efforts Praised.
On the Federal payment question,
Mr.. Collifower said the District
logically may expect an increase this
year more than ever before because
many of the increased expenditures
are due to the fact that this is the
seat of the National Government.
He paid tribute to the efforts of
Senator Overton, chairman of the
Senate District Appropriations Sub
committee, and other legislators who
are trying to get a larger Federal
payment.
The unemployment compensation
tax rate on District employers should
be reduced again this year, the board
president declared. because the
present reserve fund is large enough
to meet all benefit claims "for at
least 10 or IL years without the COL
lection of one additional penny" He
suggested a reduction that will cut