Evening star., 1941-04-24

the District in view of the unprece-
dented growth resulting from the in
f1ux of defense workers. He called
attention to the fact that the Fed
eral rolls here had jumped 30 589
since last May to 1882 employees,
which he said SIS an all-time high" 3"
Areas are being rapidly developed
and are not being properly supplied
with municipal services" he de-
clared. 1--WE have right to have a
new central public library, more
sewers, additional facilities at CAL
linger Hospital, an expansion at the
tuberculosis Sanatoria at Glenn Dale,
Md, and more health centers. There
is a crying demand for a health
center in the Northwest section.
The fire alarm system ought to
be extended The public welfare
program should be expanded. A
new incinerator should be built The
west wing of the new Municipal
Building in the municipal center
area should be erected"
More Schools Needed.
In addition, Senator Overton de-
clared the District is in need of a
new school construction program.
He said the old, insa nitary eight
room schools, some of which were
built 10 years ago, should be
demolished and replaced with
modern consolidated schools of 20
rooms.
But" he declared with emphasis,
we can't do these things because
we lack the money"
Among the other urgent needs he
mentioned was an addition to the
water supply system. Engineer Com
missioner McCoach, sitting near him,
volunteered the information that
such an addition to the system would
cost $4,000 900 to Sl5000,000
Representative Hunter, who spon-
sored the Overton bill in the House,
said he had made a study of the cost
OF capital Improvements in the last
10 years and found they ranged from
low Of $4 800 900 to a high of ST.
775000. He then offered the amend
ment suggested by the President, ex-
pressing the belief that the District
would be willing to put into capital
expenditures an amount at least
equal to the annual Federal pay
ment because when cuts are made in
the budget they are usually made in
capital outlays.
Under this amendment" he said
there would be no such cuts in the
future"
Presidents Views Given.
Senator Overton then told the
committee the Presidents views
on the fiscal relations problem. He
explained that at recent conference
at the White House, Mr.. Roosevelt
said he believed the Federal Gov
ernment should pay for all capital
Improvements here. but they should
be maintained thereafter out of
District revenue.
Il read in the newspapers recent
ly,' said Senator Overton. that
some members of Congress have
suggested an increase in the real
estate tax here as a means of rails
ing additional revenue. and that the
small property owner is bearing the
burden of the real estate tax against
the big property owners.
Il have here a House document
Of the Seventy-sixth Congress, flrst
session. prepared by a special staff
under the direction of Colin F. STAN
Of the Joint Congressional Commit
tee on Internal Revenue Taxation
apd Chester B. Pond. director oftht
District of Columbia tax study. com
monty referred to as the Pond re-
port.
Property Taxes Here.
This report shows that taxes or
property represents 67.83 per cent
of the total taxes levied in the Dis
trict of Columbia as compared with
6176 per cent of II selected States
and 6477 per cent of the 4S States
of the Union.
The joint committee above men
toned found that on investigation
9.795 sales of real estate in the Dis
trict of Columbia covering the pc.
riod l930-36 the total sales price wa!
sl3l 901.7l9, as against an assessed
value of sl36.715 $50 or an averag,
ratio of l04 per cent assessed valu,
to sales value.
The Pond report recommend
that the maximum rate on rea
estate and tangible personal prop
arty should be SITS per sl00 assessed
valuation.
An examination of the 1912 Dis,
trict of Columbia budget shows al
actix,nntnl tAtal