Evening star., 1947-01-26
Cain May Head
]. Committee
Fiscal Section
Senate to Study
New Tax Proposals,
Federal Formula


Washington, may replace Senator
Flanders, Republican, Of Vermont,
as chairman of the fiscal affairs SUBJ
committee of the Senate District
Committee, it was indicated last
night.
Senator Flanders has asked to be
relieved from the Craftsmanship,
and It was believed that his request
will be granted. Recently he has
been appointed member OF the
Congressional Joint Committee on
Economic Reports, a post which
will make heavy demands on his
time.
Senator Cain, already member
of the District fiscal subcommittee,
is next in line and has been recon-
mended to head the group. 1t Will
handle the Districts new tax bills.
Would Accept Job.
Senator Cain said the matter had
not been discussed officially with
him. He added: ANY job that
may be offered me by a committee
chairman, will be accepted. I would
endeavor to do good job."
The Fiscal Affairs Subcommittee
has heavy work ahead. The District
faces a big deficit in l947-48. The
OMahoney bill on fiscal relations
between the Federal and District
Governments has been referred to
this group. 1t relates the lump sum
payment from the Federal Govern
ment towards the Districts expenses
to the amount federally owned and
hence tax-free land in the area.
Already Senators Flanders and
Cain have begun preliminary study
of the bill. It was introduced by
Senator OMahoney, Democrat, OF
Wyoming and Senator Overton,
Democrat, of Louisiana.
May Study Sales Tax.
This measure is expected to be
studied by the subcommittee in re-
lation to the District Commissioners
proposals for new local taxes. The
tax proposals have been virtually
completed at the District Building,
and may be sent soon to the Senate
and House District Committees si-
multaneously. They would tap fresh
sources of revenue here, possibly
using the controversial sales tax.
Senator Cain is a former mayor OF
Tacoma, Wash. He has had expert
ence in banking. For more than 10
years he was with the Bank of Cali
fornia National Association, with
headquarters in San Francisco, and
branches in Seattle, Tacoma and
Portland, Oregon. During World
War II he served as a Military Gov
ernment officer in the Mediterra-
mean and European theaters.
If Senator Cain heads the SUBJ
committee, there will be two former
city mayors in charge of Senate and
House fiscal subcommittees. Repre-
sentative Bates, Republican, Of
Massachusetts,, chairman of the
House District fiscal subcommittee
was former mayor of Salem, Mass,
| and had long experience in munich
pal finance in the State legislature.
Plans Fiscal Conference.
Meanwhile, plans went forward
for an informal conference prob
ably early this week between four
Senate and House committee chair
men handling District affairs. They
are Chairman Buck of the Senate
District Committee; Chairman
Dworshak of the District Subcom-
mittee of the Senate Appropria-
tions Committee; Chairman Dirk
sen of the House District Commit
tee, and Chairman Horan Of the
District Subcommittee of the House
District Committee. They plan to
go over the city's financial situa-
ton, to get a general picture Of
both its revenue and spending needs
for the coming year.
The District Commissioners may
be invited to join the conference.
Two pending bills to add three
more judges to municipal court are
scheduled to come up for hearing
before Senate District subcommit-
tee at $50 am. Tuesday. The bills
were introduced by Senator McCar-
ran, Democrat, of Nevada, and
Senator Johnston, Democrat, Of
South Carolina.
Hearing on Proposal Planned.
Senator McCarran's revised meas
ure to set up a city charter commits
sion will come before the Senate
District Committee at its next regu-
lar meeting. No date has been set for
this gathering, but is expected to be
fixed by Chairman Buck soon. The
charter commission would plan out
city council-city manager form of
local government.
The nomination of Edward M.
Curran to be associate justice of
District Court is expected to be ap-
proved by the Senate Judiciary
Committee tomorrow morning. 1t
was approved unanimously by a
judiciary subcommittee after q
hearing.