Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-06-05
County, Democratic Leader Died
OfHeort Attach, Autopsy Shows
H. w. Cords Body
Found in Cor in Field
At Soldiers Home

a heart attack, DR.. Christopher j..
Murphy, assistant coroner, said to-
day after performing an autopsy.
DR.. Murphy issued a certificate of
death from natural causes.
Mr.. Cord, 5S-year-old widowed
father of seven children, was dis
covered shortly before last midnight
sprawled in his car in a field a short
distance from the road south of
the Soldiers Home Hospital. The
car lights were on but the ignition
was off.
His head and shoulders were be-
hind the wheel but he was sitting
in che middle of the car. His body
was still warm when police arrived.
Cosmetic Bag Found.
He was alone in the car when he
was discovered by Dwight Kneas,
SO, of 5021 Eighth street NV, who
saw the car lights shining across the
field
Police found a printed cretonne
cosmetic bag in the car. This and
other evidence suggested that Mr..
Cord may not have been alone in
the car when it ran off the road into
the field.
Some rose petals were scattered
on the floor, but police attached no
significance to their presence.
The only mark on the dead mans
body was deep cut nearly an inch
long over his left eye. The cut,
police believed, may have been
caused when the car struck a bump
while running off the highway.
District Coroner A. Magruder
Macdonald pronounced Mr.. Cord
dead.
According to a son, Robert, Mr..
Cord went out alone for the evening
and said he would be home early.
z Was Land Commissioner.
A. Prince Georges County builder
and real estate man, Mr.. Cord was
recently appointed to second
four-year term as Maryland land
commissioner.
He was a member of the Demo-
cratic State Central Committee in
Prince Georges County, controlling
organization of the party in the
county, for IL years, and its chair
man for eight years.
Although member of the COM
mittee at the time of his death, he
was succeeded in the Craftsmanship
last year by Charles Early of Bran
dyWine, Md, after he was accused
increase was made by Mr.. Dirksen.
The committee chairman pointed
out that in 1922 the Federal Gov
eminent paid the city 100000,
which then represented 40 per cent
of city expenses.
Today, he continued, the city has
a vastly increased population and
more. services demanded of it, but
receives only ns$8 100000 Federal
appropriation. He said this repre-
sents, in the case of the current ifs
cal year, only SO per cent of the
expenses. -
Litigation on "Domicile."
Mr.. Dirksen also told his commit
tee it was almost imperative" to
change the present income tax
which is based on legal residence.
Since enactment of the law eight
years ago, he said, more than 600
cases of litigation had developed
involving the Interpretation of
"domicile"
Under the language in this bill"
he assured his colleagues, there will
be no double taxation"
Representative Harris, Democrat,
of Arkansas objected that the bill
would discriminate against States
which have no income tax, by pro-
viding a credit against payment of
the District tax for any income
taves paid to a State.
Mr.. Dirksen pointed out that be-
cause of the lower rates in the Dis
trict law, persons paying State
income tax probably would not have
to pay here. Mr.. Harris observed,
however, that this would penalize
those coming from non-income tax
States.
Members of the District Commit
tee last night took widely different
views of the new tax proposals.
Representative Mcmillan, Demo-
crat of South Carolina, former Dis
trict Committee chairman, said he
did not like the idea of boosting
the real estate tax on residential
properties. He said home owners
have told him they now are paying
all they can stand.
Mr.. Mcmillan favors adoption of
a sales tax and a higher Federal
payment but objects to a boost in
the gasoline tax. >
Mr.. Harris declared sales tax
would be an equitable and Justifable
source of new revenue. He said he
will raise this issue in the commit
tee session. He favors 1-per-cent
levy.
Broadened Tax Plan Attacked.
Mr.. Harris took issue with the
proposed broadened income tax,
saying it would involve possibilities
of double taxation.
Representative Allen, Republican
of California. said he finds no fault
with the proposal to boost the Dis
trict's real estate tax rate but an
nounced his support of the sales
tax idea.
John A. Reilly, president Of the
Washington Board Of Trade, said
the tax proposals with one ex-
ception" are highly desirable" and
in line with the boards program.
MIR. Reilly said his organization
felt it would be better to double the
tax on liquor than to raise the
rate of the real estate tax.