Evening star., 1950-10-16
Tax Slash Asked
By Trade Board
And Federation
D. c. Budget Hearing
Gets Coll for Increase
In Federal Payment
By Horriet Griffiths

The Federation of Citizens AS
sociations and the Washin" -on
Board of Trade today urged the
Commissioners to reduce the tax
load on District residents in the
year beginning next July l.
The Federation, at the public
hearing in the District Building
on the city's budget for fiscal 1852.
also called for Congress to return
to the plan of paying 40 per cent
of the Districts expenses from
Federal funds.
This plea was seconded by
Woolsey w. Hall, president of the
Federation of Civic Associations.
Inc. The Federal payment has
been a lump sum of $12 million
in recent years but has been re-
duced to $108 million this year.
Both Herbert P, Leeman, presi-
dent of the Federation of Citizens
Associations and John A. Reilly.
chairman of the trade boards Mu-
nicipal Finance Committee, asked
abolition of the personal property
tax on household furnishings.
The citizens federation also re-
newed a plea for reduction in the
real estate rate from $2.15 per
S1O0 to 50.
Library Appropriation Asked.
An appropriation large enough
to construct the proposed Cleve-
land Park branch library and
community building was urged
by David r. Barbee, chairman of
the Library Committee of the
Connecticut Avenue Citizens AS
| sociation.
! Mr.. Barbee pointed out that
several years ago the association
raised 100000 in its community as
part payment for the library site.
The association has library trust
fund of $3,065 which is constantly
increasing, and the Library Com
mittee has $1,708 in the bank for
furnishing a memorial room in
honor of World War II veterans
from Cleveland Park.
| He noted the Board of Library
Trustees has asked for a $275, 900
appropriation for the building, but
he said he did not know if this
sum would cover the cost of the
!. building requested.
}. If it does not, Mr.. Barbee said.
the sum should be increased suf-
f1ciently to provide the two-story
building first planned by the mu-
nicipal architect. Those plans, he
said, were modified a year ago so
as to provide only one-story
building with library facilities but
no community facilities. The as
sociation is opposed to the change
in plans.
Would Serve Wide Area.
| He pointed out that the lot on
Connecticut avenue between Ma
comb and Newark streets provides
a location that will serve residents
of the Shoreham, Wardman Park.
2800 Woodley road. the Kennedy
Warren Apartments. Davenport
Terrace, The Broadmoor. Tilden
Gardens. Quebec House, Cathedral
Mansions. 40 or more smaller
apartment houses and several
thousand residences.
The project is indorsed by, be-
sides the Citizens Association, the
Cleveland Park Community Com
mittee. Uptown Businessmen's AS
sociatlon, Federation of Business
men, Uptown Lions Club, National
Bureau of Standards, All Souls
Episcopal Church, st. Thomas the
Apostle Catholic Church, Cleve-
land Park Congregational Church,
Oyster and John Eaton Schools.
st. Thomas Parochial School.
Dumbarton College and Holy
Cross Academy, he said.
There is no hall in Cleveland
Park now where every resident in
that area would feel free to come
together with his fellow citizens.
Mr.. Barbee declared. The asso-
citation meets in a church base
ment and many members do not
attend meetings because Of that
fact, he went on.
Mrs. Joseph L. Miller spoke for
a recreation area in Cleveland
Park on behalf of the Connections
Avenue Uptown Businessmen's
Association. the Uptown Lions
Club, the Community Committee.
the Cleveland Park Recreation
Council. the John Eaton Parent
Teacher Association and the Con-
necticut Avenue Citizens Asso-
citation.
Need for this recreation area
was officially recognized, she
pointed out. 20 years ago when
the National Capital Park and
(Continued on Page AS. Col S.