Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-02-15
Citizens
Continued From First Page.)


strongest social and economic
ties"
In line with this problem, Mr.
Groom said, the Board of Trade
also was ironing out differences
with the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission on the
widely discussed bill to vest more
authority in the commission fol-
better area planning. Such CO.
ordination of the area would be
more important than ever now
the witness said, in view of the
current demand for dispersal OF
Federal agencies into nearby
areas. A Senate-pasSed bill to
reorganize the Planning Commits
sion failed of final action in the
last Congress.
Mr.. Groom, reiterated several
policies of the Board of Trade. in
Guiding national representation.
larger Federal payment toward
District costs and repeal of the
personal property tax on house.
hold effects.
National representation has been
supported by the Board of Trade
since 1916. Mr.. Groom said. He
declared that Congress should
enact a resolution for that pur-
pose introduced by Chairman
Nicely of the Senate District Com
'mittee. 1t calls for a Constitu.
tional amendment to give District
residents representation in Con-
gress and a vote for President anc
Vice President.
Time for Economy.
In view of the Districts new
record breaking budget and an
Imminent. increase in Federal
taxes for the national emer-
gency, Mr.. Groom declared this
is the time for the District to
exercise every possible govern
mental economy"
The District Commissioners, he
urged, should hold spending at
existing levels and even reduce it
and afford taxpayers relief to
compensate in part for increased
higher priority Federal levies.'
Since the city's new sales tax
together with some other in
creases, are bringing in extra
revenue, Mr.. Groom said the per-
sonal property tax could not be
completely eliminated at this
time, but that part of it applicable
to household property should be
repealed. This would reduce Dis
! trict income by "only some three
quarters of a million dollars" Mr.
Groom estimated.
Larger U. S. Payment Urged.
Because more than so per cent
of the potentially taxable land II
the city has been taken off the
local tax rolls, the Board of Trade
strongly supported "a more ade'
quate Federal payment" TOWARD
District government expenses. M
specific figure was named, but
formula similar to the so-callee
Overton or O'Mahoney formula
was suggested.
MIR. Groom proposed alSf
amendment of the District un'
employment compensation law
Changes would raise unemploy
ment compensation benefits to
level comparable with that IL
most States, and increase dis
qualification provisions to con
form with general practice. The.
also would discourage malinger
ing" Mr.. Groom told the commit
tee, "as well as amend the Dis
trict law in a number Of othe
particulars which will make TO
ease of administration and tn
accomplishment of the basic OBJ
jectives underlying the unemploy
ment compensation law"
F. Moran McConihe, speaking
for the Washington Real Estat
Board, joined with the Board o
Trade in calling for economies il
city government operations, bu
did not specify the size Of any Gu
to be made in the budget.
He said his organization believe
that under prevailing circum
stances, economy should be tn
watchword of government, bot,
national and local"
Auto Parking Solution Asked.
His group also renewed demand
for adoption of a formula to reg
ulate the size of the Federal pay
ment toward District costs.
The realtors spokesman ais
protested there was "critics
situation" as to automobile park
ing, and declared the Fedora
Government has a definite re
sponSibility" for it's solution.
. Mr.. McConihe said there was
movement of large business con
Germs from the District int
suburban areas where parking