Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-04
Congress Gets.
City Tax Data
On Works Plan
Revenue Estimates
Provided in Search
For Needed Funds

District officials today sent
a House Senate subcommittee
considering the city's public
works program a voluminous
tabulation of tax estimates to
be studied in the search for re-
venues to finance the program,
The compilation covers the
Districts proposals for raising
taxes by about $40 million. as
well as other tax possibilities
suggested by subcommittee
members.
At an open hearing Monday
District Finance Officer James
l.. Martin gave the members
revenue estimates for most of
the tax possibilities they sug-
gested. The compilation received
today puts the estimates in
written form for study by sub
committee members in closed
door discussions with the Dis
trict Commissioners tomorrow or
early next week.
Sales Tax Emphasized.
The subcommittee members
discussing possible new tax
boosts put heaviest emphasis on
various sales tax revisions. How
ever. Chairman O'Hara stressed
that all those mentioned are
merely in the talking stage.
The tax increases are only
part of the Districts plan for
financing the works project. In
addition, the Commissioners have
proposed a 50 million increase
in the Federal payment and
Federal loans totaling about
Sill million over the 10-year
period.
Citizens to Meet.
A meeting Of citizens repre-
sentatives to discuss means of
forestalling increased bread
basket taxes" in the District has
been called for 10 am. tomorrow
by Joseph Kaufman, president
of the Federation of Citizens AS
sociations.
Mr.. Kaufman disclosed plans
for the meeting during the Com
miSsioners' Report program last
night over station WMAL-TV.
He said he had invited repre-
sentatives of many large groups.
including the Citizens Fedora
ton, the Federation of Civic AS
SociationS, and labor, veterans
and women's organizations to at
tend.
Citizen groups supporting the
works program. Mr.. Kaufman
pointed out. largely have in
dorsed the plan in principle
rather than on its specific tax
financing points. The Citizens
Federation expressly reserved
the right to make tax sugges-
tons later.
Substituted for City Heads.
Mr.. Kaufman was one of
three members of the Commits
sioners' Advisory Council who
took the places of the Commits
sioners on the program. The
others were William E. Leahy.
council chairman, and Jay c.
Turner.
Mr.. Leahy was asked about
the closed sessions held by the
council. He replied by compar-
ing the council to jury. While
court hears public testimony.
he pointed out, the jurors retire
to consider their verdict in their
own room.
In this way, he said, a deci-
sion may be reached with jurors
expressing their views freely
without expectation of criticism
or wide publicity.
Mr.. Turner criticized District
Budget Officer Walter L. Fowler
for his estimates that the city
faces sizeable general fund def
cts during the next 10 years
despite the works program.
The estimates we're based on
number of pessimistic assump-
tionS, Mr.. Turner commended, and
were embarrassing to the Com
misSioners and the President who
backed the program. He sug-
gested that the Council of Eco
nomic Advisers ana1yze the city's
finances.