Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-12
Showdown on D. c. Schools
Nears in Tax Hearings
GiIIiIIund Hits
Spencer Plan to
Shift Teachers
BY HECTOR Mclean

BY HECTOR MCLEAN
Efforts to force a showdown
over District school spending ap-
peared in the making today.
They followed on the heels Of
the opening of joint House-Sen-
ate hearings on the Commits
sioners' proposal to increase local
taxes 1913 million a year and
raise the Federal payment by So
million.
John B. Gillilland, president
of the District Congress of Par
ents and Teachers, took sharp
issue with assurances to the law
makers by Commissioner Samuel
Spencer that the proposed in
creases would adequately take
care" of District schools.
Testifying just before the
hearing recessed yesterday until
1880 am. Monday, Mr.. Chilli
land disagreed with Mr.. Spencer
that teachers could be trans
ferred from high school to ele-
schools.
I'VE need more-not fewer
teachers in the high schools" he
declared.
Questioned by Harris
The dispute was set of. amid
warnings that the Commission
Iers' program faces a drastic re-
writing on Capitol Hill. by Rep
Iresentative Harris, Democrat Of
Arkansas.
Questioning Mr.. Spencer, the
only witness for the District. Mr..
Harris asked, Would the schools
Iof the District be taken care Of
under this program"
THAT is matter of contro-
Iversy," Mr.. Spencer replied. re-
calling the recent uproar from
parents caused when the Com
Imissioners eliminated School
Board requests from next years
spending program to hire an
additional 1853 elementary school
teachers.
1T would require SIS million
annual operating increase if the
full program (of reducing pupil
teacher ratio to 30-to-D were
put into effect" Mr.. Spencer
said. Our ratio in senior and
Junior high schools is almost the
lowest In the country"
Yesterday the House District
Committee staff, which is han
ding the machinery of the hear
ings, had requests to testify from
nearly 80 organizations and in
dividualS.
Charging that District resi-
dents are ION a treadmill" in
coming to Congress every session
to ask for funds to support the
city. she asked the lawmakers to
reconsider the whole approach"
70 the present system of financ-
ing the National Capital.
Representative Smith, Demo-
Icrat of Virginia. chairman Of the
Joint committee and head of the
House Rules Commit
tee, proposed several changes in
the tax program submitted by
the Commissioners, as did others
among the lawmakers.
Against Mcmillan Plan
He indicated opposition to a
recommendation by Chairman
Mcmillan of the House District
Committee that the sales tax be
increased by half-from 2 per
cent to 3 per cent. I'm afraid Of
1T, y he said, pointing out that the
move would give a selling advan-
tage to Virginia. which has no
sales tax. and to Maryland, which
has a 2 per cent tax.
The Commissioners have pro-
posed to allow only $1,000 in
personal exemption. with a $500
deduction for dependents, and
charge 212 per cent on the first
$4,000 of taxable income, 3 per
cent on the second $4,000. 80
per cent on the third. per cent
on the fourth. Az per cent on
the fifth $4,000, and 5 per cent
on all income over $4,000.
With this estimated to yield
the District $38 million a year
IN new revenue. Mr.. Smith sug-
gested much of the needed $40
million could be made up by
adopting a list of sales tax
changes from which the Com
drew some of their
Suggestions Listed
The list. estimated to produce
S5,537,000 year in revenue.
suggests:
Removing exemption (from
sales tax CT sales to semipublic
institutions, 100000; increase
from per cent to 2 per cent
tax on sales of food for human
consumption off premises where
sold, $2,240 900; remove exemp-
ton of meals (sales of food for
human consumption on premises
where sold) costing so cents or
less, 100000; remove exemption
of sales of livestock, poultry.
seeds. feed, fertilizer, lime. ETC..
$4,000; remove exemption of
sales of food in cars, boats,
trains, etc, $2,500; remove ex-
of sales of medicines,
drugs, etc, $500. 900: remove ex-
of sales of crutches,
eyeglasses. wheel chairs, false
teeth. healing aids, ETC., $780,
900; tax rentals of tangible per-
sonal property owned and held
for rental only. $3.50, 900; estab-
fish a tax IF 2 per cent on adj
100000; establish
tsales) tax Of per cent on Gig
arettes Gin addition to 2-cent-a-
package cigarette taxi, 100000;
tax of 2 per cent on
.ocal telephone calls, 100000;
tax of per cent on
;ales Of materials to contractors