Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-05-13
DISTRICT
License Fee
ActionOpen
ToQuestion
BY HECTOR Mclean

The District Commissioners, pur-
suing an apparent inclination to
avoid the dull weariness-or the
sharp controversy-of public hear
ings. exposed themselves anew a
few days ago to charges of tyranny
and despotism.
This occurred when they ducked
day-long hearing-despite the ad-
vice of the corporation counsel
and the director of licenses and
inspections - and ordered out of
hand an increase of more than
quarter million dollars a year in
fees charged by the city for licenses,
permits and certificates.
The Commissioners excuse was
that there is no legal requirement
that they hold public hearing on
the issue and that the fees are
required only to cover the approx
mate cost of inspection and service
ing OF the licenses. This, they say,
is merely matter of cost account
ing procedures.
Their position, viewed from a
legal standpoint may be sound. As
a matter of public policy, however
their action is open to question.
Mony Hearings Held
The Commissioners hold many
public hearings. Most of them
don't amount to much, except to
the few individuals directly in
volved.
Even their autumnal budget hear
ings are not too important since
they are only forerunner of hear
ingS to be held by both the House
and the Senate.
Other hearings, many required by
law, concern proposals to close of
alleys, amend building regulations,
establish public housing sites, de-
termine the boundaries of urban
renewal areas and alter regulations
generally.
There are, however, at least two
subjects on which there is no legal
requirement for public hearings by
the Commissioners perhaps be-
cause they are SO important Con-
gress assumed hearings would be
held.
One involves the law compelling
the Commissioners to make up any
estimated budgetary deficit by in
creasing the city's tax rates on
real and personal property.
This cropped up last year. Then
the Commissioners went through
the formality of setting the tax
rate on personal property for the
current year. Since there was no
increase in rate set by Congress,
no one objected. The Commits
sioners. though, began thinking
about raising the real estate tax
rate by use of their own authority.
Their predecessors for the last
two decades had not used the power,
always managing to pass the buck
to Congress. These Commissioners,
however, seemed ready to do So
and without public hearing. Sam
uel Spencer. then president of the
Board of Commissioners, was for
the increase. Brig. Gen. Thomas A.
Lane. the Engineer Commissioner,
was against it. Robert E. McLaugh-
lin was ready to go along with Mr..
Spencer. The vote was figured to be
to for the boost.
Plans to put the increase through
without hearing were changed the
day after this column warned the
city heads they were exposing them
selves to charges of tyranny and
despotism A hearing was called on
two days notice but, the morning
of the hearing. the vote still figured
to be to for the increase.
A parade of witnesses opposed
the boost. and the vote came out in
REVERSE to against the increase.
Mr.. Mclaughlin had been per-
suaded by the hearing to change
his mind
The other area where there is no
legal requirement for public hear
ing seems to be that setting fees
for licenses, permits and certifi-
Gates.
Hearing Held Lost Year
A year ago the Commissioners
held long, dreary hearing on the
subject. This year they set the fees
at quiet afternoon session when
no reporters were present. The
boards assistant secretary handed
out the news casually the next day
"a carbon copy of the Commits
sioners order. which carefully
pointed out that the public would
be Informed through the classified
advertisement columns of one Of
the cltys newspapers and that the
new fee schedules would be on file
in the office OF the director of
licenses and inspections.
1t wasn't until reporters de-
manded supporting documents that
it was learned increases would range
from 81 to $500 a year and that
the city heads had ignored recon-
mendations for an elaborate sched-
ule Of public hearings.
They can expect to hear more
Of this. Although Washingtonians
can't vote. they do like to be given
a chance to speak their minds.