Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-03-07


The local tax investigation by the Senate
District committee proposed by the CALM
ger resolution offered yesterday will, II
authorized, duplicate the hearings held
successfully by subcommittee of the House
District committee. under the chairman
ship. respectively. of Representative Tom
Johnson of Ohio and Representative Odell,
nOw Governor of New York. Printed re-
ports of these hearings We're made. and the
movement toward the equitab bic equaliza-
ton of taxes which led to the inyestiga-
lions. has been, and is now being, given
practical effect through the permanent
board of assessors provided for this pur-
pose by act of Congress.
These oyerhaulings of local taxation are
always business-d disturbing and unsettling
in view of the peculiar financial relations
of nation and capital. but they invariably
have one good effect in temporarily light
ening the gloom of congressional misnfor-
nation concerning the Districts financial
affairs. Perennialy the topic of the local
taxes is preached in Congress under cir
cumstances which reveal the ignorance of
members on the subject. putting the friends
of the District to the necessity of almost
continuous explanations
The prevailing belief seems to he in some
quarters that he people of Washington
pay personal taxes and that their gem
craI tax burden is exceptionally light This
Is wrong in both particulars. The people
of Washington do pay personal taxes and
their per capita tax levy is as heavy as
that imposed on the average American
city. In 1890. according to the census re-
turns, the assessed value of the capitals
personal property was s11 O05. 1902, equal to
that of Denver and Omaha combined, more
than that of Omaha. Des Moines Kansas
City. Kas.. and Seattle combined. more
than that of Buffalo, and only s3,OOoOO0
less than that of Brooklyn And yet the
cry is constantly heard in: Congress that
Washington pays no personal taxes.
1t is true that a smaller percentage of
the total local tax is levied upon persona;
property than in many other cities But
this fact does not alter the real situation
with regard to the tax burden imposed
eventually upon the citizen. If less money
IS obtained for public uses from one chan
Lei. more flows from another. Thus the
census returns of 1890 showed that Wash
ington occupied advanced rank among
tie cities in the matter of the total tax
levy The local rate of taxation is low
compared with some others. but the assess
ment itself is exceptionally high. The re-
suit is the same in the end. and that result
marks Washington as a heavily burdened
community, notwithstanding the govern
ment. in recognition of its obligations as
partner in the development and mainte-
nance of the federal city pays approx
imately half of the expense of it's admins
tTation.
Senator HOar. in speaking to the resolu-
lion yesterday, suggested the thought
which is believed by some to underlie the
(. =.
capital The residents of Washington. he
urged should be taxed only as heavily as
those of the average well-governed Ameri-
can city. This sum should constitute the
city's share of the local administrative ex-
pcnse- The government should then add
enough TO ensure a city worthy of the re-
public. in the spirit. as Mr.. Hoar said that
1t is the grea, national interest to have
well-ordered and beautiful and well-orna-
mented and arranged city here" Such a
federal contribution might be, and indeed
should be and would be, more than half
the total. 1t Is evident that the District now
suffers from the lack OF public expendi-
lures Yet the local tax payer has felt no
change in the past in the burden of the
high assessments upon his property. even
though his collective contributions formed
surplus in the local treasury because of
lSHOfafiS- OF one Phase OF the
Esnic act. or led to deficit through a fed
eral violation of another phase of the same
fundamental law s. '.@
The tax question leads inevitably to a
consideration of the organic act The is
sue of first Importance is whether shat
principle is TO be preserved or violated not
whether the people of the District shall
pay their present share OF the cost of local
government in the form of real or personal
taxation 1t Is only a matter of detail
a. to the mode of getting the necessary
money out of local pockets, by means of
nigh real estate assessments. or more rigid
personal tax collections. Or taxes through
licenses, or head taxes. The present sys-
TEN works we'll enough as a process of
providing revenue The Senate inquiry. IL
made. Will disclose this fact clearly 1t
ought to be broad enough TO show that in
stead Of there being reason for collecting
more money from the District on the per-
scnal tax OF any other basis. Congress
should readjust its processes of approprfa-
uon TO conform to its own laws and not
permit surplus a deficit ever to occur
In the local balances. conditions theoreti-
caIly impossible under a proper execution
az the act of 1873