Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-05-24
FAIRPLAY FOR DISTRICT
THE STARS PLEA FOR EQUITABLE
TAXATION INDoRsED.
Present Emergency Should Be Met by
Federal Advances and Not by
Greatly Increased Revenues.
To the Editor Of The Evening Star:

To the Editor of The Evening Star:
Your plea for fair play for the capital"
| in Fridays issue is complete and accurate
both in statement and conclusion. The
District taxpayers should not be called
| upon for increased tribute when the I'M
denable fact is that present revenues are
abundant to meet all annual charges with
proper adjustment of the cost of perma-
| nent improvements upon the taxpayers Of
the present and future time.
That street extensions, trunk sewers
water supply, filtration plant, municipal
| building and all like permanent betterments
should be charged against and paid for in
| the years when their use is enjoyed is a
| matter too clear for discussion. Such is
the uniform rule elsewhere; it fairly dis
tributes the burden and makes possible
| conservative municipal growth and i'm
provement. Our non-partisan municipal
government is a model in many respects
but the example fails if the basic element
| of taxation is not thus properly adjusted
The official statement of revenues-an-
nual surplus and extraordinary dsburse-
ments. submitted from the District auditor
and now before Congress, shows that from
1889 to 1900 the District revenues were in
excess of expenditures and the Districts
balance was on the right side But begin
ming with 1900 that large surplus was wiped
out by immediate and undue application
thereof to these extraordinary expenditures
thus: Increasing water supply, $1SS1,-
5000: purchase Rock Creek and Zoo
Parks. S727 10000; street extensions CpaiG
wholly from District revenues), $780,
777.OO: miscellaneous, $227 $500. Total,
81 263 1850.
Such methods of finance produced the in
eVltapIe result AS the note accompanying
this official statement correctly says:
Mote /. 1t is apparent from the forego-
ing statement that during the period COW
cred thereby the revenues of the District
We're more than sufficient for ordinary de-
mands. and that the present shortage is
due to summary drafts for expenditures
extraordinary. both in purpose and amount
THE sum of $1,426,717.12 for street extern
slons was paid wholly from District reve-
nues. and the further sum of 81 ,SS1 1905
for increasing the water supply was paid
out of the general fund instead of being
charged against the revenues of the water
department. Leaving out of the account,
however, the amount thus paid for street
extensions, and the equitable liability of the
government for one-half thereof if the
sums making the aggregate of 81. ISL 100 "a
expended for increasing the water supply,
had been advanced by the treasury and re-
imbursed from the water fund in twenty
five annual installments, as provided in the
act of July 8, 1884. with interest at 3 Der
cent per annum upon the deferred paw
ments, the arrangement would have been
fair to the United States. and the DistrA,t
would show large surplus instead of
deficit in its revenues
The partnership between the United States
and the District should justly embrace the
obligation of mutual payment for street OK
tensions. While the city Is growing 1t must
be remembered that Of the 2S5, 900 inhabi-
tants of the District there are many thou
sands who are not property owners or tax
payers. The burden falls on less than 2O9,-
| 900 people; the majority with moderate,
| fixed incomes. Municipal expenditures now
| ranging beyond seven millions per annum
| and asserted need for nearly ten millions
more for extraordinary expenditures, re-
| quires wise and patient Investigation Of the
| fundamental tax obligation against these
| people. 1t is not a question of bookkeeping
| merely. nor of official estimates. but Of
| practical justice, based on business princi-
| pies. We are all proud of our beautiful
| city; ready to do our share in Its develop
| ment, but expenditures which exceed sound
| prudence, which put the burden which
should be spread over the years suddenly
| upon the shoulders of the present and de-
| mand instant increase Of tax revenue by
| more than so per cent are not justified by
| sound public policy or public need.
| Sad Mr.. Justice Miller in famous case
"The power to tax involves the power to
| Destroy
| Present advances to meet the deficit
| caused by former mistakes are a necessity,
! but we should all learn from past expert
| ence. Congress can fairly and readily ad-
Just the future needs In such manner that
| no increase of taxation would be required:
| And If not required 1t should not be col
| excess Of just needs is a reproach to any
| government and indsfensible in this re-
| public because violative OF fundamental
principle A. B. BROWNE