Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-04-19
PERSONAL TAX LAW
A THRUST AIMED AT MATERIAL
INTEREST OF WASHINGTON.
Citizens Of the Capital to Be Burdened
in Meeting Deficit Created
by Congress.

Senate is one Of the most vital questions
pertaining to the District of Columbia
which has been brought before Congress
since the organic act of 10 Questions of
grave moment have justly been raiseu con-
corning the provisions Of this bill, and
much apprehension has arisen concerning
the general welfare of the District in case
this measure should become a law. In the
discussion Of this question We believe every
one agrees that our citizens are ever ready
and willing to pay their proper apportion-
ment of all necessary taxation for purely
municipal government. We believe, too
that they would very cheerfully cooperate
with the proper authorities at any time to
adjust more equitably than hitherto the
various inequalities arising from the
SeSSeu valuation of the real estate In the
District of Columbia.
The question raised, however, in this bill
1t not purely a municipal one, but ma
tional one as well. While the taxpayers
of the District viii suffer directly by reason
of increased taxation the pride Of the citi-
zens Throughout the Union must suffer by
reason of the failure Of Congress to provide
ample funds at once to complete a magnifi
cent work already begun. The point OUT
citizens object to most seriously is that the
expense of the various permanent improve
ments should not be borne entirely by the
present taxpayers, but rather by grada-
ton system of payment, covering a term
of years similar to that adopted by the
various cities throughout the united States
where similar expenses were incurred.
Posterity Should Pay.
There has not yet been valid reason
why this later system should not and can
not be applied to the District of Columbia
We are exceedingly anxious that the pres
ent deficit should be provided for, but do
not think it is either equitable or just that
the present taxpayers should be called
upon to make good during the next few
years what should be borne in part, at least
by those living n this city twenty or thirty
years hence.
We cannot agree with Senator Mcmillan
that the proposed personal tax bill carries
with 1t a proper solution to this question.
For years our citizens have been strug-
Cling to ADVANCE the material interests of
this city. Now, when the results Of their
labors are materialzng, a blow is threaten
ed to be struck against its general welfare,
at the very time when proper congressional
assistance is most needed.
What assurance have we. in case this per-
sonal tax bill becomes law. that Congress
will not within the next few years saddle
other extraordinary expenses wholly upon
the District? What remedy is offered in
case Congress should again declare that
certain appropriations are to be payable
wholly from local revenues? So far as
concerned, the proposed personal tax bill
does not offer more satisfactory solution
than prevails under the present system
The attitude of Congress during the last
few years concerning the District is very
similar to that prior to the passage of the
}organic act of '7S. Notwithstanding the
moral guarantee of Congress q. that time
to pay one-half of all local appropria tons.
our statesmen on several occasions since
then have so modified the pledges of their
predecessors that we are today confronted
with deficit instead of a surplus. They
now come back at us with the plea that if
our citizens had paid higher rate Of tax
alton no deficit would now be existing. We
too, make a plea that if Congress had not
eVaded Its just proportion of the present
deficit. created wholly by it's own acts,
there would be absolutely no need for an
increase of revenues.
Congress to Blame.
Since the passage of the organic act of
rs down to the present this city, with the
exception of one year. has met successfully
by Its present system of taxation all it's
current expenses. When Congress, how
ever. authorized the various extraordinary
improvements to be made without provid-
ing means or methods to meet these ex-
penses it was not surprising to find the Sec
rotary of the Treasury calling the attention
of Congress to the deficit. and also suggest
ing that the local budget be scaled more
than 100000 for the next fiscal year.
Pray, who has financially embarras sed
the District? Certainly not it's citizens For
if they had had any voice whatever in it's
government several serious blunders
would not have been charged against them,
as was done during the last few years
Our contention is that the situation Is not
one TO warrant the passage of such a meas
ure. If Congress were willing to adhere
strictly in the future to the half-and-half
taxation system now in force and paw its
just proportion of the extraordinary ex-
penses already incurred by street extern
sions. etc, and also make suitable provi-
sion for the Districts share of the deficit
created by these improvements we firmly
believe that every dollar thus incurred can
and will be paid within a reasonable term
of years without personal taxation, just as
has already been done since the reconstruct
ton period Of the District of Columbia
under the guiding hand Of Gov. Shepherd.