Evening star., 1909-06-01
Committees of Congress Hear
About City Planning.
TELL OF PRACTICAL SIDE
Speakers Explain Application to
Washington, D. C..
CHANGE IN TAXATION SYSTEM
Suggestion That Joint Committee OF
Senate and House Be Appointed
to Investigate.

The members Of the District committees
of the Senate and the House listened
this morning to interesting facts and
figures concerning the practical side of
city planning. with special reference to
it's application to Washington from Ben
jamin c. Marsh executive secretary Of
the committee on congestion of popula
ton in New York city. After giving a
review Of city planning in va
rious parts Of the world Mr.. Marsh, who
was in charge of the exhibit at the Ra-
leigh Hotel last week. made a number
Of suggestions as to the operation of
scheme for the District.
He pointed to the fact that legislation
would be needed to secure an adequate
city plan. to deal with conditions in the
area now comprised in the District and
with adjacent areas which may be in
corpcrated later. and with the wage
question as affecting the workingman.
Struggle for Existence.
Mr.. Marsh said he had found by ex-
animation of the statistics on the subject
that there were many employees of the
government in Washington working for
less than 500 year, which, he declared.
showed, according to the report of Presi-
dent Roosevelts home commission, ser-
Gus struggle for existence. In New York.
he said. 1t had been found that salary
of $500 year Is necessary to enable a
with wife and three child
rem under the working age to live de-
Gently. The figure set by the President s
commission was $72O year
Regarding the building plans. Mr..
Marsh made a number of suggestions on
the matter of laying aside certain areas
for detached houses for worgingmen, re-
strictions as to the character of apart
ment houses erected width of streets,
conversion of alleys into streets and regu-
lation of the size of city blocks.
System Of Taxation.
The system of taxation, he said, must
be changed by legislation to insure the
payment by lands which show large in
crease in value of a fair and appropriate
share of the expense of the government:
a careful study of the assessment of land
values. and to necessitate the recording of
the actual price paid for land in the Dis
trict by Incorporation in the deed of
transfer. The fact that in certain sections
of Washington the increase in the price
of land is phenomenal makes it manifestly
unjust, Mr.. Marsh told the members OF
the two committees, that a uniform tax
rate should obtain.
AS to the method of securing houses for
workingmen Mr.. Marsh said
The wages of day or unskilled laborers
may be raised. The possibility OF rails
ing the wages Of the federal and District
indicated This, However, would not nee
essariIy affect the wages Of the tens OF
thousands of workers not engaged in the
government service. The minimum fair
wage for married man with family Is
apparently $72O year. This is the only
nermanent solution of the problem with
the present cost of houses and food, and
it would not suffice If there must also be
exploitation by the landlord and trusts.
As to Charity Homes.
1.-The suggestion for providing charity
homes is an unfortunate one. since it
means subsidizing the workingman and
is practically charity in place of wages.
The Sanitary Homes Company can secure
a net profit of only per cent upon
houses which they can rent at prices
within reach of the workingman.
Congress may authorize the District
to erect houses for workingmen and
charge the deficit to Outdoor relief" for
landlords and trust magnates.
The same objections hold aside from
any constitutional objections of the erec-
ton OF houses at a non-commercial prof1t
by the municipality as 20 their erection
by private charity. In both cases 1t is an
insidious method of aiding and abettlng
unfair profits, but only one OF the three
methods suggested seem inevitable to-
gether with regulations OF the prices OF
shelter, food and clothing
Suggests Joint Committee.
In conclusion l would suggest that the
District committees of the Senate and
House appoint a joint committee to in
yestigate the subjects following:
..First-The methods of assessing prop
erty, especially land, in the District.
"Second-The returns net upon land
methods of taxing land and condemning
land.
.Third-The results upon wages of gov
ernmental action In erecting houses for
working men at a nOn-commercial profit.
THE interests OF Washington would
be thoroughly subserved by this triple
investigation. which has not as yet been
undertaken thoroughly and which will
deal with the fundamental problems of
municipal organization and the effects
of municipal activities. as we'll as the
results of what is commonly regarded
as unfair explorations Of land. I would
not attempt to anticipate the conclu-
sion of the same to the committee. but
the findings would be of most value,
and the ascertaining of the facts to be
studied is fundamental to fair solu-
tion of the problems OF city planning"
Allen d. Albert. jr., also addressed the
members of the two committees on the
necessity of restriction of buildings in
the District.