Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-06
Washington Bears a Heavy
Tax Burden.
CENSUS FIGURES IN PROOF
High Local Assessments and Heavy
Per Capita Tax
Levy.
BY THEODORE w. MOVES.
FIRST INSTAILMENT.

FIRST INsTALLMENT.
This article is in substance, with sup
Elemental matter bringing the discussion
up to date. pamphlet printed by the
Board of Trade in 1898, condensation OF
speeches made by Theodore w Moves
as president of the Board of Trade. before
congressional committees. The pamphlet
was reprinted by the Eoard of Trade IN
1902, and a second reprint is now being
made including much new matter based
largely on the census statistics or l9oJ'
1905 and 1907, the latest official fsures
available In this article the Board OF
Trade pamphlet of 1910 is somewhat con-
densed.
Whenever appropriations for the Dis
trict OF Columbia under the organic act
-. of 1878 are under discussion;
Whenever a violation of the letter or
spirit of this organic act is proposed as
for instance. in suburban street extension
and inprov ement or in the creation ana
maintenance of public Fairgrounds. sole
" at the local taxpayers expense;
And whenever a raising of the DIS
t,ic,.s standard of assessment or the i'm
position of some new tax and con-
seuuent increase of the local burden OF
taxation are threatened:
The suggestion direct statement Is
m ade at the Capitol that Westinghouse
are mendicants. dependent upon the
national bounty, untaXed or l1ghtiy TAX
ell and draining, vampire-hke the HE
blood of every congressman tdA-
burdened constituents.
Universal appreciation of the truth con-
corning the financial relations OF the
nation and the National Capital and con-
corning the actual weight of taxation
borne BY the Washingtonian is of vital
Importance to the local community.
The urinary responsibility for the
suuport and development OF the Nhtloh-
nj Capital Is upon the nation; ana on
Eress. not the people OF the ieaera'
district, fixes the amount of the latter
tnx contribution toward the cost of the
cmpitafs maintenance.
The original owners of Washington
donated fiye-sevenths of the city son
and Welded the right OF sef-goNerhWeh.
70 the nation on the understanding ana
implied agreement that the nation was
to build up here a magnificent capltai al
its own expense. -eimbursing itse1 III
part from the proceeds of the safe OIL lhe
donated lots. \ pretentious city was
eminent on the strength of TINS uhuef-
standing Patrick Henry complained tndt
the residents of the District might uhder
the ARRANGEMENT, enjoy exclusive emoi.
uments to the great injury OF the rest oi
the people" and pamphlet protest was
entered against Congress meeting All
the needs of the capital. on the efouho
that the independence and self-fespect vi
lis citizens would be degraded. 1t was
rom the beginning. in theory at least.
the city of the nation. and not the CITY
of it's residents and the primary fespoh-
sibility for its development mas always
been in equity upon the nation, ana .ne
residents who have no voice in the d1s-
nositio, of the money eXacted from them
are the Incidental contributors
In spite of this conceded relation or
nation and capital, the local taxpayers
of the District for three-fourthS OF d
century were compeiied 10 assume i..i ~
callv the entire burden OF capital-maA 4
ING. the nation violating or neglecting the
obligations which ii had incurred. IN
1878 the amount OF the CONTRIBUTIONS VI
the resident taxpayers toward tne eA
nenses of the capital was fixed by law at
one-half the total amount, the nation
tardily and inadequately fulfilling It's
original agreement. The people OF w ASH
incton, under this agreement, make
double contribution. First. as American
citizens. paving national taxes direct and
indirect they contribute their proportion
ate share of the national money EXPENDED
on the capital. and second, as local tax,
paVer. they contrI1ut2 an amount equdi
10 that supplied by the people OF the
United states rs "A whole. including them
selves They are thus assessed on both
shtes of the partnership. and they are
the only contributors who have no say IN
the partnership affairs, for they are
American citizens only for the purpose
Of taxation and military service, and nor
for the purpose Of representation In the
national legislature, which controls all
the partnership concerns.