Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-04

non-observance of this act by Congress
has eaten into the revenues of the DIS
trict. to the extent of many millions OF
dollars, until ii threatens, unless checked,
the ultimate destruction of the half-and-
half feature.
From the first dangerous precedent
established in 1881, thirteen years after
the passage of the organic act, appro-
priating. wholly from the revenues of
the District, the insignificant sum of
5000 for a bathing beach. the amounts
SO appropriated have increased from year
to year. until they aggregated at the end
of the rscal year ending June 30 1909.
S2,S41. 1881. That large sum, with in
terest thereon. including the interest upon
the same amount made thereby I'M
available for appropriation for District
purposes from the federal Treasury, APP
proximates the amount of the present
floating debt. Inc Importance Of the
so per centum clause of the act, and that
it was intended to be a permanent (and
Of one-half the entire burden of carry
ing on the government of the District
of Columbia, is clearly shown, not only
in the unmistakable language of the
act, but in the protracted debates upon
the measure, in both houses of Congress-
Intention of Trainers.
These debates show in the strongest
and clearest language that it was the in
tention of the trainers of the organic act
and the intention Of the Congress which
enacted 1t into law that it was to per-
manently and finally fix the share of ex-
penditures in this District to be assumed
by the United States at 80 per cent, and
that the amount was not to he left to the
wh1m OF caprice of Congress. They show
also that Congress intended to protect
property here from excessive taxation by
reserving to itself the exclusive right TO
fix the amount Of taxes to be raised each
year-rather than leave 1t to the caprice
or whim of any one charged with the
duty of valuing property for taxation.
The assessor may not fix the value for
taxation at less than twO-thirdS its actual
market value. nor the rate at more than
$50 per hundred. But whatever the rate
may he, or whatever the value may be,
whether they go up or down. these two
factorS-if the organic act is to be fol-
lowed-must be so adjusted as to produce
~ per cent and no more of the amount
Of the approved estimates. That law con-
templated no surplus revenues in this Dis
trict to induce tempt extravagant ex-
penditures on the one hand, nor did IL on
the other hand contemplate floating debt
with its evil consequences.
IF this act may be ignored for one pur-
pose, 1t may be ignored for all purposes.
Let there be no attractions of the half
and-half plan, should be the slogan Of the
Board of Trade. in the opinion of your
committee.
Fortunately for all concerned. the plan
under consideration. while avoiding any
additions to the present debt, provides in
a simple and effective way for current
needs, all necessary permanent works.
and for the gradual and easy extinction
of both the funded and floating debts
within thirty years. BY extending the
time for the payment of the floating debt
until 1872. when the funded debt will
have been eXtinguished under the opera
ton OF the sinking fund. there will be
released until that time the amount that
otherwise would be annually paid on the
floating debt. plus an equal amount con-
trbuted by the United States, so that
had this plan been authorized by the last
Congress there would have been availa-
BILE for permanent improvements in 1911
approximately S1.03O.OO0. after providing
sufficiently for all current needs Under
this plan the normal annual increase of
sJc0.Un in the District revenues-includ-
ing the ~ per cent to be paid by the
United States-will be applied as follows:
100000 to current needs and 100000 to
permanent improvements. thus largely
increasing the annual expenditures for
these purposes.
Opinion of Commissioners.
'If-say the Commissioners
The arrangement be adopted during
the twelve years beginning with 1912 the
amounts available for extraordinary inn
provements will aggregate SO, 10000 1t
Is believed that in twelve years not more
than this sum can be expended on the
objects proposed tthose hereina fter men
tionedl with economy and in accordance
with plans deliberately matured'
The great advantages OF the plan pro-
posed In S. 1880 and II. r. 1347i are:
First. It's simplicity.
Second, that IL avoids further advance
by the United States or further increase
of the District debt
Third. that II provides a certain and
easy way for gradually extinguishing the