Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-25

very serious matter. and If we consider
the fact that the annual appropriations
relatively exactly in acceptance with
the taxing power of the District, the
time is not far distant when we will be
spending ten, twelve or fifteen or pos
out OF the federal Treasury toward the
maintenance of the District.
Federal Governments Obligation.
1.-THE plan practically in operation IL
that every dollar OF the taxing power
Of the District is used-its personal tax,
its real estate tax, its excise tax, all
and that lump sum is doubled on the
assumption that the federal government
must pay half of the appropriations for
the District, and then the estimates for
the year are brought within that doubled
sum. While it is possible. as was pointed
out q few weeks ago on the floor Of this
House. for Congress to say that only
less amount shall be paid by the federal
government, it does not, as a matter of
fact, do so. 80 that practically the con-
dition we face is this, that every time
dollars worth Of property increases in
taxable value in the District, every time
we pass law requiring the raising of
the license fee or increasing any form
Of tax, we are placing an equal burden
dollar for dollar upon the federal Treas
ury.
"The other day we considered from the
District committee a bill to raise an in
heritance tax. Nobody knew how much
taxes would be raised by it. Everybody
conceded it was a just form Of taxation.
and that large estates in the District here
should be made to contribute toward the
expense of the District, but nobody
IN - "a Y
raised on those estates would be doubled
by an equal amount raised from the fed
eral Treasury; that no correlation ex-
listed between the District COMMITTEES that,
reported that bill and the appropriations
committee that apportions and expends
the money raised from the District.
The Judson Plan.
"This District is said to owe the United
States $4,000, 900 In bonded debts and
something between three and four mil
lions Of dollars in floating debts. The
Commissioner Of the District reported
that ihasnnuch as that floating debt is
being liquidated out Of the common con-
tributions, or what he calls the partner
ship contributions, it really amounts to
floating debt Of nearly 100000. because
he figures that every time you cut of
part of that floating debt you cut down
the power to tax the federal Treasury an
equal amount If the District pays off
100000 Of it's floating Indebtedness 1t
loses 100000 that it might drag out of
the federal Treasury under the Joint sys-
tenn of appropriations. Therefore. he
says, they are losing ssOOO.OW by paying
$4,000 600. A most extraordinary system
Of public accounting seems to have psen
tie outcome Of that. But assuming that
ing before the District committee bill
known as the Judson bill to wipe out that
Sl4, 100000 and provide q fund Tor gen
eral improvements OF the District rms
bill, among its other good features not
onIy provides for system OF public I'M
provements-which probably is padly
needed by the District, and believe Is
but makes sane provision lor the mrs.
time for the extinguishment or TINS ueDt,
which has been in existence nearly thir'y
years.
Doesn't Regard It as Just.
"But it is intended to extinguish 1t,
how? BY taking out of the joint con-
tribution OF the federal Treasury and the
District revenue enough each year to pro-
vide a sinking fund and to wipe 1t OUT.
In other words, we are going to pay PACK
Uncle Sam with Uncle Sans own DOL
back at ali. Now, that kind of a way Of
paying back debt is better KIND OF
proposition than none. 1t Is certainly an
Improvement over the present plan OF not
paying the debt. but it is not just.
when it is led to expect that its debts
will be paid to the United States by the
United States. rretty nearly every i'm
provement in the District Is paid Tor out
or the general fund of the District. l
believe that there are only very few
sidewalks and paving Of alleys and curbs
and lateral sewers: that means alley sew
ers-that are paid for by the aputtng
great sources Of complaint in the District
that general improvements. street OPEN
ing and improvements OF all kinds are
paid for out of the general fund. Under
that system it is perfectly possible to
devote the revenue of the district toward
one part of the District, SO as to provide
for a pavement In the interest OF GER
tain set Of people, regardless OF the inter-
est Of other sets OF people.
''What the District committee has often
considered without the power to bring it
into realization. is the power of placing
upon the property owner benefited the
expense of the improvement. 1t Is his
dollar OF the expense should be taken out
of the federal Treasury. II special i'm
provement goes into new addition In
the District and the real estate in that
new addition be increased in yaiue-which
ia q thing that goes on In the improve
ment OF almost every growing ctty-that
new addition should pay the entire cost
of that special Improvement. and not a
dollar of it should be paid out Of the Dis
trict funds Certainly not q dollar should
be paid. out of the funds OF the people OF
the United States. Nothing can be more
DANGEROUS from q taxation standpoint or
q real estate speculation standpoint nor
from any other standpoint than the idea
that some set OF men can draw upon the
public fund to benefit particular section
where they are interested financially in
the growth Of the property.
Favors Special Assessments.
"A change could be Usds ard shnplA