Evening star., 1912-07-21
The District Tax Revenues.

If the purpose of the House subcommit-
tee which is inquiring into the methods
"i tan assessment i'll the District of Co.
irn3oia is 10 secure merely an equaliza-
zion of the tax burden, there can be no
objection whatsoever on the part of the
citizens OF Washington. who are even
more interested I'm gaining this end. The
finchot case certainly suggests, though
il does not necessarily prove. that there
may he inequalities in the assessment. or
~ east insufficiencicS. in some instances,
though not with the connivance or at the
instance Of the property owner Let 1t be
regarded as merely an exhibit and not a
conclusive demonstration, leaving open
the question of assessment standards
which it raises. Meanwhile a much more
important matter is to be taken into con-
sideratioD affecting the relations between
the District and the general government.
Ii has been suggested more than once
since the present investigation into as
sessment methods was started that the
real purpose was 10 compel the District
taxpayers to pay larger sum into the
local treasury. not in order to swell the
Districts total revenue on the haIf-and-
half basis instituted by the organic act
drawal by the government from its pledge
10 match each District tax dollar with a
dollar of its own. In other words, it is
limited that the object chiefly in mind on
the part of those engaged in this inquiry
is 50 to increase the District tax revenues
that they might advocate a resembling or
amendment of the act OF 1878, by direct
az Indirect procedure, on the ground that
siStance on the half-and-half basis.
Against any such suggestion the Dis
tict enters now as it must always en-
ter. an emphatic protest. This commu-
nifty is already heavily taxed. The per
capita tax burden laid upon it is now
higher than the per capita burden in such
cities as Newark. Minneapolis. Louisville.
Jersey City. Indianapolis and st. Paul. as
demonstrated by the latest obtainable
census figures. and only slightly lower
than that felt by the citizens of the
iarger commercial communities of Cleve-
land Buffalo, Detroit Cincinnati. Mil
"aukee and New Orleans. with their in
i.nitely greater business investments and
Industrial activities. Its per capita yalua-
ucn OF taxable property Is higher than
The valuations in Cleveland, Buffalo, Gin
cinnati Milwaukee. New Orleans, Min
neapolis. Jersey City, Indianapolis and
ST. Paul, being exceeded only by the per
capita valuations in Detroit and Newark,
with their enormous manufacturing
plants and other business institutions.
Equalization of the tax burden is un-
doubtedly necessary. An increase of the
Washington tax revenue Is neither neces-
sary nor eauta ble. Any change in the
assessment system which tends to pro-
mote equality of the tax burden is not
only desirable but urgently needed Blu.
the greatest care should be exercised by
the friends of the District in Congress
who understand the true nature and pur-
pose of the organic act and appreciate
the reasons underlying it to prevent the
institution of changes by law or by ad-
Iuinistrative procedure that will merely
swell the already heavy tax revenues OF
the District in order to permit or ex-
cuse reduction of the proportionate
share of federal contributions to the up
I:eep of tho National CaDital