Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-06-24
State Citizens Oppose Tax on
NONRESIDENT Pupils.
DISTRICT BILL DENOUNCED
Movement on to Have Obnoxious
Provision Repealed.
FOUR SENATORS GET PROTEST
Clause Unjust, States Letter to
Maryland and Virginia Solons
From Suburbanite.

Citizens nearby the District are becom-
ing aroused over the provisions Of the
District bill relating to nonresident
pupils in the public schools. TIE bill has
passed both houses. but it is hoped by
those interested that when the Board OF
Trade and Chamber OF Commerce analyze
the question they will join with the board
OF education in an effort to have the
provision repealed.
The attitude OF people living near the
District is set out in the following letter
addressed by W. w. Price of Prince
Georges county. to Senators Rayner and
Smith OF Maryland and Martin and
Swanson of Virginia:
Provision Termed Unjust
There is an unjust, unfair provision in
the District Of Columbia appropriation
Dill that the Maryland and Virginia sena-
tors should have removed in the Senate.
in the interest of several thousand citi-
zens of the two states and their families.
refer to the amendment agreed to by
the conferees relating to nonresident
pupils in the public schools on page 8 of
vision parents Of children attending the
schools from Virginia and Maryland. who
are not in the public service, and who do
not pay large sums in District taxes,
must pay tuition and for hooks.
1.-THE injustice of this is shown in my
of several thousand others. / live in
Maryland, but am not engaged in pub
lie duties. I work in the District every
day. however. and spend practically every
cent ! make in the business houses of
the city. Virtually. all my interests lie
here. and I should be entitled to the
privileges that accrue to a District resi-
dent.
1.-The Board of Trade and Chamber OF
Commerce seek to encourage business
and friendly relations with non-resdents,
and yet Congress and the District Com
missioners are continually doing every
thing possible to discourage these rela-
tons.
Privileges Denied Patrons.
all his money in the District if he is to
be denied some of the privileges he or
his family should have? If his chill
dren cannot enter the public schools on
the same basis as District children. why
should he contribute his earnings to the
upbuilding of District business and en-
terprise?
II do not see the slightest objection to
a law requiring nonresident children to
pay tuition and for books if the parents
do not work in the District, are in no way
identified with business houses and spend
no money here, merely taking advantage
of the opportunities for their children
without giving anything in return or car
ing nothing about the future Of the Dis
trict.
THE trouble about legislation Of the
kind proposed is that II is fathered by
lawmakers who live PARKWAY from
Washington. know mighty little of the
citizenship here and its needs, and are
having saved few dollars in appropria-
ton bills. Liberal treatment of nearby
residents. the relations of these residents
with the business and social life Of Wash
| ington. are nothing to them.
What do they care whether business
is driven away from here? What do they
lose? This sort Of legislation may save
a few dollars in new school buildings or
additions to existing buildings in keep
ing away from the District several thou
come part of it's life and industry gener-
ally. but what difference does that make
| to man from Texas or Montana?
Taxed for Bringing in Food.
"As a matter of cold fact both legisla.
ton and the attitude of the District Com.
missioners for the last few years have
cen inimical to the nearby non-resi-
dent. Petty regulations gouging truck
farmers OF Maryland and Virginia have
been put into effect, such as charging
fees for tags on wagons; electric lights
have been cut off suburban roads lead
ing to the District, and the greatest un-
concern has been shown whether the
farmer comes here with his business Oh
takes 1t somewhere else. II suburban
| nonresident happens to make a surplus
of vegetables in his garden and wants
to bring basket of peas to the whole
sale market he must pay 10 cents to the
District for that privilege.
With the cost Of living constantly
mounting everything should be done to
encourage the bringing to the Washing
ton markets Of vegetables, eggs. chickens
or other produce. Nothing should be done
to stop free business intercourse between
the District and the nearby citizens OF
Virginia and Maryland. Yet many petty
limitations and regulations restrict this
intercourse. On top Of this is to be added
a law driving children away from the
schools. Is it fair or right?'