Mexico weekly ledger., 1913-02-20
CONGRESS WILL NO LONGER
SUPPORT WASHINGTON,

OOSN0hh1SS "N1G W. @SfNA@h
SUPPORT WASHINGTON, DC.
(By Clyde H. Tavenner, Congressman
Elect.)
Special Correspondent of The Ledger
Washington, Feb. Is.
Three million dollars is to be the
saving to the people of the country
as the result of the fact that Con
gresham Ben Johnson. OF Kentucky
is Chairman OF the House Committee
on the District of Columbia. He dis,
covered that the people in the states
are paying one-half Of the taxes for
those who reside in the District OF
Columbia and, untll he began to max
a fight In Congress they did not kno
it. Even some OF the members OF Con
gress did not know Il.
The practice OF tho government
standing one-half OF the taxes for res.
idents OF the District of Columbia is
an old one. 1t has been going on for
years. Custom is a hard thing to
break down. But there is really no
more reason why the people OF the
states should bear half OF the ex-
pense Of maintaining the District of
Columbia than there is why they
should pay half OF the taxes OF the
residents Of the capitals of states.
The old policy of the government TO
stand one-half of the taxes makes
Washington a fine place for taxdodg-
ing millionaires to build their pal
aces It might only be expected that
when Mr.. Johnson began his fight
pressure would be brought to bear
on him to force him to abandon II.
1t was. The great newspapers OF
washington flayed him and ridicuIed
him; the Senate set itself up against
him, he was opposed on the floor of
the House, and he had to fight. and
light hard, for every inch Of head
way he made.
But Mr.. Johnson took the atti-
tude that he wa sent to Congress- TO !
serve the best interests Of all the peoI
pie and not for the purpose OF perpe-
trating soft snaps for the wealthy of
the District of Columbia. Mr.. John
son, after a hard fight, succeeded in
striking more than three millions Of
out of the last appropriation
Dill for the District of Columbia.
The people back in the States
are taxed to carry on their local
city, county and state goevrnments:
and, in addition, are taxed to nav
one-half Of all the municipal OK.
'enses OF the City Of washington"
declared Mr.. Johnson. Congress ana
els and fights within itself over
ne question as to whether n or
.wo battleships shall be built, and
without batting an y or asking a
question votes the price OF a dread
laught to Washington each Congress
WIDOWS OF the old soldiers are com.
'eiled to fight and scramble for an
ight dollar or a twelve dollar a
month pension, but the widow of n
washington policeman is paid a pen.
Of fifty dollars a month and M
uestions asked, while the eight dol
lr pensioned widow back in the
is taxed to holp pay It. The
may be said of the old soldier /.
The county school teacher bears
er part OF a tax burden in order to
ay the school teacher 1. 800 for :
aching $50 hours in the schools
I Washington. The school child
lck in the states bears its proper
of tax at home for school books.
r the child Of the millionaire who :
yes in Washington. The farmer on
le rural route in the states must \
TRY a lantern on his road or travel
the dark while he pays his proper
On OF the cost to put electic lights
! the rural routes which lead ont
the city of Washington to the lin.
) OF the seventy square miles which
institute the District Of Columbia.
The school child back in the
Is given desk room in its hum.
0 school at a cost of a dollar or
% while that child bears It's pro.
'rtion OF tax which is imposed upon
Q American people to give desk
ON costing 1920 for each child
iich has entered the school age
ring the last five years in tho city
Washington"