The Washington herald., 1913-12-17
mae. and munlcipalItles in rs ,urisdls.

cities and municipalities in It's jurisdis-
ton" 8
Judge Prouty neglected to call atten-
tion TO the fact that the residents Of Des
Moines are enfranchised citizens OF the
State, with full-fedged members In the
State legislature.
..Tne next question that would natural
Iy bring itself TO the attention OF every
candid man who was investigating this
question:" continued Judge Prouty, sis
this: Would it put an unreasonable
burden upon the District OF Columbia or
upon its people to require II to pay its
own municipal expenses? In other words,
does the presence Of the Federal Capital
here, with its buildings and its people,
impose an unreasonable burden upon the
people of the District Of Columbia that
calls in high equity for contribution
from the Federal government?
Now I have taken quite a little pains
to examine the situation as to all the
cities in the United States Of the size
Of Washington. some below and even
some above, and wish to call attention
to some OF them"
The figures presented by Judge Prouty
were for cities OF more or less industrial
prominence with q large industrial or
producing class-a class which the atti-
tude OF the government has thoroughly
discouraged as far as washington is con-
cerned. Nor did Judge Prouty call atten-
ton to the fact that the absence of in
dustrious means. the absence of capital
or the permanent detention OF money in
a Community.
Assessment in Other Cities.
As you. all know, in the District Of
Columbia II Is impossible to levy a tax
Of mere than Is mills" he declared. LAS
matter OF fact there is only an assess
ment of 10 mills. In the city of Des
Moines We collect on the assessed value
S4S mills; in the city of Springfield.
Mass, 40 mills; Albany, N. Y, 1873;
Boston. ia; Salt Lake City. 4o6; Min
neapolis, SO. In Chicago there is an as
sessment Of sL5 mills: in Denver. IS
mills: Duluth. Mimi, 3s.1 mills; Erie, Pa,
Is millsS Hartford, Conn, Sis; Los An
geles. Cal. rs; Spokane. Wash, 4S6;
Quincy. ILL.,. 45.4; Peoria. Ill, 467 mills.
The general average OF all the cities
that have examined. taking in the list
l have indicated. is IA mills. In other
words. bring this question down to a
cold question of fact and Of right, and
you will find that these people that now
pay twice the taxes on the valuation Of
their property that are paid in the Dis
trict of Columbia and are compelled to
contribute out OF their own money to
support the District OF Columbia and its
while I am upon this subject, have
you ever thought that, for instance. in
the city of Des Moines. we have to
pay taxes not only for the support Of
the municipality, but we have to pay
taxes for the support of the county.
for the county poor, IL you please. We
have to pay taxes to support the en-
tire State government, with all its
great institutions. including its elee-
institutions. But in the Dis
trict OF Columbia its citizens are only
called upon to pay the taxes for the
of the affairs of the District
Of Columbia, or the city of Washing
ton. and they only pay half Of that ex-
pense."
Inasmuch as the citizens of the District
pay their full share of national taxation
income tax and tariff duties on imports
in addition to more than one-half of the
expenses OF the District. this statement
needs no comment
The District bill will give way today
to Calendar Wednesday. An attempt will
be made to bring up and pass the Alaskan
bill. which Is urged in the Presi-
dents annual message. Debate on the
District bill will be continued Thursday.
and an attempt will be made to go under
the five-minute rule.