Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-02-01
HALF AND HALF SYSTEM
Consideration of Appropriation Bill
Provokes Caustic Comment.
REAL ESTATE MEN CRITICISED
Head of District Committee De-
nounces Local Tax Method-Speaks
for Federal Government.

An attack on the half-and- half plan o.
bia was made on the floor OF the House
of Representatives today 10y Representa-
tive Johnson of Kentucky, chairman OF
the District committee. while the House
was considering the District Of Columbia
appropriation bill in committee of the
whole Mr.. Johnson consumed nearly an
hour in his denunciation OF the effect of
the plan, and declared in fiery speech
that the federal government took the
short end of the bargain and that real es-
tate operators Of the District Of Columbia
are the only gamers.
The kentuckian's speech found the
House practically filled, and a debate
on the matter was in progress at a
late hour this afternoon
Mr.. johnson spared no one i'm his at
tack upon the interests" and upon the
ha f-and-half plan. He intimated that
attempts had been made to influence
legislation by improper means. and
said that the poor man in the District
of Columbia is bearing a great tax
burden while rich men are allowed To
go with their treasures untaXed
AS eXpounded by him today, Mr.. JONI =
sons theory is that advantage has been
taken of the United States by real estate
operators in the District of Columbia
He said the original half-and-half system
of appropriation was meant to include
merely the original city of Washington,
and was not meant to include anything
outside of the original boundaries. He
declared 1t was not meant to be used foI
the benefit Of real estate dealers in de-
veloping marshlands and primeval forests
of AnacoStia and other outlying sections
and that under the half-and-half plan
real estate operators have succeeded in
getting streets cut and paved with asphalt
at no price at all.
During his speech Mr.. Johnson be-
moaned the fact that the District has NJ
inheritance tax, and said that even II
one should be passed the Senate is Il
death trap for all such measures.
Change in Method Proposed.
Mr.. Johnson's speech followed the intro
duction of Representative Borland's
amendment to the District appropriation
bill. whereby the entire system of paying
for street navement would be changed
Mr.. Borland's amendment provides tha,
whenever road or street shall be i'm
proved by laying a new payment or by
resurfacing an existing pavement the ox-
penses shall be charged against the abut-
ting property, with certain exceptions.
lie assessments provided for would be
levied as follows: when the average .!
roadway is 81 feet or less between curbs
or cutters where no curb exists, one-half
the total cost of the work, including the
expenses of the assessment, shall be as
sessed as herein before provided" that is
by an assessment against the property
abutting ii. Where the average width
of roadway is greater than 81 feet one
half proportion OF the total cost OF the
the total width of the roadway, together
with one-fourth of the proportion OF the
total cost of the work which the balance
OF the roadway width in excess of 81 feet
bears to the total width of the roadway.
including the expenses Of the total as
seSsment. shall be assessed as hereinbe-
fore provided.
Representative Cannon several times
during the debate defended the present
system of taxation and appropriation.
saying at one time:
1.-The assessor of the District of Colum-
bia, hampered as he is by social and po-
litical influences of all kinds, has abou;
as much chance as cat in hell without
claws
Members Slow in Arriving.
John Dalzell of Pennsylvania was the
only republican present in the House
when the gavel raped at IL O'Clock. Fol
that matter there We're but eleven demo.
Gratis. and Representative Johnson OF
gravely to the vast amplitude of vacancy
on the republican side, in the midst OF
which Representative DalZell was read.
ing the Congressional Record in lonesome
state.
Representative Burleson immedatel,
took up the asphalt plant proposition
which had been nocked ont by Repre-.
sentatives Johnson. Mr.. Burleson intro.
duced d substitute providing for a porta-
BILE plant. which item stayed in the bill.
Representative Borland's amendment tt
charge all street work benefits againS,
the abutting property, introduced las,
night came up today. Meanwhile ter
additional members had arrived. Repre-
sentative Booker said ii was shame to
try to change existing law with twenty.
two members present, and a roll call was
ordered.
Discusses Street improvements.
This is the only city in the country
which pays for its streets out Of the gen.
eral fund.- said Mr.. Borland. following
the roll call. He said the government
would lay streets and that real estate
operators got the benefit.
The amendment provides. that where
a street is less than thirty-two feet wide
one-half shall be assessed against the
abutting property, and that street rail
ways snail pay their snare. Il he down.
town property will not be Overburdened,
because the amendment takes care of
that. This amendment does not charge
the property owner with the repair Of
streets
He said his amendment had been pre-
pared with great care by an assistant en-
gineer officer i'm the District government
The amendment had been SO drawn, he
declared, 10 keep the small property
owner from being oVerburdener by taxes
when the | nited States owns prop
erty in the city il won't even pay for
streets in front OF its own property" he
added.
MI. Cannon Opposes.
Representative Cannon termed the
amendment ''far-reaching legislation in
without advance notice, not hav-
ing been referred to the committee on the
District Of Columbia He said he had
not bought land in this city. for the rea-
son that as one of the common council
he did not propose to be hampered in his
views.
This is a tax without regard to value"
he said He took Pennsylvania avenue as
a sample street. under the proposed law.