Evening star., 1914-04-08

Charging the "half-and-half'
plan with being a failure on the
ground that it is the cause of end
less controversy and, cannot be
justified in equity, Commissioner
Oliver P. Newman, speaking at
luncheon given in his honor by
the Commercial Club this after
noon. came out in favor of repeal
of the act under which the fiscal
relations between the District of
Columbia ard the United States
have been maintained for more
than third OF century.
In lieu of the existing arrangement
which has been in force since 1873 the
Commissioner suggested four possible
bases for the fiscal relations between the
local and federal governments.
The plan which he favorS most. he
stated is one under which the District
authorities would have power to collect
a sum of money sufficient to pay the ex-
penses of the municipality by the levy
OF a tax upon all of the real property in
the District including the property of
the United States, with certain eXcep-
tions. The exceptions recommended are
= 100 acres of parking. which Is said to
DE the maximum amount of property of
this character owned by cities the size
OF Washington. and streets. circles and
triangles formed by the intersection of
streets.
His First Public Statement.
The Commissioner utterances are the
first he has made publicly on the subject
of the .'half-and-half' system or Or
zanic act. since he became District Off
cial. II is understood that he has pre-
scented the same views to President Will
son, but not in the form of recommends
tions.
Mr.. Newman explained that the recon-
mendations represented his personal
opinions and not those of the board
He reviewed at length the workings of
the "half-and- half plan. pointing out
what he considered its shortcomings, and
explaining the advantages which he be-
Teved would follow the establishment of
new relations upon the several bases pro-
posed.
Text of the Address.
His address in full was as follows:
What is the trouble in the District of
Columbia today? Briefly. il is this: A
number of members of Congress. occupy
ing positions of prominence and influence,
believe that the United States pays toe
much for the support of the city OF
Washington. and a number of citizens OF
Washington. many of whom occupy posi-
tons of prominence and influence. be-
heve that the United states is not pay
ing too much for the support OF the city
,,f Washington.
The present situation has been develop
ing foi twenty wears. Each side has been
gathering adherents and developing a
feeling of resentment and bitterness for
The other side. which has now reached the
point where both sides are angry and
where each side is taking advantage oi
every opportunity to attack the other.
The result is that the leaders of each
side are apparently hopelessly far apart
of heated contest. in which persona
criticism is freely indulged. and in which
the progress of the District government
in every direction is practically blocked
Controversy Presents Difficulties.
individuals and interests of the Distric
of Columbia on the one side and certain
members of Congress on the other. j
has become impossible for any subjec
affecting the District of Columbia IL
any way to he considered, either by tn
people of the District members o
congress. from any standpoint save tina
of this controversy
do not need 70 remind this gather
,inG that the crux of the contest is tn
! famous half-and-h half. Upon one sid
Of this animated trouble-maker stan'