Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-05-13

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and Washington.
No State Taxation.
| 1t has also been suggested that this
showing OF municipal taxation does not
take into account the state taxation
borne by residents of the cities with
which Washington has been compared
In measuring city tax burdens to ascer-
tain whether the Washingtonian is or is
not reasonably taxed the figures OF the
census bulletin giving the statistics of
1875 American cities exceeding 10000 in
| population are used. These figures for
cities with which Washington's taxes
are compared include tax levies not only
by the city corporation. but by school
districts and by the counties in which
| large cities are situated. and include not
; only general property taxes (real and per-
sonaD. but special property taxes and poll
taxes. If state taxation is not included,
who has reason to complain?
| The suggestion that state taxes paid by
! other Americans and not paid by the
! ashingtonians should enter into the cal
culation and comparison is unsound and
unjust Why should Washington enjoy
| ing none of the rights and PRIVILEGES of
a state. maintaining no legislature to dis
burse funds of its own raising for its
own benefit. not associated in bonds of
i statehood interest and sympathy with
thousands of other Americans spread over
| a large area and joint contributors in
the common interest to a tax fund to be
spent in this larger area In developing
and unfolding the honor. dignity and
credit OF an American commonwealth. he
viewed as properly chargeable with the
expenses incident to the enjoyment of
these rights and privileges? Why should
not the contributions of state citizens
for benefits and privileges which the
Nashingtonian does not enjoy be disre-
sarded in fair comparison of tax bur
dens and per capita tax levies?
The District has been pronounced a
state under treaty with France, con-
struction comforting privileges on aliens,
but not a state under the Constitution
whose people can sue in the federal
courts. The District is state when di-
| rect taxes are to be collected. but not a
! state when representatives are apportion-
| ed. though the Constitution couples the
two things The District is not state to
| make and carry out through a state leg
| islature laws for its own benefit, but it
| is now reproached on the assumption that
! 1t escapes the tax burden incident to the
exercise of this privilege of state
| In comparing the WashinR tonlan's
tax burden with that of the taxpayer
Of another city 1t Is possible and 1t IL
fair only to compare the local munich
| pal taxes, constituting a fund to which
only the city Taxpayers contribute. and
| which is spent exclusively in the city
and for municipal purposes. In this
comparison county taxes do not figure
| unless the city and county are Identical
| or approx tmately identical. or the city
| Is so large a part of the county that
| the nominal county receipts and pay
ments are mainly city receipts and pay
ments: and state taxes do not enter
| into the calculation at all. The city tax.
| the county tax and the state tax stand
| ench it's own bottom. They are
| separate and distinct in personnel of
| contributors. i'm purpose of creation. In
| scope of distribution. Warrington has
| not the benefit of outside contribu-
In the enjoyment Of which 1t particle
pates- 1t has no county or state rcIa-
| tons or privileges or benefits.
| he Congress of the United States COR
responds in the case OF the District to a
| state legislature. and consequently state
| taxes are in its case merged in its ma
| tional taxation.
| When Washington is part of state and
| enjoys the expenditure within it of its
due share of the state fund to which
| thousands of state citizens outside of its
limits contribute il will be time to per-
| nit state taNation to enter into Its COM
; narrative Per capita tax figures. When
" a*hinstoniaEs are Ike Baitim"!cans.