Evening star., 1914-04-25
imaginary RICHES
OF HARD-UP CAPITAL
Is Washington Lightest or
Heaviest Taxed, the Rich
est or the Poorest of
Our Cities?
NOT A FIFTEEN-MILLION,
BUT A SIx.MlLLION CITY
Taxed Fraction Of Resourceless
Washington Can Bear Tax-Burden
Of New Orleans or Minneapolis,
Not Twice Baltimore's.
BY THEODORE W. MOVES.

Since the text of "a Square
Deal for Washington" was last
discussed in this column things of
consequence have happened to the
half-and-half provision. The Pres
ident of the board of Commission
ers has held up his finger at it in
dubious denial of absolute proof
of its equity, Ind in mild reproof
Of it as a trouble-maker, because
it resists with vigor the attempt
to kill it. The President of the
United States has listened to
brief discussion of it in time
snatched from urgent national af-
fairs. 1t is now under savage as
sault by a faction of the House
District committee, monopolizing
the hours of District day in the
House. Mr.. Prouty's recent speech
concerning it condenses, reiterates
and buttresses with misleading
statistics most of the vicious fall
lacies and injurious delusions
which have been used as weapons
of attack upon Washington.
Since the Johnson-Prouty prop
osition means certain death to the
half-and-half provision, and since
a vote upon it may possibly be
secured next Monday-District
day-if the use Of that day is per
rnitted. the attention Of the de-
tenders of Washington may well
now be diverted from the educa-
ton Of the country at large and be
concentrated upon the capitals
legislators in the House of Rep
resentatives. Locally the subject
is of greater vital interest than
free tolls, and is worthy to receive
consideration during lull in the
war news from Mexico.
Mr. Prouty, cooperating with Mr.. John
son, has converted the George taxation
bill into a direct and deadly attack upon
Washington. In his speech last District
day he carried his views to their logical
extreme. He holds that Washington is
at once the lightest taxed and the richest
among American cities. that it can raise
$15, ,OOO, GOO in taxes annually with ease,
that it can meet alone all the cost of ade-
quate capital maintenance and upbuild-
ing and that the national contribution to
capital development should cease and the
half-and-half plan be abolished.
We contend, on the other hand, that
Washington's tax burden is heavier than
that Of three-fourths Of the American
cities, and, owing to the capitals pc
culiar disabilities. it is heavier than in
any other American city.
We say that in proportion to popula-
ton Washington has the absolute mini
mum Of taxable resources.
We say that II Washington is taxed
as other cities are taxed a maximum of
six or seven millions would be. derived,
and that, owing to its peculiar condi-
tions which require extraordinary ex-
penditures. and which deprive 1t Of the
usual taxable resources, it would feel
heavier pressure from these six or seven
millions Of burden than any other city
in the United States approximating it in
size.
The issues are distinct and clean cut.
The facts are at hand and easily availa-
BILE The way to the truth Is plain.
Juggling With the Tax Rate.
The two factors In measuring tax bur-
dens are the rate and the assessment.
In combination they give the total tax
levy or actual total burden. and when
divided by population the per capita tax
burden is ascertained.
Mr.. Prouty juggles both tax rate and
assessment. or. rather, he accepts en-
Enthusiastically H. ]. Brownies juggling
with the assessment figures. and juggles
the tax rate on his own account,
His table of comparisons of tax rates.
by which he attempts to show that
Washington's tax burden is about one
half that Of the average American city,
which instantly and completely dis
credits it.
In addition to the actual figures of tax
rate. assessment and tax levy the census
collected the opinions. estimates, guesses
of municipal officials as. to the. rev
iation of the assessed to the true
value Of property, and then figured
out what the tax rate would. be on the
full value Of property, II these estimates,
opinions or guesses were correct. But
the census authorities knew that these
reports of the relation of assessed to true
value were almost universally Inaccurate
and misleading and that only false con-
clusions could be derived from them. And
the census authorities said SO, warning
against reliance upon these figures.
Census Bulletin 116 Says:
~Reported Basis of Assessment in Prac-
tace.-For most cities the figures shown
in the table as the reported basis OF as
sessment in practice are estimates fur
n,shed by local officials Of the percentage
which the assessed valuation of property
subject to the general property tax In
those cities forms Of its true value. For