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

I total tax burden among the persons con-
shutting the taxed community.
| Nu~h space in this editorial corr
rcsrordencc has been given to the dis
QUESTION Of assessments. because Of the
determined effort to increase the local
nSsrssmcnt. aircadv excessive when
/ compared with those Of other "fttes'
with prO~pcct whatever Of cor
/ responding reduction of the tax rate.
! Tho demonstration of tho figures Is not
thns NaShinGtOn's assessment - more
than twu-fhirts nf tho true value of Its
realty. hut TINT the assessments OF
most ether american elite. are less
than two-thirds. even In cnscs where
the nominal full valuation prevails and
TINT the rrDorf> from the cities OF the
relation of assessed &" true Nniur are
inaccurate HGG tainted with error
Tint f,nta.,'cnIiy misleading results
follow rny nttcn,pf Ia apply these false
reports modify the .ct"ni taN-refe
at comparative tax
burdens.
The tables Of figures up"r which Nr.
crisp. Nr. PrOu.y and other speakers
relied in the House debate Z" demon
>tratc the comparative iirhtness of the
Neutrality-suspicious. tax-hurdcn arc rem
'iercd Na1ueIeS> nv the use OF and re-
liauce upon this sitsrretittcd and mis-
tcadin: factor I'm their calculations
tic gross undo rasscSsmcntS OF other
american cities IN comparison with the
H>sr~smrnt 81 " ashiRcfon furnish the
claim thnt aSbir-ton Is pcr capita
the ncr!.hic>t cit, -, tho nitch States.
E,cry WI" h.> studied conditions
knows that IN mHnc~-cnrntn. Opp"r-
tuuitics .5,,i available taxable resources
ia Is among he poorest. The figures
establish not that {, ~ ovcr-rsch. hut
Tint enmnnrrd with other cities IL IL
0>cr-a~>c>>cd Its rrait~. already COM
pnrati.cly ",rr-a>se>Srd. Is threatened
with such excessive absolute ovcr-a~-
fnr n
lis r0niiscntion.
Examination shows that its realty ~
the treasure which in the figures of
hostile ..aIcuIatorS makes Washinct ton
rich .tnt. the average Washing t0nlan
a .roc>us. Ru. by coniiScatory over
nsSrS>mcnt and excessive tnxntion Com
-rc~s is urged to deprive Washington
realty NO. only of amy imitation of
,aIuc hut Of NIL value: md thus. while
largely increasing the local tnxes. to
tBLc fram private ownership the only
Substantial taxabic resource from
=. hs-h The taxes Way he met
Congress kas by its legislation made
realty tho ONLY great fa~ resource of the
.Hpitai. md Is new Invited Z" rob the
ori,atc owners Of their ground values.
In like fashion Congress has hy ieGi~in
tton deprived WASHINGTON Of most Of its
.,cruua.i0uS ard trades which
.cif-suppert. and has driven many
Nashtnctantar~ into the business of
buying and selling realty and tho
cuDation nf building houses. Md now
the building trades and the real estate
business. thus fo~tcrrd. are through
the artian and unprecedented action Of
Congress Mt stnndstiIl. parasHzcd
Thousands of houses cmpfS: hum
drcdx OF vorLmrn in the building trades
are out Of employment.
The ordinary Legislature under n rep
rescntaticc form of government is
quick to rote and cure such evil con-
ditionS. When complain to oar
legislature of Legislation and proposed
legislation contributing to this local
suffering. some of our Legislators. In
sfcsd Of responding with relief. get
angry. and. re,iIinG mcndicants
and inEratcs. proceed to kick aud cuff
~ moro vigorously than before.
Says little local JcF to ovcr-ErOwn
national Mutt Mt his heels in hot pur-
suit: For the love Of Mike. Mutt. he
rcRsonahlc."