The Washington times., 1914-04-08

regard to percentages. This would have
to be changed from time to time. and
while the law fixing the sum would say
nothing about what per cent it would
he Of the total District expenditures
citizens of the District and members OF
age basis and retain most of the causes
which have led to the present crisis.
Pay Whole Cost.
FoUrth-The establishment by Con-
Gress of rigid tax rate considered by
Congress as a fair rate for cities the
size of Washington. the payment intS
the United States Treasury. like other
revenues of the Government, of the
money raised by that tax rate, and the
payment by the United States out OF
its general fund of the whole cost OF
the District government
This would treat the District of co.
lCmbia as a department of the United
State Government. and would probably
eliminate most of the causes of con.
troVersy between citizens of the District
and members of Congress.
9Th. The collection by the Com
missiopers Of the District of CO.
Iumbja of sum of money suffi-
cicnt to pay the expenses of the
District government. by the levy
of a tax upon all of the renI prop
erty In the District of Columbia,
including the property of the
United states.
IT is believed Congress could authorize
the payment of the Federal Govern
ments. part of this tax by the enact
ment of a law providing that the con-
tribution of the United States 20 the
District of Columbia each year should
be a sum equal to the amount of taxes
which would be collected from that
property If it we're subject to taxation
at the rate applied to taxable property
Such an arrangement substituted foI
the half-and-half would eliminate for
ever all opportunity for serious contro-
Versy over who pays the BILL" ans
would make it possible for members OF
consider individual projects or services
OF the District Government on thei,
merits.
If Washington. instead of being the
National capital, were Minneapolis OIL
New Orleans or Cincinnati or any other
American city, there would exist in II
some one great interest. commercial OIL
industrial, or some great group Of in
terestS which accounted for the gather.
ing together in one city of the people
Who live there. There would be a steel
plant or Hour mill or a woolen mill or
which formed the basi, reason for the
existence OF the municipality. and to-
ward tie expenses o< which inuniciIral-
it, X or they would pay through tho
process OF tsNation. 4 propurtionate
share.
Why Do $4,000 Live Here?
In Washington the only interest OF
institution Of that Character Is the
CnitCd States government.
Because this is the seat of govern
mcnt. $i0,IN reoplc live here. and for
no ether reason. 1t is necessary for
these $1,000 Teolle to have a municipal
government q nd IL does not seem ut AL
Illogical pr unfair that thc Government
should pay toward the cXT.ns" OF the
what a private industry
would pay in any other municipality
under sinIiiHI circumsramcrs-;ln amount
to its h~;i.ngs II property
in the community.
This theory presupposes that there is
no obligation on the part of the United
States to contribute anything to the
support of the municipal government at
which IL is located except on the prin-
ciple that the dominant private indus
try would paw in any other city. 1t
does not take into consideration AT all
the question whether merely because
Is the National Capital, the
Federal Government ought to pay a
greater sum than merely in proportion
to its holdings.
Purely Intangible
This consideration is omitted because
such obligation. il 1t exists, cannot be
expressed in dollars and cents nor in
percentages. It is purely intangible,
and ought not to enter into considera-
ton of the cost OF the municipal govern
ment. 1 cover that. however, later.
Closely related to the question of in
ernment are two elements which are al
ways brought forward in a discussion OF
the fiscal relations between the District
and the United States:
The first. presented as an argument
for a smaller Federal contribution or
that IT IS A TREMENDOUS PRIVI-
LEGE AND A GREAT BENEFIT TO
CITIZENS OF THE DISTRICT OF
TO LIVE IN WASH1NG-
TON merely because il is the seat OF
government. and further that because
il is the seat of government, the United
States cxpends large sums upon parks
and public buildings and grounds. pay
ing for il wholly from Federal moneys,
but at the same time providing privi-
eges without cost to the citizens of the
District, even though the expenditure is
Expenses Greater.
The second element, brought forward
oy those who advocate a large Federal
to the District government.
s that merely BECAUSE WASHING
TON IS THE SEAT OF GOVERN
IENT, MUNICIPAL EXPENSES ARE
MUCH GREATER than they are in any
,ther community. These people cite as
4 specific additional expense of this
character. that necessitated by the
? idth of the streets and the protection
# property of the Federal Government.
II is believed that both of these ele-
nents can properly be eliminated in
of the fifth proposal on
he theory that both are intangible, that
: