Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-13

program Of future development. The first
would not be fair to the people OF the
District. The second would be equally
unfair, to the people Of the United States.
who want to see their capital continually
Improve and not go backwards.
Mr.. West answered the recent state
ment made in Congress to the erect that
the federal government does not own or
occupy 100 acres for business or ofncfa.
purposes by exhibiting a Department OF
| Justice report, showing that the govern
nent uses 1895 acres in the business sec
tons alone. He said that altogether the
government owns 5.212 acres IN the DIS
trict where there are altogether only
1000 acres available for taxation
1.-THE government is large property
holder in the mere matter or area ne
said "In the section of the city west of
North Capitol street and north Of B
Street south. but within the city limits
proper there are 157.0OO000 square feet.
How much of this large area is avail
able for taxation? Just 5O,0oo.oO0 square
feet, or one-third of the whole The
rest is used or owned by the federal gov.
eminent or is in streets and alleys. II
We are to be thrown upon our own re-
sources, the owners of one-third must
bear the burden of the other two-thirds.
Would that be fair? Even in South
Washington there arc 100000 more
government owned land and streets and
alleys, than there are of private prop
erty. There are literally millions of
square feet around the White House, the
Agricultural Department and other pub
lie buildings
Presents Concrete case.
which. I think. will appeal to your bust
ness sense At the corner Of 11th and F
streets is the store OF W. B. Moses s.
Sons, one Of the largest mercantile estab-
lishments in Washington. 1t covers ex-
actly 9,3o3 square feet. On the opposite
corner is Woodward & Lothrop. the
largest private commercial plant IN the
city. It covers 5O.26s square feet These
two firms pay considerably over $4,000
year in taxes. Now, only a square or
two away Is the patent office building,
used exclusively by the government for
business purposes. That building alone
occupies $4,000 square feet or three
times as much as the two largest bust
ness houses in Washington. Isn't it fair
that the government should pay its pro-
portion OF taxation. especially when in
stances of this kind can be Indefinitely
multiplied"
Mr.. West recalled to mind that the
District Is paying more to maintain the
broad streets of national capital style and
dignity.
There is not a city. with the exception
urban towns, where the per capita tax
for highway expenses is as high as in
Washington. Here it is 1857. while tho
general average is far below 81
Referring to the effort of Representa-
tives johnson and Prouty to double taxes
in the District. Mr.. West said:
Against that we are going to protest
with all the emphasis in our power. 1t
is bad enough to endure taxation with
out representation. without having to SUI
fer conflscation also. Now, what is our
burden, and how do we raise it? The
revenues of the District from all sources
aggregate approximately $1,000. 600 year.
With a population of $4,000, including
100000 colored people, that means an as
sessment of $40 for each man. woman and
child in the District. Isn't that enough?
Judge Prouty may not think SO, but the
census shows that it is exceeded only by
two or three cities in the United States.
And what does the government ask of
each American citizen? Exactly cents,
or three two-cent postage stamps-and
the average individual wealth of the
American people is $3.50. Does Judge
Prouty mean to tell me that he hasn't
cents worth of interest in the National
Capital? I refuse to believe it. Re
too, that we did not fix this
ratio. Congress determined it in the
exercise of its good judgment. I insist
that this six-cent assessment is neither
or Objectionable. 1 believe that
it is willingly paid by the people Of the
United States. who want to see their
capital made the most beautiful city in
the world.