davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1914-02-21

1t is especially interesting to anaiyze
the l9i2 figures of AiH. Browre. FOR by
virtue of these figures he is the father Of
the George report. ana the Grandfa tnvr
or the Crisp bill ami The other kindred
assaults. direct OF indirect on the half
and-half Law. At the root Of these as
saultS is his assertion that Washington
has taxable values which if fairly as
Scsscd would provide without national
participation all the revenue necessary
to meet the capitals expenses of main
tenanco and development. Since Mr
brownies assertion to this effect has be
com" tho finding of the George srl'conI-
mlttee report was accepted as such hy
Mr. Crisp and is quoted confidently by
the unthinlng as an establis. led and in
controvertiblc fact to the mortal in ;tiry of
the capital. it will be worth while to con-
slider briefly the circumstances OF tIis Ut
terance- so laden Wit, threat of disaster
to the capital.
In the George tax investigation of 1a1.
Mr. Browne was the main witness; in
deed. on the vitally important points it is
on y fair to him to say that fe was ali
of the witnesses. The essentials of the
subsequent assaults upon WaShiuston are
condensed IN mutually appreciatiNe
dialogue of evidence between Mr.. Browne
and Mr.. George, in which Witness Browne
said:
Il account for 1t on the theory tina;
the assessors are. and for the last TWEEN
ty-odd years have been. confronted wiz
the obvious tact that il they assessed
the real estate of Washington adequately
they would. at the rate OF $40 per Slnt'.
which is the personal property rate now
assessed and levied. produce Il revenue
so large as to direct the attention of Cou-
sreSs to the fact that the District OF Co
lumhia has sufficient property to furnish
all tae revenue required for the expenses
OF the District government
'Mr 1ieorse-Do You mean without
calling upon the federal government for
one-haif?
Mr. Browne Yes
Mr. GeorSc-So that This would appear
to show that the halt-andhalf principle
would not be needed"
Mr. Browne: II would certainly not
II there were an adequate assessment of
the real estate of Washington.
'Mr. George: And by adequate YOU
mean a just assessment under the Law"
MIR. Browne: 4 Just assessment under
the law at the true ysluc Of the proa-
arty
This conversation impatss deliberate
District realty III order to deceive the
nation into continuing al unnecessary
half contribution toward capital main
tenance.
Witness Browne later estimated the
taxable really values Of the District IN
iHl2 at s1ii.0o1.e". and confirms the ac-
cu"acT OF his Sless by reference to 81
forthcoming census bulletin, saying ::
Il wish 10 say in advance that the cen-
sus office places the realty values OF tn"
District of Columbia. including all pub
lie property. at .S1.2'o (t,t1in. .Nl"Win:
S4is'.'aSsn FOR; federal and District prop
eIty and 50. 00n.tSo for private and semi
puoltc exemptions, q remainder Of 81 10
100000 is discovered. or about So, 1000 or,
excess of nv estimates
Evening star., 1914-02-21

of that city. ON the full valuation basis
proposed by the George bill Washington
would be assessed $122. .s32."2S more than
baltimore. on the valuation of S144. 900, :
GD suggested by Mr.. Browne in 1917
Washington would be valued at more than
Baltimore and Minneapolis combined.
twice az much as Baltimore and over
Slto,rn.Hn more than New Orleans. St.
Paul and Louisville combined.
Long before the peak OF this mountain
of tax burden was reached. all real value
would be assessed out OF Washington
realty. The higher its valuation for ex-
cessive taxation. the lower its value for
sale. until at last it becomes valueless and
IS contlscated by the taxgatherer.
The following table gives the realty as
sessments In 1912 OF the cities above re-
ierled To. raised to the 100 per cent VAL
Uatioa basis:
Evening star., 1914-02-21

vate land owners throat Eut Congress
will not lend itself 10 any fanaticai
running amuck among the nearly 5o.ooo
small land owners of the District.
Is il not the function of Congress as
the Districts legislature chosen for ic
by the Constitution. to legislate for II
and in its interest as intel.igeatly and
synpathetically as if elected by tho
people OF Washington themselves Is
there nothing in present local conditions
In the building trades. in the real estate
business, In lack OF employment. in
empty houses and sympathetically in
other lines Of labor and business to call
for the d.visine of Intelligent measures oe
relief Has not the campaign tending to
.mpoverish and depopulate the capital
gone far enough
Evening star., 1914-02-21
No Census Bulletin Yet.


1Aefe seems to nave been some insult
Outstanding, resulting in possible error.
in the statement THAT tte cane,,c ofE1,.
.,o,., ,,,,e..,I go. ,o,, l,.l, -. -,
''i-' s"'s9e' ''''''"'' Sie'''oi ''1N'''t
realty values int" Washington than Nr.
Browne himself Questioned on this
mint T,i,.octo. 1,,,.,,,,i ,.,,,1io., ,ho, ,,,,
r.ns,is Iure,,, p.I ,,,.,., ~. -,
,;,n va,,n ~ r.aI ,,ro,,art.. ~ 49, I,it,,io,
since 1G.a. t;,,t ~ nt,;.S - ~,
5., , W "' ~ i'i"''i'
80, ~ ,e seai IL, '''t asa Pre-
p p'''' nv i,sNi t'F d nH'I"'il' ana 'hi''
oNt! ~ 7ueu ieiitiis 20 m S-n-
ItNt IoI dt iedst one a'H 1i'puao!E t"o
!eafs IRON date Recent inquiry at til"
census bureau fails To disclose that tft.
bulletn from which Mr.. Browne quoted
has yet been issued
Mr.. Brownies inference. thai th..,. were
Slittss,.Go Of taxable realty values in
Washington in 1872, enabIipe tn. DIS
trlct to uav all the c.,ni.aI lx-n.,,sae If
maintenance and deyclorr,a,+ !. i,I,n,,, ~
Ij,lfandhalf I,u ar Nv, ,,,+;r,
,,ih,t;o,, Nc ,s,,t -. -
hv tbe sood yoa- ~ ~ ,,,.,s,,, -
tsxation of +ha 49,. n;st,>. -, o''
Tha ranau, - ~ - X
..Tha 80 ,na,..
,-oiurnh; =, ~ III N H., 80 ~, -
its ms - assesSeo f'lf,pH',F" below
-, roo 200 -, u ~ @'uN ptl'IS
go, =. - o''' ",lie slic assessment Is oHii
'.' M u no' an assessment
- 'NfIi t"'-N'lhS OF tne true T:tIur, but
ON. SHsh'iA more thah two-'ifths.
platf1c' "t Columbia. hNcc by Your com
h4iitee ~ St@t'+'''Ht' tails WcU within
inc sum lHdIcatcd by forthcoming
census ''ilieun which ri;tctr III" entire
Evening star., 1914-02-21
GOVERNMENT MAY AID
LAKES-TO-CULF PROJECT
Secretary Garrison Recommends
That Congress Provide for
Part of Cost.

Governmental aid for the great akes-
to-tne-Gulf waterway project is recon-
lnended by Secretary of War Garrison in
a communication 10 Congress. The Secre-
tary recommends that the federal govern
rnent shall grant its aiL in improvements
on the Illinois AMI Mississippi rivers pro-
vided that the state OF Illinois shall bear
certain part of the cost.
The Secretary'S recommendation was
submitted in the form OF q report from
the board Of army engineers, which was
partly compiled from . report mad" by the
special board Of engineers which investi
gated the feasibility Of the project
Evening star., 1914-02-21
Sd Street

Harry c. Jones. s1s Sd st. nv,
Washington. d. c.. says: For =
long time l had trouble with inJ- bacl;
and kidneys. The kidney secretions
contained sediment and passed irres
uiarlr Aty back ached intensely.
used everything that was recon-
mended to ne, but wasn't helped un-
til began taking Doan.s Kidney
Pills The5 made me well in snort
time, and ! use them occasionally
now, keeping my kidneys IN good
slaps l have recommended Doan's
Kidney Pills whenever have all op-
portunity.
Evening star., 1914-02-21
WAR ON JERSEY MOSQUITO.
Commissioners From Every County
Meet at Atlantic CITY.

-ANfIt CITY. y. j, February 21-
l.s fe'- tAs determination of trc mos
egg. give: .taPetUs las nia.ht when
r2e= I" cca4mi>~tos=rS frold every
ccaut, is Tho STAT g;,th"red here and
efi' .ttd Il 5-'stno:s,r} organ zation for the
= ls;fa,=cn o. tlle PEST. pr. Ralph hunt
s-ast t-aas~ Was elected temporary
3trn.ses Ta@ object of the meeting
t,a Et# Hent.N3t~ through tonorrow.
tr"a.9'. lss.aa~ ora and the expenGi-
"r f-uas @'.lt't IL t!+e task OF de-
st, cfH@ places Of the in
Evening star., 1914-02-21
4h Street

alrs. S. .. Lewis. 1c3S .1x St s.w..
Washington. d. &. says: My back
panied me terribly and used Doan's
Kidney Pills could almost feel
ny back, growing stronger. and the
pain, was relieved Immediately.
know several other people who have
taken Doaa's Kidney Pills. and been
cured of kidney complaint. l rec
onlnend Doan's Kidney Fills 5Css as
strongly nov as d:d ee%rra! ears
ago when l gave tnera l.Iy i-dorse-
,1,ent. The. are certainly all right"
Evening star., 1914-02-21

itUICht!eu from INST td,e''
ship is in the state which cau and ought
to exact the entire rental value in the
form "f tax before taxing anything
else: and radical. militant single takers
hold that ii the state chooses TO charge
more in tax than The rental value Of tie
property ana thus renders it valueless to
the nominal owner and takes it from him.
the condscation is not robbery. but mere
ly reciamiug by the state oi its own:
and that no land owner has any right To
complain of any assessment OF tax put
eSon his nominal property. even If 1t con-
f'scates to the state something for which
iii ;tccordaace with the laws of the state
he has paid his money. and, as he
thought. made his own.
II follows that the -a,00o realty owners
uf the District tnearly all of them poor
mem only think they o~u their homes;
that II" assessment of their homes can
be excessive even if it dcrriveS them of
all selling value. if ii nngIiually app les
only To the taIid; and that no Injustice
would be done them If their laid tax this
year of two or three "r Tour millions the
ing in itself 4 larger tax per capita than
that paid in other communities similarly
sit1ateD were Increased To S15,o0'.coU
The resulting confiScation would be
ethical. Those who kill. Ihinking TO do
God service, have their counterpart in
tiioSt VINO Tup tfiIklnS TO 90 the state
service.
1t is in the line Of this siusle-taN. vir-
tuously confscatory trend of thought that
Nr. Browne suggests that from AN ade-
quate tax Oil ground values. with the
revenue from lis.uor licenses and public
service corporations. SIj.~N"ri could be
derived in the District without calling
upon the federal treasury for a dollar or
imposing any other tax whatsoever. And
II was in accordance with the same trend
of thought that MIR. BROWNE. as the wit
ness, the prosecutor and the friend of the
court in the George taxation committee
investigation of 1879 estimated S1t O00. IN u
of taxable values into WASHINGTON realty
, Examination shows that tfesc estimates
nave g." relation 10 actual va .;r> .3s meas
urcd By tie standards employed in other
American cities. o., to she financial ability
of the persons 10 b" taxed 10 pay lac
enormous resulting lcvioS. But what ,ioes
that matter from III" sin-le-tax point of
view II the ;aX-saturrer cnntiscstss th..
state only comes INTO its own.
The danger to the District lies il, the
fact that not ali or not many Wj,I leco--
n:ze that these figures are not to ~. us-.i
rs statements of taxable values, measured
by the standards tina, prevail elsewhere
II is not understood that in relation TO
land they are radical and contiscatory
slnS!c-taX estimates. and not estimates
20 be fairly Used in comparison with tax
able values reported by assessors in other
cities
Evening star., 1914-02-21
Restitution by Confiscation.

1. The Browne estimate that n ffteen-
million dollar tax levy cnn he raised,
reasonably and eguitabl1, from ground
Vni1es, liquor licenses and the public.
service corporations In the Dist rict is
so GROSSLY variant from what Is viewed
ar equitable In other american elites
that IL can be Understood only ~ n lew
designed to cOnfiscatc District ground
values, on the single tax theory that
such conhscatfOn Is not a crime, hut a
virtue.
Let us see what the practical effect
of the adoption Of this suggestion would
ue. There are to be no new taXpayers
under the Browne scheme of taxation
The 0,opp present taxpayers are to
pay the new as well as the old levy.
From these I'.'p, men who paid in 1911,
total property levy of s5,:}3s oe4 tand in
DONG So paid more per capita than the
taxpayers in A out of the lai American
cities and who thought themselves heavi-
y burdened with this t;,xation) Mr.
browne proposes 70 collect $1,000 Nu1,
approximately three times as much as
they are now paying. making their per
capita levy ~ per cent higher than tie
most excessively taxed civ in the United
states and two Or three four times as
much as other cities OF the Capitals class
Mr. Browne would raise from :srHD tax
payers III resourcelcss Washington more
than was raised i'll 1872 IN Detroit and
New Orleans combined. about as much
as Baltimore ana MILWAUKEE combined.
,, Der cent more than 81. Louis, 5u per
cent more than Cleveland. Th. levy IS
clearly coniiscatory as to some body; for
this triple tax burden, some single takers
suggest. is to be lighter for small tax
payers than that endured AZ present
and is TO be accompanied By u reduction
OF rents.
The renter now claims that he is the
real taxpayer. since. as he alleges. the
owner adds the tax to his rent, but the
- tt+tf,
differentiation levy, are not to T.coup
ants. On tIe contrary the effaia If
tripping the tax is 10 be- the nele tax
ers say. 10 reduce rents. Some single.
takers mot Mr. Browne claim that an
der the adjustment Of the triple burde:,
the small taxpayer viii pay even less
than he does now. Ii 4 triple tax bur
den is to be put upon part only of the
property owners and thry are to be pre-
vented from sharing the burden with
their tenants. what docs IL mean but CON
fiScation" Where st!e TIE Washington
property owners to get the Lo.ey 10 pay
their more than tripied taxes? Not from
the land ITSELF. for that has been deprived
OF its selling value. Not from tenants.
for rents are TO be reduced. not raised.
Not from tie other inoney-setting re-
sources enjoyed by the ordinary CONNER
cial and industrial city. for the capital is
denied them.
Tc any one but d militant radical sin
gle taNcr. who rot only thinks ia .hc .b-
stract that there Shoilld be no private
oWnership of laud hut who feels il ~;
= ~ ~ 'sttr'tsr.st. -. cor
Evening star., 1914-02-21
Enormous Freight Capacity.

The report says the waterway from
Lockpor, H.. to the mouth of the Illinois
river is favorable, and that a bottom width
of lG' feet in the canal aud 600 feet in the
open river above the mouth is sufficient
for channel eight or ten feet in depth
For safety and ease in navigation. it adds
the channel should be eNcaVated to IL
feet in rock cuts and canals. the locks / L
feet deep, 50 feet wide and 600 feet long.
4 waterway OF these dimensions would
have a freight capacity exceeding 10o,00h.-
0o0 tons a year.
The special board points out that the
construct ION of dams AT or near jefferson
Barracks and Commerce, Mo. is not
necessary for the execution of ti7e projects
for the Illinois and Mississippi rivers.
Evening star., 1914-02-21
Revenues Spent Wisely.

Congress has spent the District reve-
nues since 1878 wisely, economically and
effectively for the public good, with d
minimum of waste. and faTofitisn and
graft. and maximum Of material oe-
velopment OF the capital and Of physical.
mental and moral betrerraent Of its Deo-
pie. The wonderful changes in Wash
!nSton wrought under the operation OF
the ha1f-and-half law have been. il the
main, for the benefit Of all Wasninstol-
!ans, and Of all Americans abiding IN the
capital, as individuals whether poor or
we'll TO do, however small their tax con-
trfputions, whatever their occupation, and
in whatever part OF the capital they may
reside.
Only a small part OF the District reve-
uues has been spent in sectional improve
nents. and only a fraction of this amount
has been spert in favored residence iocah-
ties These appropriations have III ger
eral been made by Congress in approxi-
mate reaticn 10 the population and TAX
contributions of the sections. II III some
Of thes. cases Congress has lcgis.ated un-
wise,, and unfairly. it should make
amends by dropping nlduly favored sec
tions from the future schedules. and by
,l4yoting this fund, undin7irished. to the
Improvement Of the sectons which nave
been neglected.
The remedy for unfair neglect of GER
tain sections in tire past Is not to con-
tiscatc them through excessive taAatioli
as punishment for alleged iaVoritisn'.
Evening star., 1914-02-21

Tut IL" bases of assessments vary
widely in the different cities. and the
census slurs the accuracy Of the reports of
relation to true value. Let us compare
the dollars paid in actual tax levies as
furnishing the only reliable test OF COM
narrative tax burdens
Evening star., 1914-02-21

ment Of certain localities? Since only
z small fraction Of tie total revenue was
spent In these street and kindred I'M
provements IN all the sections and a
st,ll smaller fraction in the few unduly
favored localities, how does the taint
of misuse attach to the whole OF the ma
tonal contribution. even assuming that
only national dollars went su.itly into
these sectional Improvements?
Is not the confident assumption that 1t
must have been the national dollars that
thus went wrong in its essence unpa-
triotic. a slur upon the nation. and upon
Congress and the President of the United
States representing the nation?
Local and Federal Dollars.
Perhaps after all Mr.. Brownies eye
sight or second sight was faulty and an
injustice has been done the national dol
lars of contribution By the charge that
they separated themselves from the local
dollars in the Treasury and fiew autoTat-
ically like iron to magnet to the corrupt
uses that have been ascribed. Perhaps
the local tax money really furnished the
erring dollars that went to pay for these
unwise and improper improvements. and
perhaps the national contribution was all
wisely expended on schools or sewers or
police or fire department. Would it fol-
low III this event that the local tax con-
tribution 10 National Capital maintenance
caused inflated ground values. excessive
rents, high cost Of living and undesirable
celibacy: and should on that account the
local tax contribution to capital MAIN
tenance be withdrawn?
Since the complaint is that favoritism
was shown to certain localities to
the injury of all the rest Of the District
with the result of unduly initiating values
to, tb4 -hu
neglected remainder. the great bulk OF
the District. suffer from inflated ground
values and higher rents and high cost OF
living and undesirable celibacy?
II might reasonably be expected that II
by this favoritism the ground values were
unduiy inflated in the few favored To-
calities. with the disastrous consequences
to these localities that have been pictured,
the ground values in the neglected sec
tons which did not enjo:- this favoritisn
would suffer corresponding deHatio'l,
followed i,,- lower rents and low cost OF
living and matrimony ad libitum. But it
seems that unaccountably the few local.
tiles that enjoyed congressional faTor.t-
ism did not suffer alone the disastrous
consequences; that while excessive street
improvements were enjoyed BY only the
few favored localities, the neglected sec
tions nliraculously experienced an lafta-
ton also Of their ground values. and the
evil and curse OF this favoritlsn spread
hSnef felttS arc ii4sn cosl "a H'iho az
celibacy to sections which had no street
improvements ct all and to the remotest
confines of the District.
II Congress. for the nation, has unwise-
ly or Improperly expended any Of the
capitals revenue, either from the loca!
or the national contributor. should It no;
increase the future national contribution
to compensate its ward for this waste:
IF the nation. through Congress. has
biundered as legislator. will it withdraw
its own contribution as the penalty OF its
blunder'
Evening star., 1914-02-21
Irving Street

Mrs. Mary J. hurner. III Irving
st NV. Washington. L. g., says:
For wears ] had kidney disease and
/ kept getting worse. ! suffered from
rheumatic pains in my back and
limbs and was TOO weak TO do my
4c:,sework The doctors wanted TO
o.5,rate but l wouldn't let them
For weeks ras sick abed. When
3e9an taking Doan's kidnet Pills
tie arst box heinea 81. - much that
continued unta was completely
and permanently cured
Evening star., 1914-02-21

ostion sufflces to overthrow il. What
other American. in or out os Congress.
would attempt to collect from part Of
the 1000 ocal taxpayers. nearly all of
whom are small property owners. $1,000.
.st or approximately twice IS much as
the total raised In 1912 through nll kinds
oi i.lxation by baltimore. ~ per cent
more than vas rased by the whole Of
Cleveland and approximately three times
as much as was collected In all taxes in
New Drieausr
Evening star., 1914-02-21
22d Street

Capt. W. j. Garner. COS 22d St
NV. Washington. D. G., says: II
suffered for years from disordered
kidneys and treatment from several
doctors didn't help me. l was often
laid up With my back. 1t got so We;iI
that didn't dare to stoop and tA-
Dains we're terrible. Sometimes lie
kidney secreuons were too freqrsnt
IN passage. then again scaaty and
painful, \ few boxes Of Doan 5
Kidney Pills completely cured me-
Evening star., 1914-02-21
Expensive and Unnecessary.

This work it says, would be enormous
~ expensive and not justified by resulting
benefits TO commerce and navigation
The project calls for an original outlay
of sl,o50010 for the Illinois river and
So z 10 900 for the Mississippi river. an ag
gresate OF 81 .5o, 300 for q navigable chan
neI eight feet deep from Utica, Ill, 70
St Louis
Evening star., 1914-02-21
9th Street

Mrs E. r. Deale, 731 10th st Sc,
Washington. d. G. says: Il had that
tired feeling and the doctor said l
had kidney trouble. l suffered
great deal from pains through my
back and l didn't sleep well. In zee
morning l didn't feel like doing my
work. After I had taken different
kinds Of medicine without benefits.
l tried Doan's Kidney Pills. They
soon fixed me up in good shape"
Evening star., 1914-02-21
Washington tt;rcwar valuation, u

The following table compares the actual
and lpn per cent assessments and popu-
latiou in a lager list Of cities with that
proposed tor Washington by Nj Browne
Evening star., 1914-02-21

The neM Methodist Episcopal char 4
at Tilghman. Md. VII pe dedicated the
first Sunday in M.rci.
Evening star., 1914-02-21
WATERPOWERPLAN
EMBRACED IN BILL
Secretary Garrison Writes
Letter Defining Administra-
ton Policy.

Secretary Harrison has written 4 let
Ter to Chairman Adamson of the House
committee OIL interstate aud foreign
commerce. which enbodies the water
p"wtr policy Of tho national admins
'ratic'- The S"crctar! announced that
- tn '~'utroV~rsy over upe rights of
itc states and ths federal government
as had Decided 10 adopt Il policy which
,sco~rizcS fhe equitable sphere of
acl~
retass e;s.rrisou-s predecessor, Mr.
tim on. hold mat the federal govern
ieni Should -l.ary in the profits Mr
Garrison believes that II is more just
- Ii The stata b. the one to profit h.!
L. -..rn.. Mt
Evening star., 1914-02-21
for a clear
complexion

nIMPLES and hIackhcads dis
..ppeal. uusightiy conpirxio,ls
become c!eau. clear and vel
vety. and hair health and beauty
are promoted by The regular use Of
Resinol Soap and an occasional ap-
plication OF Resinol Ointment
These soothing. healing p-c2ara-
tions do their work easily, quickly
ana IL little cost, when even the
mast expensive cosmetics and COM
iileateJ beauty Treatments fail.
81 des4- It's -el Eesnol Soap and
f:,,- 1.a' ttatr.tu,- I'"- fri;,t ia. Of Zach
5,risr 3" b.at. i;--.usi T:ai: .nor,'.
Evening star., 1914-02-21
The Browne Assessment.

=. The Browne estimate OF 1912 of
taxable realty values In Washington of
S.4a,OOO,OOO. from which at the $1.5O
rate levy of S1I.16O,OOO could be
raised. Is also cVnYscaturN.
Evening star., 1914-02-21

HOW TO TELI---First read the testimony and learn
what Doans Kidney Pills have done for others.
Then ii back aches. sharp pains strike You when
STOPPING lifting: ii lame the morning,
easily YOU have dizzy spells and despondeut
and inclined worry tr1es the kidney eereons
highly coored and full OF sediment. frequent
scantv painful scadng is likely that your kidneys need
quick attention.
Ii sample o the urine. alter standing hours shows
like settled the the
cepae there evidence enough to suspect the kdnevs