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

ported almost entirely" by the money
PAID out to government employees. On
the other hand, this community. with
out independent resources, one-third
roiored, composed almost entirely OF
government employees and those who
supply the lattcrs needs. owns more
taxable real estate than is owned. ac
cordinS to the 1912 census figures. by
Baltimore and Minnea polls combined
81 100000 more than is owned by New
orleans. Louisville and st Paul com
hined; owns nearly great a total
valuation of real and personal property
as chicago, and only about sixty mil
IONS less than Buffalo, Newark and
New orleans combined; and is 50
rich and strong in the posses
stoD of these fabulous riches that
" can. without hardship, much more
than double its present tax bur
zen under which If pretcnds to be stag
Sering. and can pay per capita tan
loNN greater by far than is aid in any
other city Of the United States. and
twice the per capita tax levy paid by
other cities Of its class. like New or
leans, Milwaukee and Detroit.
In a preceding letter | have given the
hsures of 1872 to show that relatively 70
the other cities with which tax COMPARE
sons are made. the Washington assess
nent IS already excessively high. and
that to double this assessment. as by add
ing S4l4.cN,Nn I" an assessment of $40,
"hrN, AS suggested III the George report
would mean quick AMI complete bank
Tuptcv.
This bankruptcy is not Of the wealthy
N-d"d-ing winter residents, whom
our Constitutional legislators make
verhs' pretence Of pursuing. These MI
can %ford 10 lose their copfiSCa ed
Washington real estate. If they have
any. and will promptly remove them
selves from tho city.s tax list and fit
else where. If their interest suggests
this course. This haullruptcy viii Il"
nv
owners aud homcbuildcrs IN this city.
nn our 10000 tax list whose little all
rs invested here in supreme confidence
IN the good faith of Uncle Sam. and
rro "annct escape or res ist his heavy
Scnfscating hand.
Piling Tax ossa on Pelion.
Representative Crisp assesses WASH
'ngtcn realty for taxation at s5440o.NU
the single tax figures, and then goes the
single TAKERS one better" by adding per
spnaItN assessment which values Wash
tnctrns realty and personality combined
a total Valuation of s.r;: N0EN from
~h,ch q tax revenue uf S1i2i1 ~, should
he say. without bard nip he derived: and
on the basis Of these vast ina giuary tax
able resources he pronounces the local
community capable. una;ded. OF perform
Iug the nations task OF maintaining and
developing the Nations city on the grand
M tional scale and plan designed by its
founders and now in operation.
Washington is no more a ole today. rela-
lively. to hear this burden than II Was
ISL" and in the seventies. when in a
patriotic and public-spirited efor; To ptr-
form the nations task il worked itself
into hanhruptcv. Tire city IS more popa-
'";Is. more prosperous and has more tan
able resources than in the last century
UT the burden of capital-rlaking and
'spitai-m2intenanc" has grown heavier
" vastly greater proportion tnan Is own
,'lCreasc in strength.
TN" tax revenue which the local tax
payers could rcasonab bly, contribute
would lie entirely Inadequate to sus-
tain the "dnital as il now EXISTS. or
:" Keen il in line of natural develop
';t"t''- y -rrrudiafion of j.ation;l obi
gallons in rcSp"c; to tho n;l.iou's city
w"ul" Jesuit either ~ q d.screditt, BILE
capital. poorly sustained l'y rCaSona BILE
ID NatiotI uDoli local resources. ~ in IN.
virtual c"uiiscation Of local property
through excessive taxation.
TO assert inst Washington realty on
the average lass of american assess
inent for taxation is to I've valued and
taxed IT 1I@4'as,'fd. and that its total
FAY assessment s}ou'd he s.r:::,Wro. con. and
- base Il Scfi"Us scirem" "f national CAPT
Wildly preIcStcrous assertion. is to build
on foundat!cn that cruInhes the mo-
ment pressure is applied ~ it,
Let US compare Mr.. crisps tota, imaSi-
wary assessment valuation Of Washing
ton with those Of other American cities
as shown IL terms of actual assessment
N the census of 1872: