Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-07
SOUTHERN TRADE
CONGRESS TO AID
Joins Opposition to Changes
in Taxation Legislation
of the District.
CITIZENS COMMITTEE OF
100 is TO MEET TODAY
Will Organize for Attack on John
son-Prouty Amendment-Dr.
Wiley Outlines Attitude.

Announcement is expected to be made
this afternoon at the meeting of the
citizens committee OF 100 which is to
oppose changes in taxation legislation of
the District that the Southern CONNER
cial Congress will do everything in its
power to aid the committee.
The committee, which is TO meet at
the New Willard Hotel at ) o'clock. ana
of which DIR. Harvey W. Wiley is chair
man, is completing plans this afternoon
to organize opposition to the Johnson
Prouty amendment to the George tax
bill, SO that Congress may know not only
where citizens of the District stand in re-
gard to the proposed legislation. but may
be acquainted, as well, with the attitude
of citizens throughout the United States.
1t is understood that statement is
being prepared by the Southern CONNER
cia1 Congress. which has a large member
ship all through the south, embracing
some of the most powerful and promi-
nent men in the United States. Senator
Duncan L. Fletcher of Florida is presi-
dent of the congress, and DIR. Clarence }.
Owens Is managing director. The state
of the congress toward the proposed
change in taxation legislation, is being
prepared by DR.. Owens.
Widespread Interest Aroused.
Since the meeting of the citizens COM
mittee Of 100. and the appointment OF
DR.. Wiley as chairman, widespread inter-
est in the opposition to the proposed tax
legislation changes has been aroused, not
only in Washington, but on the part OF
senators and representatives in Congress,
who are asking to be informed in detail
in regard to District affairs. 1t is under
stood that Senator Burton of Ohio and
Senator Owen of Oklahoma are prepar-
ing to make statements on District taxa
ton affairs.
The citizens committee of 100 an
nounced today that an invitation had been
extended to Andrew D. White. former am
bassador to Germany and former presi-
dent of Cornell University, to deliver a
public address in the near future at the
New Willard Hotel on washington, the
Capital City" and that Mr.. White has as
accepted the invitation, for a date to be
set later. He is now preparing paper
giving a comprehensive view Of the future
of the District of Columbia.
The following additional members OF
the committee Of 100 were announced to-
day:
j. W. Bird, W. H. Atkins, Phelan c.
Ham, Frank T. Codrington, Clinton P.
Brainerd, William P. Spurgeon, Francis
P Daily, Prof ]. H. Gore and Leigh VIII
son.
DR.. Wiley Outlines Attitude.
DR.. Wiley, who is to preside at this aft
ernoon's meeting of the committee of
100, today gave reporter for The Star
an outline of his attitude toward the pro-
posed legislation. DIR. Wiley said:
1.-THE committee of 100 should, in a dig
nified and proper way, seek to retain the
essential principles OF the present agree
ment made between the federal govern
ment and the District Of Columbia in 1875
respecting the distribution of the ex-
pense Of maintaining the Capital city Of
the country.
According to the statement of former
Senator Blackburn, Is per cent of the
real estate, improved and otherwise, in
the city of Washington, is owned by the
federal government.
.'If any change is to be made in the
present system of taxation here, in
harmony with the dictates of justice
and equity, it should be based on the
real holdings of private citizens and OF
the federal government.
LAS Washington is city solely for
capital purposes, the maintenance of It's
government and the care of its citizens
are predominantly service rendered to
the national government. The fact that
instead of being taken advantage of to
oppress them, ought to be a supreme
reason for their protection.
seek to Maintain Status Quo.
In my opinion, therefore, the work
of this committee. of 100 should be dis
tinctly devoted to maintaining the status
quo.
Il imagine that a great majority of the
real estate holdings in this city have
been acquired since 1878, when the taxa
ton bargain was made, and that the
persons who acquired them believed in
the good faith of the federal government
respecting the methods of taxation.
while l am in no sense real estate
expert, 1 do not hesitate to say that the
immediate prospect of a change in the
has already SO depressed the confidence
of buyers that it would be difficult to
sell ordinary. small holdings of real
estate at their present assessed values.
ITO lay the whole Of the taxation of
the District on its citizens would. in my
opinion, come near precipltating panic
in this city and producing paralysis of
progress.
..The delinquent tax list would be enor-
increased-to such an extent that
rich men who are able to come in and
buy tax titles might soon come into pos
session of the principal part Of the small
holdings of the District.
While I realize that there is no ques-
ton on which men differ more widely
and more radically than on methods of
taxation, / cannot shut my eyes to the
fact that 1t would not be good faith on the
part of the national government to now
cancel the modus vivendi which mas SO
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