Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-05-12

and l believe that the people who have
come here at the invitation of the gov
eminent. Of the United States to help
make this beautiful city should have
the assistance of those who live
throughout the country in maintaining
the capital of the nation in style be
coming to the capital of our repupllc;
The people of the United States should
pay something to the support OF the
nations capital
Other Members Protest.
Representative Tess of Ohio added his
voice of protest to the rushing through
of taxation measures new to the COM
mittee and to the House. He said he
was in favor of taxing personal and
Intangible property here in just the
same manner as elsewhere
But before I shall vote for any meas
ure that will repeal the organic law"
he said. II want to have time to study.
by means of an investigation. In order
to know what is to be the outcome OF
change.
are not going to disorganize the plan
of government in the city and that
we are not going to free ourselves
from the burden that partly belongs to
us. Therefore; l cannot support "hat
is before the House.
Representative Oglesby of New York
said the bill before the House presented
by Representatives johnson and Prouty
was 1.-The most unscientific hodge-podge
he ever had the privilege of considering.
He also decried the oft-told story that
Washington. national capital, should
have no more consideration than the cap
ital city of a state. showing how the
great establishment of the national gov
eminent in the District gets its full share
of the protection of the municipal func-
TONS such as police, fire and health de-
partmentS. etc
Calls It "Monstrous Proposition.
In concluding, he said:
Il do not know any reason why the
people of the District of Columbia should
ask for charity, and l do not know why
the people of the United States should
ask for charity of the people of the Dis
trict of Columbia. But the most mon
strous proposition of all Is, irrespective
of what the amount of taxes raised are,
they say you must arbitrarily pay a rate
of 10 mills based on a full assessed valu-
alton. l want to say that in my opinion
that would produce a surplus
Now, I pay a tax in three of the cities
shewn on that chart. / believe the tax
rate based on actual valuation in the
| District of Columbia is as high as 1t is
| in either of those three cities. After
careful examination of some of the asses
ments which are based on the valuation
of my own property and the taxes which
| l pay, I am convinced that II you assess
| property here at 100 cents on the dollar
| and fix the rate at Is mills you will raise
more in taxation than the entire expenses
| of the District of Columbia would require.
Mr.. Prouty on "Tax Dodgers"
| Representative Prouty. co-author of
| the legislation designed to undermine the
organic act, started to make the state
| ment that this bill, as now proposed
does not change the organic act one
| whit"
| 1T simply puts it out Of business re-
| minded Mr. Madden of Chicago.
| and 1t makes a great difference In the
| pocket books of the taxpayers, Repre-
sentative Foss interjected.
| Representative Prouty agreed with TINS
I but claimed that the taxpayers whose
pockets are to be affected are the alleged
| tax dodgers. who have been painted II
| such wonderous detail to the House al
| various preceding District day debates
In attempting to prove this he made use
of his table of figures, 'undisputed table,
| he termed it,
Did the gentleman say 'undisputed
table?" asked Representative Madden
yes" said Representative Prouty
| those figures have been before TINS
House four weeks and no man either
in the public press or by private COM
munication has called into question a
| single one of those figures.
1.-THE gentleman has not proved the
figures himself" said Mr.. Madden.
Representative oElesbY asked Me