The Washington herald., 1914-04-14

first was given form through the Cooper
resolution, printed exclusively in The
Washington Herald last January. Mem.
bers declared yesterday that they were
unwilling to pass upon the merits OF
the half-and-half question without more
substantial information than can be
cleaned from debate in the House
Arguments of Mr.. George.
Following a two-hour speech by Rep
resentative Prouty, author of the amend
ments, two hours replete with verbal
pyrotechnics and heroics, Representative
George. author of the original bill, took
the floor in opposition to the Prouty
amendment.
Mr.. George explained that originally
the bill had dealt only with real estate
conditions, because it had been promised
upon an exhaustive investigation which
had confined itself to that phase of the
taxation problem. Referring to the
Prouty amendments, Mr.. George said:
The effect Of this kind of taxation
would be to increase the taxation OF a
very large proportion Of the people of
the District, and not to a good result
The purpose of the committee is not
to get more taxes. The committee can
get more taxes any time. Nobody doubts
that the District could pay more taxes.
The purpose OF the majority in reporting
this bill in this way is to get full value
taxation and a maximum fixed rate. By
a maximum rate I mean that the high
rate would obtain that is in force in
the District when only two-thirds of the
value OF real estate is supposed to be
taxed. and obviously only a portion of
the personal property is taxed.
Declares IL Injustice.
There can be no justice in the kind of
taxation that would be imposed under
the bill reported by the majority of the
District Committee and now before the
House.
THE Crisp bill is on the calendar. 1t
could be taken up at any time, and We
could settle here and now this question
Of whether or not the Federal government
should make a contribution of one-haf
toward the District. But We are not
doing that Evidently we are afraid to
do that. We propose to hit that thing
in another way, and that other way is
as a majority OF the committee has de-
creed, through the George bill. I never
had any purpose in the George bill of
carrying out such an idea as that 1
repudiate It.
Il have come TO this floor to beat the
George bill as 1t has been reported, and.
If I can, to substitute the original idea
1t seems to me 10 be tco bad that there
should be a situation in the District
where Congress cannot pass simple meas
ures of taxation or anything else with
out involving the question with the half
and-haf principle. When We put through
an appropriation bill, II is involved. This
bill goes to the Senate, and there again
it is involved. II gets involved with the
people of the District. II is all involved
and everybody Is confused"
on the Track. Says Crosser.
Representative Crosser, a member OF
the committee, and who signed the ma
jority report. sought to divert discussion
from the half-and-half plan and TO bring
it back TO the merits of the bill itself.
Mr.. Crosser attacked Judge Prouty and
those who supported the majority Of the
committee for seeking to put through by
ungermane amendments to the George
bill a practical repeal of the half-and-
half system.
This discussion he said, has not
taken the course it should. This bill
deals only with the assessment OF real
estate in the District. We have had
everything under the sun discussed on
the floor today except this subject.
Il think we are all agreed on the first
part of the bill. which provides that all
real estate in the District shall be as
sessed annually at its full value. This is
all that was proposed in the original
George bill
Discussing the Prouty amendment to
tax intangible property, he said:
Il believe men should pay taxes ac-
cording to the privileges they enjoy and
not according to the fruits of their in |
dustry." !
Mr.. Crosser said he was a single-taxer, |
but that the single-taX idea had in no |
way entered into the deliberations Of the |
of the committee in framing the
substitute bill, pointing to the fact that |
the substitute measure provides for the |
taxation of all personal property now |
taxed at exactly the same rate assessed
against real estate
Issues n Challenge.
Reverting TO the charge that the Prouty |
repeal of the organic act by indirectlo1 |
he asked:
What has the half-in-half to do with |
this bill anyway? You have a bill on |
the calendar which calls for direct |
repeal OF the half-and-half plan. voted |
for that bill when il was before the COM
mittee. 1t has been on the calendar slice
December q. Why don't you call II up /
and let the House vote directly on the /
subject? Why do you fear to do directly
what you are attempting to accomplish
by indirection?"
Prouty admitted that he seeks to ac-
complish the repeal OF the organic act
through the George bill as amended by |
the committee.
Speaking Of the amendment which fixes
he tax rate inhexibly at fifteen mills,
instead Of flexible rate by means Of
which the Commissioners would be able
10 conform the taxes to the requirements
IF the budget. Mr.. Crosser said:
There is absolutely no Justification, in
ogic or in reason. for first fixing your
.axation rate and then attempting to
adjust YOUR property values so that the
-evenues resulting from taxation will be
lust sufficient to defray estimated ex-
Denses.
One Way 10 LeEislate.
I'VE are not any more solicitcus about
hese people in the District OF Columbia
han is the gentleman from Iowa But
We recognize the fact that there Is just
ne way to successfully legislate- There
s Just one way to get great body OF
nen together on propositions, and that is
NTK,,A