Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-08
FOES Of DISTRICT
GET DISCOURAGED
Senator's Opposition to House
Schemes Has Dampening
Effect on Attacks.

EUGCl UT AlldCkS.
Events in the House Of Representatives
yesterday pointed toward a slackening in
the strength of the attacks on the half
and-half plan and the District of Column
bias tax rates.
The action Of the Senate appropria-
tons committee in striking out the obnox-
ious section s from the House bill max
ing District appropriations has discour-
aged many of the radical opponents Of
the District of Columbia, and the fact
that Democratic Leader Underwood is
to throw his weight with Representative
Georges side Of the argument is taken
to mean that the Prouty amendment, for
fixed tax rate on real and personal
property, will meet hard battle in the
House.
Underwood's Position.
1t became known yesterday that Rep
resentative Underwood will support
Representative Georges proposed amend
ment or resolution asking for q commits
sion to investigate the fiscal relations
between the United States and the Dis
trict of Columbia Representative Prouty
has-a1nessReeA chat he intends to offer
resolution to appoint commission-but
way to divorce the District entirely
from the United States, Representative
Georges resolution would not be based
on any such radical theory. Represent
alive Underwood expressed himself in
favor of commission to settle once and
for all the disputes as to the organic act,
the Districts fiscal nslations with the
United States and other perplexing
questions at the time the Crisp bill to
destroy the half-and-half plan was in
the limelight.
Works on Commission.
Representative Prouty has practically
abandoned work on his bill to provide a
model form of government for the Dis
trict of Columbia with the United States
support eliminated, and will work on the
proposed Investigation commission in
stead.
The change from the proposed bill to
the proposed commission comes from
Representative Prouty's firm conviction
that the Senate will never pass any of
the radical measures which are being
limelighted in the House District COM
mittee just now. This conviction is
shared by other members of the District
committee and the House-not all Of
them, but some of them. The longer they
have time to think about it the surer
they are that it is useless to work over
proposed legislation and radical changes
which tear down instead of construct.
The lesson which the Senate appropria-
tions committee taught the House in the
way of Strengthening out the District ap-
preparation bill is having a deep effect in
the House.
George Gets Figures.
of yesterday at the District building
fortifying himself with facts and fig
ures to defend his contention concern
ing his own bill, to which the District
committee has now added the Prouty
amendment to tax personal property
and real esate at a fixed rate and to
put the taxing power in the hands of
Congress instead of making a budget
provision as arranged for in the George
bill. meeting Of the District commit
tee of the House will be called tomor-
row morning, at which time the re-
mainder Of the George bill will be
taken up for discussion. 1t provides for
machinery to make assessments and
collect taxes. There is possibility
that it will be reported out to the
House by noon. but there also is a
possibility that the committee will
want to talk longer on the bill than the
time will permit, Because it is Dis. .rict
mittee will adjourn in time to get to
the floor of the House by noon.
Will Discuss Other Matters.
There was a suspicion yesterday that
Representative Prouty was going to
spring another surprise when it be-
came known that the had called a
meeting of the subcommittee on NUM-
cipal government However, his sub
committee will meet Wednesday to dis
cuss the proposed municipal asphalt
plant and to hear Representative Smith
of Maryland urge his bill for a change
| in the sewage pumping station. Rep
age from the District Is concentrating
| the oyster beds of the lower Potomac
and the bay.
Representative Prouty's ideas on why
the District of Columbia should be sep
arated by the Congress from the Treas
into a community like other cities, to
support itself. will be explained by him
Thursday evening at the Public Library,
where he will address members of the
| Economic Study Club. In general Rep
| resentative Prouty believes that Wash
of itself than any other city of its size
| and class in the country for these
reasons:
That 1t has less debt per capita than
any other city.
That 1t has greater wealth per capita
That It has the greatest amount OF
| assessable property.
That 1t has less tax burden, in hav-
| ing no state and county taxation.
Henry l.. West. former District Com
missioner. is expected to uphold the
ether side Of the fight at the Public