Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-24
Let Well Enough Alone.

If a doubling Of the revenue from
reasonable local taxation in the District
produced more money than could be
wisely. economically and appropriately
spent in maintenance and development Of
the capital then some readjustment of
the present financial arrangement would
naturally suggest itself; not the drastic
and destructive mutilations of the law
that have been advocated. but some
amendment that would work out as near
~ as possible precisely the degree of re-
adjustment needed.
But this doubling does not as yet pro-
duce too much for suitable maintenance
and development Of the capital For
years it has not produced enough to pro-
vide for needed permanent improvements
as we'll current maintenance. We
have not yet paid off the floating debt
incurred to complete some Of these great
permanent improvements. Much remains
to be done in the line Of these projects
and in the Strengthening OF comparatively
neglected branches of municipal admins
tration. Our money IN the past has been.
in the present is and in the future will
be wisely and helpfully spent under the
direction of Congress, with all the safe
guards against graft thrown by the
Treasury Department around funds ham
died through its agency and under its
supervision. For many years every cent
that will be available for capital develop
ment from a doubling of local tax money
will be needed. Congress will be embar-
raised by the confusing variety of wise
and helpful projects of capital-upbuildins
and not by any lack of them. One has
only to examine the neglected suggestions
OF capital betterment made by District
Commissioners past and present to learn
what sound projects of municipal devel
opmcnt have been ignored in order to
make a showing of greater revenue
under the half-and-half law than the
capital needs or can economically expend.
Since the Washingtonian's tax-burden is
reasonable. certainly not too light, and
yet not grossly excessive; and since the
capital needs even more for its judicious
upbuilding and maintenance than the
half-and half law produces, why not leave
we'll enough alone?
There are good friends of Washington
who seek legislation emphasizing the ma
tional character Of taxes collected in the
District. They would no longer have the
taxes raised IN Washington even called
District taxes. but designated and treated
as national taxes. national revenues. to
be covered like revenues from the tariff
INTO the national treasury
This proposition cannot today be dis
cussed on its merits. But whether meri-
torlous or not II ought not 10 De pusheo
at this time, to the undermining and
overthrow OF the half-and-half provision.
The District taxes do not, national
taxes, meet the constitutional require
ments of uniformity throughout the
United States, or of being laid in proper
ton TO the census They are not direct
and general national taxes: but are spe-
cial and extraordinary taxes coupled as
to expenditure with trust
No words can be used that will give the
nation more complete control of this trust
fund. The words District taxes, District
revenues. partnership arrangement. half
and-half agreement and organic act only
suggest and in part define the trust obli-
CATION toward the capital as beneficiary
which is lawfully and eGuitably coupled