The Washington times., 1914-02-28

jtnn Of the George Dill
CONGRESSMAN George practically loses
All interest in the bill following the
action of the District Committee to.
day. When it reaches the flor II will be
in charge of Chairman Johnson and
Congressman Prouty. and Mr.. George
persuade the House TO deal only with
the real estate taxation question and
not to load the bill down with pro.
Visions covering personnel and intangi'
Ole property.
Makes His Protest.
1T is unfair, said Congressman
George in committee today. Ito load
this bill down in this matter. The
committee has given considerable study
10 real estate taxation in the District
hut We have made no investigation OF
personal or intangible propert'- taxa.
ion with respect to rate. extent. ano
anything else. We are just sticking III
these amendments at the eleventh hour
where there is dispute even on mat.
trs of fact. If We are going TO ge'
from it clean and fair.
We have work ed on this one subject
of real estate for months and 1t is un,
lair that we should report out bill
covering matters about which we VIII
not even be prepared to answer ques'
lions, as a committee, on the floor OF the
House
Chairman Johnson interjected that he
would never agree to any plan to leaVt
10 the Commissioners the discretion VI
liking the tax rate.
4 tell you how 1t ought to be done.
said Chairman Johnson These people
in the District ought to pay their own
expenses. levy their own taxes, raise
their own money and elect the officials
TO administer their government
Mr.. Johnson continued that the !So-
taxes had been levied on the full value
of real estate and personal proper.y,
but about that time somebody impinged
upon the organic act and real estate Is
now assessed at so-called tWo-thirds
value
This has become an isle OF safety
for the rich" commented Congressman
caravan. Don't yoI think that il
the rate was fixed at $50 on all CT TINS
property il would destroy ell need OF
the Government contributing anything
10 the District and We could then re-
peal the half-and- half law"
johnson States Policy.
Chairman Johnson said that he fav-
ored a policy under which the Govern
Inent would build magnificent struc-
lures here to house all Of its activities
.tsa that way he said, the Govern
ment will contribute 10 the maSnlllcahce
Of the National Capital and NOBODY
Cbjects to that. ] think the Govern
Inent should own every building need
cd here to transact its business. And
il ought to do away with all rented
structures.
CONGRESSMAN George temporarily con-
fused the chairman Of the committee
by reading all extract from the report
Cf the George subcommittee Which m
ycsIigated assessments. This report
Vas signed by Chairman Johnson, and
IL contained this recommendation, re-
fe erring To the s1.50 tax rate.
~ t~ Vsr-an nr~fiIn
rate for a large city, but, whether low
or high, the rate should not be fixed. ~
one time a tax rate may raise to large
At revenue and at another time too lit
tie. The only business like way is tc
lay a rate to be determined by the needs
~ the budget as is done in order large
cities.
"Ycu signed that report" said Con-
Sressman George addressing Chalrmaf
johnson.
If / had noticed that in the report,
lctorted Johnson, Il would not have
signed it"
i handed you the repoI4 and 1 pre-.
sIuled that you read it." said George.
Overlooked the Reference.
oh. yes, I am not saying anything
was wrong" said Chairman Johnson
but / 20 not feel that way now, and
j overlooked any reference to a Hex
ible tax rate" 4
CONGRESSMAN Crosser, a single taxer
asserted that with the proper rate lane
values in the District of Columbia would
produce Sl5,Uoo,001 annually and that the
rate would harm no one. 1t would bt
unnecessary then, he said. to tax per
son and intangible property.
Congressman Coady of Maryland ar.
i.ued that there should be a different
rate on intangible property.
Granting that you tax real estat'
ana personal property at the sam,
ATE ne said you ought not to apply
this rate to Intangible property. Many
tiles have a sliding scale on intangibl
PROPERTY. Take for instance the matte
OF a mans bank account He gets
yer cent en- his balance in most banks
f'Gt l. YOU levied this high rate againS
Intangible property he will have onl!
'me-half of ! per cent. The average
bond Doesn't weld more than 4 per cen
and vet you would tax IL . dollar ant
half a hundred. This amendment
would even tax the annuity of q
orphan chilC and the jewelry worn b,
= Derson for his or her adornment.'
{ tOnSTeSSman Reed said he did not be
heve in the proposal 10 tax intangibl,
property, but was in accord with tn
general principles OF the Prouty John
son amendment
The District Committee adjourned witt
the understanding that il will repor-
out the George bill at its regular Thurs
daS meeting next week.
IS the bill will be reported ii will pro
N!de for annual assessment of real eS
1ate at full value. and there will be in
serted q section taxing at the same rat,
and value 10 be fixed arbitrarily b!
congress. AL personal property, tangible
and intangible. The bill also make!
provision for ample machienry TO en-
force the new assessment laws, in
riGding the employment of nine addi
t.onal assistant tax assessors.