The Washington times., 1914-03-01
SENATE EXPECTED
TO AID DISTRICT
Continued from First Page. }

lTclN ISL faSe-J
propriations into the general fund of
The Treasury.
This provision is simply another way
~ compelling the people of the Dis
1rict to make an extra appropriation for
The support of the General Government.
quite ignoring the fact that they pay
their share through indirect taxes and
income taxes to the support of the Gen.
eral Government and overlooking the
TACT that the revenues. which would
thus be turned into the Treasury for
general purposes. ought to be expended
for the benefit of the District itself
The Senate committee and the Senate
may be expected to protect the half
and-half principle in this matter of ex-
cess revenues. At the same time, the
amendment to saddle on the property
owners the cost of paving doubtless will
be knocked out.
II there is to be a radical change in
the taxation system of the District IL
is quite plain that the more intelligent
sentiment in both Senate and House is
going to insist that this change be
effected only after careful consideration.
No hurried or half-baked schemes will
be count.nanced. If new plans are
evolved they will in all reasonable
Likelihood be worked out scientifically
and in such a way as to be abreast of |
the best thought of the day on taxa
tion.
Political Suicide Elsewhere.
No man in Congress would for a !
minute think of dumping on any city |
or community of his district or State,
where the people have the ballot, dou-
bic the amount of present taxation For
MIN to lift his voice in favor of such
thing in his district or State, where |
his constituents could defend themselves
suicide
Senator Martin. chairman of the Sem (
ATE Appropriations Committee: Senator !
John Walter Smith, chairman of the |
senate District Committee. Senator |
Galhnger, former chairman of the Dis |
lr1ct Committee and now on the sub !
committee of the Appropriations Com (
Inittee in charge of the District bill:
senator Luke Lea. of the same sub
committee: Senator Dillingham;, of the !
senate Appropriations Committee and !,
a large number of other Senators who /
take a keen interest in District affairs, /
have declared strongly against violation 1
or the haif-and-half principle II
Senator Gallinger. when asked for his
views on the half-and-half plan, said:
' am for the scrupulouS observance
OF the covenant between the Govern
ment and the District which was en-
tered into by the terms of a solemn
statute approved June IL, 1878. That stat
ute in substance reads:
Quotes Organic Act.
' To the extent to which Congress
shall approve of said estimates, Con-
eress shall appropriate the amount of
% per cent thereof, and the remaining
80 per cent OF such approved estimates
shall be levied and assessed upon the
taxable property and privileges in said
District other than the property of the
United States and the District of Co.
lumbia'
That is the solemn obligation volun-
tarily entered into py Congress. Is it to
be kept or is it to he ruthlessly vio-
lated? Every citizen of the republic is
a stockholder in sill that makes Wash
ington the pride of the nation, and
cannot but regard with profound appre-
hensicn every suggestion of a radical
change in the management of District
Affairs"