Evening star., 1915-01-06

| annual contribution, about Z cents,
which they make under the half-and-
| half plan as against SIT. per capita.
| given by the District residents.
| continued progress depends upon
| the maintenance of the half-and-half
plan; that the people of the country
done. and want Washington to be in
| all respects the best capital on earth
Contribution Essential.
"a permanent uniform proportion of
contribution is absolutely essential,
both for the capitals progress and for
| justice to it's Inhabitants, otherwise,
in the language of Mr.. Blackburn of
Kentucky, who reported the organic
act to the House, the whole halter
would depend on the 'whim and ca
| price of each recurring session of
Washington is rapidly becoming a
worthy capital of a mighty nation.
In the language of Ambassador
Brice: Tt is going on increasing in
population for at least a century and
half or two centuries to come, and
In that time no one can see what its
population may become.
Before any change should be made
IN the organic act, under which we
fiscal account, debtor and creditor, be-
tween the United States and the Dis
trict should be made, starting with
a credit of s16,15o.77O.74 due the Dis
equal division of the expenditures for
the local government between the
United States and the District OF Co
lum bia from the year 1900 to 1876, and
District by reason of departures from
the organic act since 1878.
imaginary or speculative dement's
should no longer be assessed against
contiguous lot owners in condemna-
tion proceedings, for the manifest rea-
son that all such assessments compel
property owners affected thereby to
pay twice for the same public improve
mont; and, further, that the lawful and
proper presumption is. that all increas-
are created by reason of public or prl-
vate improvements, will be ascertained
by the duly authorized assessors, al
ways in Office, and whose sworn duty it
Is to levy assessments as changes in
values occur from whatever cause.
Current Revenues insufficient.
'"The current revenues of the District
from all sources have never exceeded
its needs, and we believe these will re-
qufre annually all it's available
revenues and a correspondingly equal
contribution of the United States If
p, ogress Is not to be halted.
''The falsity and injustice of the cry
which has been set up in some quar-
ters that the taxpayers of Washington
do not bear their full share of taxation
in comparison with other American
cities is conclusively refuted by CEN
sus bulletin No. 118 of the year 1913,
which shows that out of the 1876 cities
cited only As had a higher per capita
tax levy than Washington, which Is the
only non monumental city among them,
and should for that reason be the low
est taxed city in the United States.
That Baltimore, Philadelphia, New Or
leans, Seattle, Jersey City, Indianapolis,
louisville. st. Paul. Atlanta, Toledo,
Columbus, Worcester, Birmingham,
Memphis, Scranton and other great
manufacturing and commercial cities
of much greater wealth than the Ma
tional Capital are among those having
lower per capita tax levy"
Wants Better Mail Service.
The association adopted resolutions
asking for more adequate mail facili-
ties and deliveries for Columbia
Heights, in favor of new equipment for
the Fairgrounds of the section, and in
commendation of the plan for the de-
velopment of Washington parks adopt
ca ny the engineer branch of the War
Department. This latter resolution was
offered by Secretary J. Clinton Hiatt
A talk by a member of the. Firemen's
Association was given. Judge p. e.
Jefreys was elected an honorary mem
ber of the aSqocjot{op ~, xoo+;.S