Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-25

We also show that az to the District Of
Columbia the assessor has tabulstsd
sales aggregating over $4,000. 900 !
which our committee. comparing with |
sessment 1909 per cent instead Of the
supposed 66 2-S per cent In Wow OF
the fact that these assessments were
made in 191a-14. our committee be,
value. as Of today. would be much
nearer 100 per cent. While. for lack of
time and money. our subcommittee was
not able to secure reports s,, Of H., large e
procured about a thousand typical
cases in twenty cities. pmcultien
were experienced in procuring infor-
nation as to the property assessed
sulting figures are probably less favor
able to Washington than II fuller in
formation could have been had. stu.
they show that in thirteen OF the
twenty cities the city taxes are lower
than in Washington. and when city.
county and state taxes are all in
cluded. without making the equitable
deductions for county and state bene-
fits not enjoyed here. still there are
Ave cities whose taxes are lower than
or the Same as in the District OF CO.
lumbia-
THE subcommittee also submitted
statements showing the percentage Of
twenty-six cities. subject to the limtta-
lions due to the difficulty in getting
accurate and typical Information.
which puts Washington at disadvan-
shows that washinston's percentage Is
1903 per cent as against 1888 per cent
tho general average Of tho cases re-
ported from the twenty-sfx cities.
This committee also submitted de-
tailed statement of the statements and
plats of the assessor of the District.
and which supports tho conclusions
drawn from IL BY our subcommittee.
and which We present to the Joint
select committee
10 ono of the approximate value OF
property exempt from taxation in the
District Of Columbia. estimating that
Of the United States government at
Of Columbia at si7.7ss, iss. ana Of all
property. $ss4.sSs.4os.
Plan Of Taxation Assumed.
I'VE assume that according to the
principle which Mr.. Underwood laid
down in his speech which we have
quoted. Congress will not tax the Dis
trict residents simply for the sake of
taxing them, but only for the purpose
of raising the necessary revenue for
local purposes, and that II necessary
taxation will be reduced rather than
steadily increased. as has been the case.
regardless of the appropriations. so
that it Is now estimated that there
will be inappropriate revenues Of the
District Of Columbia in tho United
States Treasury at the close Of the
present fiscal year amounting to ST.
500, 900, Either all the District revenues
should be appropriated under the half
and-half plan, as is necessary to meet
the Increasing needs Of the District OF
Columbia, or local taxation should be
reduced SO as to prevent surpiuses
Treasury. though raised by taxation Tor
local purposes.
The repeal Of the Limitation in the
act of March 3. 1908. on the estimates
amount of the estimated District reve-
nues is desirable in order that unused
District revenues in the national Treas
ury may be included in the estimates.
I'VE assume also that Congress will
not provide new forms OF taxation SIM
ply for the sake of novelty II the ex-
listing forms of taxation are fair and
not burdensome. and provide the neces-
Sary revenue.
"To show that even under the pres
Increase with the increase Of popula
ton and just assessment of increased
values the District revenues alone
could only half develop or maintain
the nations city. we would remind the
committee of the many needs for the
physical and moral progress of the
capital which have been presented by
the District Commissioners and other
authorities and not acted upon by Con-
gress, together with others which have
m
limitation Of the estimates or for other
reasons. We present a specific state
ment OF the estimates during the past
fifteen years by the District Commits
sioners for which appropriations have
not ben made, amounting to over s1o,-
100000, besides the detailed statement
in the brief of number of objects re-
curing early appropriations. We pre-
sent in support of the statement in the
brief as to what other countries do
for their national capitals detailed re-
ports and studies made from official
sources, showing how much more some
of these governments, notably those of
Brazil and Argentina, have done for
their capitals than the United States
has done for Washington.
Method in Other Capitals.
I'VE show. also. that the other ma
tional governments encourage indus
sulting in largo wealth. and therefore
that the people of the other national
capitals have the same proportionate
representation in the national leRisla-
lures. and therefore the same proper
tionate voice in the taxation and ap-
preparations for the national capitals,