The Washington times., 1915-11-04
DENIES RIGHT TO TAX
DISTRICT RESIDENTS
Benno N. Seibold Continues
Novel Argument Before Fis.
cal Relations Board.

' ''SsASStbo ooou
Continued from First PaGe)
OF the District. He said he had not
gotten a decision from the Court OF APP
peals because he had not the money to
press his case.
Questioned by Cooper.
Your contention Is that Congress
cannot levy a direct tax and have II
apply only to the District of Column
bia, but that tax of any sort levied
by the Government must be national
tax and must be expended so as TO
beneft the entire United States" said
Congressman Cooper.
I'm that connection we must con-
slider whether the National Capital is z
interposed Senator Woods.
THAT Is the point was leading up
to. said Congressman Cooper.
In other words you contend that "
people here have given up certain rights
man Rainey, "and taat the people OF
the whole United states should be
taxed SO that the citizens OF the Dis
trict may be exempted"
That Ia the exact reason and con
sideration for which the ciuzens OF the
self government rights" said Mr. sei'
Members Of tho committee examined
CLOSELY the documents submitted by J:
+. wondrack regarding the assessmen'
OF his property and the Commismons
also asked for them 30 that ne Hiish'
| look into the matter.
Only Shack On Property.
| Mr.. wendrsck gives his address as Za
| C street northeast. He said tho prop
erty in question had no improvemenu
on II except a shack worth not mor'
than SIS. In the course Of tho discus
sion ConRressman Gard remarked ina
il a concrete example OF how the s'ns''
tax would operate A.
! clared Congressman Cooper.
| Several times during Congressmai
| Cooper's remarks about the methon
| Of assessing property those IN "
| room applauded loudly ana osnsea un,
table with their fists. Congressmai
Cooper asked Chairman Chiltoi
| whether he could not suppress thes
demonstrations.
times and that does not seem 10 nav
any effect" replied the chairman
To Limit Statements.
Chairman Chiffon announced toda'
that the committee desired to shorter
the inquiry as much as possible an
that volunteer witnesses hereafter WI
he limited to an hour or an hour ana
half each In presenting their views.
"The committee thinks" said Sena
tor Chiffon, after an executive session
that on such matters as the sIhse 70
and general subjects OF that kind II ia
been reasonably liberal In the ailowhho
|
! which the committee may read In doom
and with which we are more or les
familiar. We would also suggest tina
witnesses do not attempt TO READ prlel
which they have filed with the CON
nittee, as the committee can read then
There must be some point to bring ma
ters TO a conclusion and while we dc
sire to be liberal to speakcrs We mus
have a limit Of some Kind IN heafin
these volunteer witnesses and we nav
decided that an hour or an hour ana
half should be sufficient for them to pre-
; "The committee Ia not here to liste
; to complaints against city officials o
. the running Of this city. We are her
to investigate the fiscal relations d
, tween the Federal and District govern
ments and we hope that near persons
criticism Of things going on here WI
not be indulged in
Mr.. Seibold appeared "in his own b'
|
J any civic organization. He said he ha
devoted years of study to the uniqu
theory advanced today and declared
was impossible to escape the conclusio
that Congress has been beyond II
pale Of the Constitution In levying take
, within the ten square miles ceded h
: MARYLAND and Virginia for the seat
government. Mr.. Seibold began h
Z statement late yesterday and was give
5 more time today.
tee. who appeared Immediately inte
ested In the point raised, Mr.. Seibo
gave his business as that OF groce
He was sometimes called. he said. Il
7 grocer. lawyer. philosopher" lie hs
studied law extensively and his philos
ply. insofar as II relates to D'stri
: affairs. was given the committee for l
= worth.
2 Mr.. Seibold asserted that in cedir
:, territory to the Federal Government
: had expressly stipulated that It W;
Z subject to section s. article /. of Il
I Constitution. This section relates to Il
: levying Of duties. imposts and excis
and stipulates they must he uniform
Can't Be Done
District residents. Mr.. Seibold sal
are subject to uniform taxes similar
) those paid by the resident OF any 9th
section. but the Government cannot le,
n from the District resident a speci
r local tax and then an indirect tax whi'
n Is uniform throughout the nation.
9. Elaborating on this idea. Mr.. Seibo
asserted vigorously and at length tn
q the Congress had been violating the e
, press provisions OF the Constitution
i levying taxes all these years ION III
a trict residents for local purposes. +
said Congress had the right to tax a
y persons OF the United States for Il
: maintenance OF its Capital, but Il
n taxes. under the Constitution. must