The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-11-13
BIG GUNS" SUPPORT
AND ATTACK HALF
PLAN AT HEARING

With the end of the investigation APP
parently in sight for the early part OF
next week. yesterdays sessions of the
select committee were given over large
~ to the heavy artillery of two sides
proponents and opponents of the half
and-hah plan of meeting District ex-
penses.
brought forward such witnesses rs FORM
, er Senator Joseph c. S. Blackburn. OF
Kentucky. father of the organic act OF
1873, who repudiated his legislative on
spring and accepted the substitute pro-
posed by the civilian District Commits
sicners: Senator Works and others. Jus
tice Frederick l.. SIddons, District Su-
preme Court. former District Commits
sioner, also testified in favor Of the pro-
posed substitute.
Counsel for the Joint Citizens Commit
tee placed on examination leading bust
ness men of the District-Formcr Com
missioners George Trucsdell and Myron
Parker, John Joy Edson president of the
Washington Loan and Trust Company;
Corcoran Thorn. vice president Of the
American Security and Trust Company
Edward r. Colladay, president of the
Federation of Citizens Associations. and
William II. Saunders, former president
of the Board OF Trade. Additional views
on both sides viii be presented today.
More or less informally. but indicating
marked interest on all sides. the ques-
tions of District suffrage. District repre-
sentation in Congress. and an amendment
to the Constitution to change the status
Of the District Of Columbia came in for
general discussion throughout the day.
Senator Blackburn's statement de-
cIared that he favored the abolition
of the half-and-half plan now because
he believed it required too heavy a
contribution from District taxpayers
in view of the many acquisitions OF
land by the government in the Dis
trict since the enactment of the law
OF 1873. He stated his position as
follows:
Il think the property owners here
should pay just taxes on their hold
ings. I do not think these taxes
should have any connection whatever
with the maintenance and develop
mcnt of the Capital by the Federal
government.
Would Dissolve Partuershtp.
Congress has absolute power here
in the District. It's responsibility
ought 20 be as limitless as its power
and authority.
Il believe the partnership between
the District and the United States
ought to be dissolved. The law OF
1873 has stood the test for more than
third of a century. 1t has lasted
longer than I thought 1t would and
has worked better than l thought it
would
1T has never been the policy OF the
United States Government to go into
partnership with any one. It does not
even patronize private insurance COM
panies to insure its buildings against
fire.
II think that Congress should fix
q fair rate OF taxation to be paid
by the people residing within the Dis
trict and this rate should be fixed
without the slightest regard to the
fact that this is the Capital of the
Nation. I believe these taxes should
he collected and turned into the
Treasury and that every penny for
the maintenance. development. or
namentation. and extension of the Ma
tional Capital should be appropriated
by Congress directly out of the Treas
ury.
ct would have no connection be-
tween the amount of the appropriation
and the amount of taxes raised here.