The Washington times., 1915-11-06

and-hsif plan is not practicable and
Major Kutx was then called upon to
present his statement. II is probable
that the only other District officials
who will be heard are Tax Assessor
Richards, Assistant Assessor Il. w.
oyster, and possibly Auditor Tweedale.
Cooper Questions Kutz.
Commissioner Kutz was asked by Con-
gressman Cooper II he intended to advo-
cate a hxcd proportion OF contribution,
whether II be on the basis of 5O-5o. 60-4o.
or 900.
That Is my recommendation" said
Major kuty. II think 1t would be better
- have the Federal and District govrn-
thsh to have plan whereby the Fed
eral Government would make up the
balance needed here"
Congressman Cooper interjected that
Congress had shown liberality toward
the Capital by paying from Federal
kunds for such beautifying projects as
The Lincoln Memorial. He asked II u
ssre not to be assumed Congress- would
e as liberal In appropriatinE for any any
balance which might be needed In this
city,. even though the proportion we're
Il do not predict any dire disaster no
matter what plan may be adopted" said
Major Kutz was asked what lie
thought Of the Newman Brownlow pro-
pc sails. He said his only contention was
that Washington both In its functions
as the seat or government. and a resi-
dcDce city, would go forward more rap
Idly were there to be known and h1ed
fiscal Arrangement. whatever the pro-
portion Of expenses might De as pc
tween the District and Federal govern
ments.
Disagrees With Kutz.
Senator Works said he disagreed with
Major Kutz's observation. in his formal
statement, that the citizens Of the coun-
try are interested in its physical devel-
opment. but pay little attention to the
moral and educational side OF its de-
ve;opment.
The California Senator recalled that
the present excise law. which had work
had been fathered py Senators from
Pacific coast States. 5000 miles from
Washington. and he expressed the be-
lief that residents of California are
just as much interested in the moral
srowth Of the Capital as In its physical
growth.
When the hearing adjourned at
o'clock this afternoon Senator Chiffon
announced there would be no further
session todaS The committee will
heeL aSdlH dt ~ " SioSh AhohNoy ihSi"
Ing.
Suggests Inquiry.
Congressman Cooper asked him
whether he had any suggestions to
make about improvements In the meth
DDS of assessment.
Under the plan have outlined.
said Commissioner Brownlow. II think
1t would be wise to institute an inquiry
such US that suggested yesterday by
MIR. Newman into the per capita tax
OF other cities of size comparable
TO Washington. We have some bad
things ana some good things In our
assessment methods here. popular
assessor. you know, Is probably an
inefficient assessor
Congressman Cooper inquired wheth-
er Mr.. Brownlow thought there ought
to be an increase IN the stan OF tho
Assessors otrice. The Commissioner
sible for three men to do the work
efficiently and that there ought to ne
field stan OF twelve men. He also
said the board OF equalization ana re-
view should be different from those
who made the valuations In the nrst
place.
senator Works suggested that the
Commissioners themselves might act
er Brownlow said he believed that
would be impossible because Of tho
heavy work already devolving upon the
commissioners.
Il said We had some good things. t"
continued Mr.. Brownlow. cone of those
Is the exemption of intangible personal
property. I hope that you do not rec
ommend that such property be taxed"
Brownlow q Single Taxer.
Then you are q single taxer, too?'
said Senator Works. who had inquired
No.
score.
Yes" replied Commissioner Brown
low. Il also wanted to point out that
We have tax OF s per cent on the gross
earnings OF national banks and trust
companies. Our electric light and tele-
phone companies are taxed 4 per cent
So gross earnings: gas light companies
ave to pay per cent; savings banks
ana street car companies pay 4 per
cent Of their gross earnings"
Why should the tax be less on a
street car company than on a gas COM
pany?" asked Congressman Gard.
For no reason l know. except the
wisdom OF Congress" replied Commits
sioner Brownlow.
You think that the per cent on a
bank comes from the borrower, them
asked Congressman Cooper.
1T does" replied the Commissioner.
~ believe that the properly conducted
pdhh 10 tht oVbt asStt II COhltHuihty CHI
have. Yet we place a tax on them
which restricts their loans
Isn't It true that the consumer pays
tax on any corporation, street car. Of
Gas company. for instance?" asked Sem
ator Works.
Yes bu: the public utilities have the
use Of streets and other privileges. while
the bank has nothing but what 1t pays
for" said the Commissioner.
Congressman Gard asked Mr.. Brown
low whether he favored a policy which
would encourage the Industrial plants to
come here. Mr.. Brownlow said he did
not. lie added that when the Great
Falls power project was effected the
smoke-stack question would be done
away with.
Wants No Development.
\ young man recently wrote to me
asking what I believed to be the chance
for Industrial development In Washing
ton" said Senator Works. II replied
that I hope there never would be any
az all"
Returning 20 the single tax Mr..
III ownlow said he did not think there
would be any marked benefit BY its ap-
plication to such a restricted territory
az the District alone. but that he did
believe II would be found to be the
fairest method Of levying taxes here.
Summed up then. Mr.. Brownlow. YOU
oppose the half-and-half plan because
l-I 4