Evening star., 1915-03-19

tax burdens by comparing tax rates,
as modified by the confessedly false
reports of the relation in each city of
| assessed to true value, is discredited
| mon sense as inaccurate, unreliable
and misleading. Washingtons actual
tax burden. measured by the only fair
and accurate standard, the per capita
tax levy. instead of being one-half
that of the average American city, far
exceeds that average, being greater
per capita than in LAT of the other
l94 American cities: % Washington,
instead of being the richest among
American cities, is absolutely the poor
est in taxable resources. 1t is rem
dered incapable by the Gripping 1egis-
lation of Congress of bearing alone
the burden of capital maintenance and
upbuilding: go since the Washing
tOnfnn is today compared with other
Americans heavily taxed municipality,
and since not even sufficient money is
raised under the present system to pro-
| vide adequate maintenance and wise
development for the National Capital,
| the half-and-half arrangement should
not now be disturbed.
Power and Obligation Coupled.
| 1. The nation should not repudfate
it's half obligation in respect to capital
maintenance; for the logical sequence
of such action is surrender of all power
and exclusive Jurisdiction in respect to
the District of Columbia. and the de-
struction Of the nation con troIled cap
ital. conceived aud created by the fore
| fathers.
If the nation repudiates entirely it's
National Capital obligation except in
| direct relation to public buildings and
grounds 1t must in honor surrender all
exclusive legislative power in respect
TO ihe District of Columbia. 1t must
I a -fafe 0f Co
| lumpla, by constitutional amendment
| repeating the ten miles square pro-
vision; or it must retrocede to Mary
land the portion of the District ceded
| by Maryland over a century ago to form
the seat of government.
IhlS action. disSolving the National
| Capital partnership, divorces absolutely
capital and nation. changes the seat
area occupied by public buildings or
| used as public grounds or necessary
ior any national purpose. and de-
stroys Washington as the nations
| city
| This step should not be taken:
| ~ Because, tending to bankrupt and
depopulate the city which will take
the place of the former capital. it wifi
result in shabby and discreditable
environment of the seat of government,
| Illuminating to national self-respect
| 90 1t will be dishonorable, destroy
ing equities and vested rights which
spring from the century-old pledge,
| based on valuable consideration, to
preserve and develop Washington as
| the permanent National Capital The
nation as half owner of Washington's
original lots made this pledge to each
| purchaser of a lot from it as dis
| tnctly as if the pledge had been writ
| ten in the deed.
90 1t will offend the ''fine, strong
spirit of American nationality The
| National Capital is not only the symbol
! of union, but it is in itself a patriotic.
unlfylng influence. The nation should
not and will not destroy this material
embodiment of the union of the states,
this bond and token OF the spirit of
American nationality.
The nation should not diminiah its
haif-cOntrfbutiOn to capital upbuiIdinx,
for the logical sequence Of such action
| is surrender by the nation Of control ~
the capital municipality to the local
majority stock holders. Power and oh
| HEatfOn are inseparably coupled, and
II the latter is destroyed or Diminished,
| the former Is In equity DESTROYED or
diminished In preportIon.
/ II the nation without repudiating
entirely It's capital-maintenance obliga-
| ton cuts it down from one-half to
one-third or one-quarter, and confines
IT to Il close calculation of actual
| benefits in protection and DEVELOPMENT
| conferred upon the government prop
| erty, then the nation should cut down
| i'll proportion the control which 1t eX-
!
| ernment of the District. Ceasing to be
a majority or one-half stockholder in
! this municipal corporation, it should
| III good faith, turn over control of the
| fiscal concerns of the corporation to
| the ma ajority stockholders. This sur
render of power accompanying q re-
| pudiation of obligation should be
| genuine and effective. 1t should trans
| fer to the majority contributors to the
| tax fund absolutely the power to say
| how much should be raised in taxes,
| in what form they should be raised,
and by whom and for what purpose
! they should be expended. No power
! should be reserved to the nation
which is not of the negative. limited
| character that is appropriate for the
| protection of Il minority interest and
| representation.
| power and obligation are insepa rably
| coupled. and the nation should not
| bunko the capital by merely pretend
| ing to surrender power while gem
| timely repudiating material obliga-
| ton.
| fair and considerate treatment of their
| capitals, whether in the old world or in
| the new. has been and will be needed
| by the United States. OF especial in
| ter.st and Significance is the inspiring
| example set by our great neighborlnR
| republics south of the equator, Brazil
| and Argentina, III reference to Rio and
| Rueuos Aires. their fine capitals. which
ton.
| TO- The proportionate contribution to-
+, ward capital upbuilding and the lmme-
| diate tax burden of the District tax
| payers of today should not be increased
{ in order that the nation may repay it
! self out of today's Sorely needed local
I tax money for alleged b1underS and
| ncslects to it's disadvantage by its oW n
| administrative and legislative agents
| during the last forty years The resur-
| rection of ancient alleged debts and
| their compulsory payment from money
| exacted under the organic act solely for
| specified current purposes, as proposed
! by the accountants Mayes, is Rlaringly
| ineuuta BILE. The closer the study of
| the history of the 3.65 bonds and the
| Districts funded debt, the more shock
| ingly unfair appears any, even par
| tiaI reputation by the nation of this
debt.
Definite Proportionate Contributions
| Needed.
| IL. The question to be answered in
| thi. inquiry asks for definite, fixed
| and certain proportion of contribution.
and wisely bars by inference nm uncer-
tain, fuctuatinS proportion, changing
| from year to year according to the
whim and caprice Of the few men, rep
resenting the nation, who deal with
District affairs.
The fixing of this definite relation OF
contribution is necessary In fairness to
the local taxpaying community, which
bu. no voice whatever in respect to
r.;Ssn~ n. amending the Dlatrict,a rev.