The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-11-06

1T Is true" continued Mr. BrownIow
that in those years when the appro-
priations were more than double the
amount OF local estimated revenues Con.
gross directed that the Treasurer ad.
vance the money required to make up
the District deficit and required that
these moneys be repaid from District
revenues with the addition OF ? per cent
interest. but, so far as the actual trans
action in the Treasury Department was
concerned, this was merely borrowing
money from one point TO put IL into an
other. and the interest charged only
served to exaGgerate the fiction.
AT the end OF this. the present fiscal
year. according to the best obtainable
estimate. the District revenues will Cx-
coed one-half OF the appropriations by
a,l36.2S6o3. For convenience, II is Gus
tomary to term this balance a surplus.
but as a matter of fact IL will be a part
of the moneys OF the United States. AMI
will be available for the purposes OF any
appropriation made by Congress for any
purpose whatsoever. Thus IL will he seen
that, insofar as it works at ALL the
half-and-half works against the District
and not for it
II firmly believe that all of our trou-
bles with respect TO this problem would
be ended II the next appropriation bill.
instead of reading that one-half of the
following sums respectively is appropri-
ated out OF any money in the Treasury
not otherwise appropriated and the other
half out of the revenues OF the District
of Columbia should be changed to read.
That the following sums are appropri-
ated out OF any money in the Treasury
not otherwise appropriated
Remedy a Simple One.
TT would simply break down a legis-
lative fiction and bring the statute books
into accord with already existing facts.
My suggestions with respect to a plan
are very simple.
I'm the first place. l would have Con-
gress declare that since the District OF
Columbia Is the National Capital. II
would be governed and supported solely
by the Federal government. Then. that
this District may not become a haven of
refuge for tax-dodgers. and that the peo-
pie who live here may pay, as they are
willing to pay. for the benefits and privi-
leges enjoyed by them. I would provide
that a just and equitable tax be levied.
insofar as possible with that
paid BY citizens of other cities of approx
mately the same size as Washington.
ct believe that this rule would estab-
fish a Just and equitable proportion that
would meet every changing condition and
provide for every exigency OF the fu-
ture."
Interests Are "overlapping."
Mr.. BrownIow spent some time DEM
to the committee that the
overlapping interests OF the municipality
Federal and purely municipaI-make II
Impossible to divide the benefits derived
from expenditures. He continued:
1T must be manifest to any one who !
will sit down and look over the appro- |
priations for the various municipal func- |
ions and who will then consider what Is |
lone with this money. that there can be
no accurate division of the municipal |
md Federal functions In the District Of
and that any such division. II
made. must be arbitrarily and necessari-
y unequitable.
THE arguments presented here by
hose who continue the half and half.
10 far as I am able to determine. may
,e condensed In this way:
That from 1850 to 1878, there was no
ixed measure of the national obligation
o contribute to the expenses of the Dis
riot Of Columbia; that since 1873 there
las been a definite fixation in the proper
ion of 50 to 50; that before 1873 the de-
'elopment of the District was SLOW spas
nodic, and uneconomical; that since
SIS the progress has been steady; that
his change resulted from the act Of
SIS: that this act enshrined the half and
alf. and that, therefore, all our progress
ince ISIS Is to be credited to the half
nd-half principle. From this II is ar
ued, that II Is dangerous to change the
alt and half. and that even II the half
nd half be changed. the proportional
contribution Of the Federal government
iust be determined on a hxed percent
ge''
Turning to Col. worthington, Mr..
CONTINUED ON PAGE FoUl