Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1915-04-05
Administration Of
NATIONAL CAPITAL
The Present Situation is Far
From Satisfactory to
the Residents.
is TO BE INVESTIGATED
Senator Salisbury a Member of
the Committee to Look Into
the Subject.
4peclsl Dispatch to Every evening

special Dispatch to Every Evening
Washington, April 5.--Senator Sauls-
bury of Delaware has been getting a
preliminary outline Of the District Of
Columbia financial survey, upon which he
is to spend the latter half OF the present
summer, after he shall have returned from
the Orient. In this joint congressional
inquiry into the taxation system and the
budget Of the District, the people Of the
national capital are taking the keenest
interest. II involves the question as to
whether the United States Government
shall continue to contribute one-half the
cost OF municipal government and public
improvements within the District, and
rs TO what means, il any, shall be taken TO
reapportion the tax fund between private
property and the federal treasury.
So long as the United States govern
ment owns a very large proportion Of all
improved property within the District
Of Columbia, the citizen taxpayers de-
clare, IL should bear It's fair share Of the
cost Of upleep Of the city. And since the
people Of the city are denied the privilege
Of running their own municipality but
must pay for whatever pavements, parks,
bridges or other improvements Congress
may decide upon, Congress, IL is held
ought 10 pay something for that denial
Of the franchise 10 taxpayers.
Year after year Chairman Johnson Of
the House committee on the District Of
Columbia has fought for the abolition
Of the established "half-and-halp system
Of financing the District. In the past two
years he has twice made the abolition
OF this system a clause in the annual ap-
preparation bill as it passed the House.
The Senate has restored the "half-and-
half in conference committee. This
year, however, the demand from the
House conferrees was strong enough to
force the creation of a Joint commission
to report on fair division Of the cost Of
running the city. Senator Chiffon Of
West Virginia is chairman of this COM
mittee, and with him are associated Sena-
tors Salisbury of Delaware and Works
Of California, as representatives of the
Senate. Three members Of the House will
work with them. Briefs on behalf Of the
various organizations interested in the
problem are TO be fled by September l6,
when the hearings will be started.
During the past month Senator Sauls-
bury has been looking into some of the
features Of the controversy which have
, been most warmly disputed. These in.
clude the matter of assessment of rea
estate in the downtown and the outlying
residence districts, and the share Of taxa
tion contributed by the various public
I utilities.
Another important angle to the diff
Guilty is the fact that the city has M
organized municipal life, because it ha
neither suffrage nor even an advisory
expression of the public will. Congress
enacts laws for the District. The Presl
dent appoints members Of the municipa
government. Hence, Washington Of a
national capitals, is helpless to eifectivel
protest a wrong, much less decide upon Al
issue of policy.
Just now the matter is considered b,
the business men and real estate owner
10 be so serious that they have formed
system of citizens committees, to prepar'
the case Of the taxpayers against tn
proposal that the present federal aid Il
District revenues be abolished Al
executive committee has been electeS
from the various committee branches, anC
this executive committee has employed
A. NJ. Fisher, an expert statistician, L
collect and tabulate the facts in the fsca
situation. He will prepare the brief Il
be submitted to Senator Salisbury an,
his associates. Headquarters have beel
opened by the citizens executive com
mittee, and contributions Of $40 each ar
being solicited from business men TO pa,
the cost of the work.