Evening star., 1915-02-09
Judge Prouty Alleges Inequi-
ties Under the Local Sys-
TEN of Assessments.
MAKES ADDRESS BEFORE
MIDClTY ASSOCIATION
Asserts Lawmakers Are Not Un.
friendly, But Warns Against
Attacking Congressman.

To convince an audience OF Washing
tonians not that he Is right about the
inequity of taxation in the District OF
Columbia, but that he thinks he Is
right, Representative Prouty of lows
OF the House District committee, OK
plained his Views Of District Of Colum
bia government before the Md-city
Cittxene' Association, at 1908 7th street
northwest. last night.
incidentally he announced himself
as In favor OF sorne system Of govern
ment by which the people Of the Dis
trict OF Columbia shall have q voice in
tho taxation Of their properties and In
the disposition Of those taxes for ad-
ministration and public improvements
Washington. he said. is the only cap
ital In the whole world where the peo-
pie do not have a say in the govern
ment of the city. He pointed out that
in autocratic Russia Moscow and War
saw have a measure of home rule
making the comparison with the people
of the United States as the only people
of any nation who do not trust the
citizens Of its capital with a voice in
their own political affairs.
Conditions in Iowa Communities.
Judge Prouty outlined the processes
Of his mind in reaching the conclusion
that Washington citizens do not pay
enough of their own taxes. He cited
conditions in Iowa communities, con.
trasted with tax conditions In Wash
ington. And after the lowan has paid
liability he Is called upon, said Judge
n m po n m
taxes OF the National Capital.
Commenting upon the Inequalities OF
taxation, he set forth that an Iowan
must build his own sidewalk and must
property to the middle OF the road
whereas, in Washington, halt of these
costs only are assessed against the
property owner, and besides his own
to pay the half of the taxes that the
citizen of Washington does not pay.
Discussing the assessment rate or
realty he declared it indisputa5le that
while citizens of Washington pay taxes
on a basis of 81 for every 500. the
Answering the argument that Wash
ington pays a larger per capita tax, he
declared that this Is not fair basis OF
computation, and that it would be un-
basis; furthermore, he asserted that
this condition, If SO. indicated that the
Washington citizen was richer in real
estate than those of other communi-
ties. and accordingly should bear a
greater part of the tax burden. In fact
he declared, the citizen of Washington
is richer in real estate than are any
people in the world, with the exception
of certain Indians.
Alleges There Are Tax Dodgers.
The fact that many people claim res.
idence in Washington to escape taxa.
ton was insisted upon by Judge
Prouty, comm menting on the fact thai
stocks and bonds are not subjected te
taxation here. and also objecting te
the absence of an Inheritance tax.
The tax system in the District OF
Columbia is unfair to the poor man
he said. This he regarded as due tc
the fact that the citizen had no voice
and that the man of substance who has
the ear of the official forceS-who has
a pulls able to influence the taxa
tion.
This inequity. he said, was shown il
the fact that, on a legal basis of two.
thirds valuation OF property for taxa
ton, the homes Of the poorer owners
were assessed on IS per cent valu-
alton; the homes OF the middle classes
on the legal basis of two-thirds valu-
alton, while the homes Of the wealthy
and substantial business property es.
capped on a valuation Of 30 and II pei
cent.
He challenged question Of these state
ments. declaring they were obtained by
the indisputable records In the offices
of title companies OF which congress