Evening star., 1915-11-12
Col. Geo. TruesdeII, H. L. Rust,
W. Mex. Clayton Speak in
Behalf of System.
APPEAR BEFORE BODY
ON D. Gu. S. RELATIONS
Divergent Views Are Expressed on
Assessments Here-0ther Cues
tions Considered.

defense of the half-and-half plan and
| the reasons why it should not be aban-
doned were the features of the hearing be-
fore the congressional committee investi-
eating the fiscal relations between the
District of Columbia and the United
States yesterday afternoon. Col. George
TruesdeIl, H. l.. Rust and w. Nick. Clay
ton spoke in behalf of the existing sys-
tenn. though Mr.. Clayton also urged that
suffrage and home rule be granted to the
District.
When the committee assembled after
the lunch hour Senator Works. the act
ing chairman, gave list of residents Of
the District whom the committee de-
sired to have appear before it. It was
as follows: George e. Hamilton, John
W. Yerkes, John l.. Weaver, James F.
Oyster, E. F. Colladay, W. Nick. Clayton,
W. E. Shannon, Judge ]. Harry Coving-
ton, Myer Cohen, John d. McGrath, w.
H. Saunders, II. l.. Rust and W. F. Guide.
Senator Works said that if the joint
citizens committee had any other wit
nesses it wished to have called the
committee would take the matter un-
der consideration: that he did not wish
to have a one-sided presentation OF
the question and would be inclined to
hear all.
He explained that members of the
committee particularly desired to ques-
tion the witnesses in regard to the
half -and-half system and whether the
assessments here are fair or unfair.
Mr.. Clayton on the Stand.
Herbert J. Browne submitted the
names of julius Peyser and Clarence F.
Donohoe. whom he said he would like
to have called. Mr.. Clayton then took
the stand. In reply to questions by
Senator Works, Mr.. Clayton said that
the question of the fiscal rela ations be-
tween the United States and the Dis
trict of Columbia had become mixed
up with the question of local self
government.
There are a great many of our peo-
ple," he said, who possibly would pre-
fer a recovery of that political right,
even if it were necessary to bargain
with Congress to get it back by in
creasing the tax.
Senator Works asked why. Mr. Clay
ton thought it would be advisable, for
the benefit of the taxpayers of the Dis
trict, to continue the half-and-half
plan.
well, the reason, I take it," an
swered Mr.. Clayton, is this: That it
seems to me it means more perma-
nent condition of affairs and a greater
certainty of things. If we had no de-
termlned ana 1XeO TatlO IN regard 10
what part Congress should bear in the
expenses of the District and what part
the District people should bear, and it
was left to each succeeding Congress
to do what in it's opinion might be the
best thing for the District, one Con-
gress might be very liberal and an
other Congress not quite SO liberal, and
we would never know, it seems to me,
where We were or how far We could
go. AS it is now we can depend on so
much, or at least we think we can"
Senator Works asked Mr.. Clayton
what he thought of the assessments
here. Mr.. Clayton replied that. taking
the assessments as a whole in the Dis
trict, he thought they were not ex-
cessive. He added that the assess
ments were not equaliZed, however,
and that considerable injustice was
worked on that account
Turning to the question of suffrage
again, Mr.. Clayton said that he thought
the people here would be willing to
pay 10 per cent of the annual eXpendi-
lures if they could have some legisla-
ton providing for local selfgovern
ment.
Suggests Five Commissioners.
Mr.. Clayton advocated a change in
board of District Commissioners to
five. two to be elected by the people,
two to be appointed by the President
and the Engineer Commissioner, an
army officer. He said that he believed
that all males of voting age, white or
colored, should be allowed to vote in
the District with an educational quail
| fication.
Whats the matter with the women
| as voters?" asked Senator Works.