The Washington times., 1915-03-15
TAX PROBE IS SET
: FOR SEPTEMBER
Joint Congressional Committee
viii Receive Briefs, How
ever, Until August l.
Continued from First Page.)

their views orally to the committee.
This is done to economize time.
''ln the meantime the committee d.
rects anyone interested In any view of
the subject before the committee to hle
briefs not later than the lst Of August.
In filing these briefs the committee
would like to have six copies Of each
brief. so that each member Of the COM
mittee may have one. The purpose of
this is to give the committee an op-
portunity to familiarize themselves with
tho facts and contentious Of the parties
interested.
"The committee will not be inclined to
hear any one orally who does not file
brief of his contentious by the 1st of
August
The committee calls attention OF
every one to the duty OF the committee.
which is, under the law, as follows:
To prepare and submit to Congress
a statement Of the proper proportion
of the expenses of-the Government of
the District of Columbia, or any branch
thereof, including interest on the funded
debt. which shall be borne by the said
District and the United States. respec-
lively, together with the reasons upon
which their conclusions may be based
Briefs and oral arguments must be
confined to the subject. All briefs
should be directed to the chairman at
Washington"
MdCIdTlAn0 Al Meeting.
At the outset of today's meeting for
mer Commissioner Macfarand Informed
the Investigators that he represented the
executive committee OF five which in
turn represented the joint citizens COM
mittee composed Of members OF the
Chamber of Commerce, Board of Trade
Retail Merchants Association. Fedora
tion of Citizens Associations, and Com
mittee of One Hundred.
We desire to aid you In every way
possible said Mr.. Macfarland. review
at the University Club last Friday. AT
our meeting last Friday qualification
was expressed concerning the selection
| OF this investigating board. and / may
was also a source of qualification. We
appreciate the arduous task you gentle
men have undertaken during your vaca-
ton period. and desire t to be of assist
Chairman Chiffon asked Mr.. Macfar'
| land II the executive committee of five
| could have Its brief ready by August
| l. to be followed by oral testimony ir
would be entirely satisfactory to tho
| civic organizations. Congressman
Rainey and Senator Works suggested
| that the committee members woulc
IKE to have briefs in advance Of thu
| oral testimony In order that the in
| vestigators may study up on thi
question before September"
| 1T will buoy us up to know that TIL
| citizens here want to cooperate In thi
| investigation" remarked Senator Chill
ton as Mr.. Macfarland concluded hi
u statement.
Charges Discrimination.
Fl. J. Browne told the investigator
that he had assisted the House Dis
trict Committee in preparing tn
! George taxation report, and tha
there was gross discrimination be
tween classes in taxation here, an
while the law provides taxation a
not less than two-thirds value this
sometimes seriously avoided an
evaded." Mr.. Browne said he wante
to appear in opposition to the half
and-half principle.
THE so-called half-and -halfers seer
to be organizing. why don't you or
ganize those District citizens wh
oppose the existing arrangement:
suggested Senator salisbury.
"It la difficult to find District citi
zens opposing. the existing order O
things" said MT. Browne.
". T.. Ryan and Howard c. Becl