The Washington times., 1915-10-25

sential to the upbuilding OF the Capital
that the Federal Governments contribu-
ton shall be OF a fixed proportion. and
not less than one-half Under the in
definite contribution arrangement.
which existed prior to the organic act Of
1878. Mr.. Macfarland demonstrated that
the growth of the Capital was slow be-
cause in some years Congress made no
appropriation. and in other years varied
appropriations were made
From the facts collected by our COM
mittee." he said. I'VE can state ap-
proximately that the total amount con-
tributed by the District Of Columbia
for. the whole period was Sl. .4o7, 7+2.S2.
while the apparent amount contributed
by the United States was $50. .4l3, ,7J5.S5. OF
sy9 which lcf o.. much more than half. namely
$lS.aS5 $3.50. was contributed between
1870 and lHS. under the new desire to
Improve the National Capital.
Analysis of Figures.
"On the face OF this statement the ex-
cess contribution OF the District of
Columbia was 81. 1893, 9ss. A.: but an anal
ysis Of the contribution Of tho United
States. such as we have made in our
brief for the period between 1870 and
1871. shows that a large part OF the
contribution of the United States was
not for general municipal purposes.
But. whatever classification of the
Items In the United States Government q
contribution may be made. the radical
fault Of the method OF contribution lay
In Its uncertainty. The reasons why
for the sake of the United States Gov.
ernment and for tho sake OF the U-
trict of Columbia. the amount OF United
states contribution should be in fixed
proportion to the Districts contribution
have been clearly stated by Congress
sional committees and by Senators and
Representatives. The Allison commit
| tee in it's report of June Ii. 1874. said
For the protection of the Govern
ment 1t Is essential that some fixed
unvarying rule should be established
| for the ascerta inment of what the Gov.
ernment should contribute toward the
| expenses OF this District. Without It,
an appropriat ations committee will al.
ways be liKely to be misled into i'm.
! proper allowances
Power of Taxation.
Mr.. Macfarland quoted from speeche.
Of Senator Root and Senator Lea in ad.
vocacy Of the half-and half principle
as being a protection to the Distric,
against arbitrary rule and unwise ap.
preparation Of District money.
| He continued:
THE power Of taxation and the DOW.
er Of appropriation being in Congress
and not In the people Of the District
Of Columbia, 1t Is clesr that the taxes
might be increased to meet Increased
appropriations. so as to save the Ma
tional Treasury from contributing. unit
! those taxes reached the point OF con
fiscation. Advocates ~ the abolition
OF the half-and~half plan in Congress,
have proposed this very thing. or
false assumptions they nave claimed
District should be asses sed at s7A, 900,
OOO and that the real and persona
property should be assessed at 500, ,0O0
600 This is. OF course. prcposterous. as
for 1913 shows. New York. Ph!ladelphit
and Boston are the only cities there re
ported as having real and persona
property amounting to s933oOo0Oo, am
ones s., reported ~ having more thai
st, Louis. Cleveland, Baltimore. Pits
burgh, Detroit, Buffalo. San Francisco
Eew,r Eos Angeles; eS NM MlTankee. Uan. Cincinnati
greater population and wealth thar
Washington. which are reported a!
having much less total property thai
sS3S.oOo.oo, and much less real propert!
than $744OO0,000
An Overassessment.
THE high 1915 assessment OF rea
property In the District, an overa ssess
ment. as we claim. amounts to $3.50, ,Us,
SS. We shall show that 1t is 1909 pc
cent of true value as to S34, 900 900 Il
actual sales reported by the Assessor
which would make the total value O
real property In the District three year
after 1912 over $3.50 60O0U.
Moreover. the new form OF the old
time system. or lack of system. nov
suggested. contemplates taking the Dis
trict revenues as national revenues an
making the appropriations for the DIS
trlct in national appropriation bill
which would make 1t appear that tn
Government was paying all the ex
penses OF the District. and make con
stant friction IN every Congress a
new members, and even old membe r,
would he puzzled and confused.
THE Governments contribution woul
fall far below the amount under tn
: present arrangement, the local take
, would increase. and the District woul
, be again bankrupted. One OF its effect
would be an uncertainty as to wha
taxation would be required On tn
, subject we quote Mr.. Blackburns ur
, answerable reason given In the Hous
, In 1878
Whatever per cent the Federal Go,
ernment is to bear should be deter
mined and fixed permanently so this
legitimate and permanent values ma
be established In the District Of c.
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