Evening star., 1915-11-11
No Guesswork Wanted.

There is one thlng WnlCh we regard
as important which has not been COW
cred. That is the question of whether
the present assessment applied to the
tax rate fixed by law imposes a rea-
sorlable or unreasonable burden on the
people of Washington. You have left
this question up in the air. We do
not want to guess at it. The joint
citizens committee should bear this in
mind, The congressional committee
has invited q few prominent business
men to come here and testify, but they
have so far failed to show up
A. S. Worthington of the joint citi-
-ens' committee replied that the citi-
zens committee had furnished just that
information.
Continuing its attack on the figures
submitted by Herbert J. Browne and
used as basis for the George report
On taxation in the District. the joint
citizens committee today put on the
stand Charles Z. Marsh, assistant sec
retary of the Real Estate Title Insur-
ance Company. Mr.. Marsh brought with
him the records of the title insurance
company and from them showed that
Mr.. Browne had been in error in the
cases to which the joint citizens COM
mittee referred yesterday.
Mr.. Browne admitted these errors
but insisted that they were clerical
Seeks to Finish This Week.
At the opening of the hearing today y
Senator Works. acting chairman of the
Investigating committee in the absence
of Senator Chiffon. said it was the de-
sire of the committee to finish this
week il possible. He said the COM
mittee desired TO give full opportunity
TO all witnesses to be heard, but that
he hoped the witnesses would so ar
range their testimony as to permit the
wind-up of the hearings Saturday.
Herbert j. Browne rose and said he
had a matter to present to the com
mittee of such grave importance" that
he thought a quorum of the committee
should be present. There were only
three members of the committee in the
room. but as Mr.. Browne spoke Repre-
sentative Rainey stepped into the
room, making a quorum.
You may proceed. Mr.. Browne" said
Senator Works
This matter is important that
believe II should be considered in ex-
ecutive session by this committee" said
Mr.. Browne.
His request was granted and the COM
nittee filed into adjoining room ac-
companied by Mr.. Browne After about
twenty minutes the committee re-
turned.
Aims to Get All the Facts.
Mr- Browne has suggested to the
committee. said Senator Works when
the committee had resumed the sit
ting. that 1t may be improper for this
committee TO take part in an attack
upon the report of a committee of the
House. or to permit witnesses before
II TO make such an attack This COM
Jnittee is not here to permit an attack
TO De made upon the report of a com
mittee Of the House. But il is here tt
get all the facts in the matter before
II. We want these facts and we are
not going to allow ourselves to be linn.
tied in getting them by any other in.
vestigation BY any other committee
The object Of this investigating ant
hearing Is not to attack the George re.
port or any other House committee re.
port"
Mr.. mcfarland of the joint citizens
committee said:
That is precisely our view Of tn,
matter, Mr.. Chairman. and we hav,
been proceeding in that way"
Cites Precedents of House.
Mr. Browne told the committee tina,
according to precedents of the House
from which he quoted. a committee o.
congress may not investigate the worL
Of a committee of the House vitho,
direct action giving permission to max.
such an investigation by the House IL
self. He contended that the presep,
committee. which is joint committe.
of the Senate and House, had no righ
TO probe into the testimony given be
fore the George committee. or to at
tack its report.
Am to understand that the citizens
committee has completed it's examiua
uon of me- asked Mr.. Browne, whei
4 s Worthington of the citizens com
mittee asked that the secretary of tn
Real Estate Title Insurance Compan,
be called to the stand.
Oh. no. no., said Mr. Worthiugto
Mr. Browne was under examination b.
him when the committee recessed las
evening.
Charles r. Marsh. assistant secretar
OF the Title Insurance Company, the
took the stand. He was questioned b.
thomas Bradley OF the joint citizens
committee, who presented figures yes
ti.a.La