Evening star., 1915-11-09

A. B. johnson said they did not think
the joint citizens committee ought to
be given a day for further statements
| unless all the other witnesses were to
be given a further opportunity to
| speak
Mr.. Macfarland explained that the
Joint citizens committee merely wished
to be heard in regard to certain facts
which have been presented during the
hearing and that it was not the inten-
| tion of the committee to repeat what
| it had already said.
| Chiffon Withdraws Objection.
"A great deal of the time Of the COM
mittee has been taken up with discussions
Of questions with which the congressional
committee has nothing whatever TO do"
said Mr.. Macfarland. I'VE will promise
to keep strictly to the question Before
the committee"
Representative Gard interjected the re-
mark that 'it would be enlightening to
hear the real question before the commit
tee discussed for a whole day."
| When Senator Chiffon understood that
the joint citizens committee was asking
days. he raised no further objection, and
| 1t was understood that the joint citizens
committee would have it's day in court
Donald Mcpherson, an attorney living
| in Washington, addressed the committee
briefly, stating that while he did not be-
long to any of the citizens organizations
represented by the joint citizens commit
tee. he would be content to have the
| citizens committee represent him. He
said. however. that If he had his way
he would like to see the District given
representation in Congress similar to that
given to the states its representatives to
have a vote as we'll as the right to speak
on all matters before Congress
Believes Half and Half Harmful.
the committee yesterday afternoon and
| half plan. He said:
| 1T is by request that am here, as it
! was not my intention to take up your
! time.
my open letter Of April II to the
president OF our Board Of Trade, as read
| to your committee. expressed by views
| as to the so-called half-and-haf plan.
| I may add. in my opinion. it also ex-
presses the sentiment of a majority of
| our citizens.
II fully believe that the half-and-
| half plan is detrimental to the people
and the city of Washington. as clear
| ly pointed out by Commissioners New
vinced it Is the half-and-half plan that
forces Congress to look upon this city
merely as any other city of 100000 peo-
pie. instead Of looking upon 1t as the
capital of the richest and greatest ma
tion on earth. 1t keeps Congress from
looking upon it as it's own, as belonging
| to its constituents. 100,0o0.o00 strong.
"As to the proportion of expenditures
between the United States and the Dis
trict. let Congress investigate and de-
eide what constitutes Just taxes / am
Of the opinion that we are somewhat
overtaxed. but In any event, let us pay
our Just taxes directly to the govern
ment. Then, without any consideration
as to the ratio. let the government
spend our money, and as much more as
Congress may deem wise, on our muni-
cipal organism and the Identification of
the nations city. 1 feel it may be as
sumed with perfect safety that If this
Is done the nations capital will not
suffer in its development along the
broad lines we all have so much at
heart. but differ as to the method of
accomplishing.
"As to the problem of suffrage which
has attached itself to the question be-
in my opinion the real question before
us is Inherently one of municipal gov
ernment along lines best calculated to
advance the interests of the nations
government is SO entirely and en-
phatically a business proposition that
the true civic question with a city is
not how is 1t ruled, but how well is it
ruled
Optimistic for the Future.
'I would rather not have the right
to vote and have the President of the
United States the mayor Of my city,
though he may delegate that power to
Commissioners. or to one of his cabinet,
and tho great Congress of the United
States my town council. than to have
the right to vote and live under condi-
tions existing in the average city Of
$50, 900 people with its average mayor
and It's average town council.
'In closing I wish to say that 1 am
sufficiently optimistic to predict that
Irrespective of what system may be put
in force I firmly believe that Just as
sure as the nation grows. just so sure
will its capital grow: nothing can stop
1t. But 1t will grow better and bigger
and approximate the ideal we all have
for the nations capital If its growth
is exclusively undertaken and directed
by Congress.
Oyster Answers Criticism.
E. w. oyster. a member Of the board
of assistant assessors. and one Of the
two appointees under the present board
of Commissioners. took the stand to
discuss. the general question of the
present assessment. He had been criti-
ctsed by Herbert J. Browne because, in
1905. before Mr.. Oyster had been ap-
pointed to office. he had made state
ment concerning his estimate of the
value Of real estate here. and, according
| to Mr.. Browne, the present assessment
falls SIS, 1000, 900 short.
Mr. Oyster said he had changed his
mind since he had become an assistant
assessor, on certain matters. and con-
fessed that in 1905 he had placed en-
tirely too much faith In the Tom john
son report of 1892 concerning the value
Of land in the District Of Columbia
He said that the criticism he made in
1906 had not Influenced his judgment
at the time he was working on the
nresent assessment: also that the charge
mat the assistant assessors do not take
into consideration the depreciation on
improvements Is not based on fact.
He read a list of properties on which
hoH hoAy1 raf