Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-11-06
who come to Washington and become
public charges for one reason or

who come to Washington and become
public charges for one reason or
another.
There is no human being who can
take the figures showing the expendi-
lures for the District last year and
say what part was expended for the
municipal government of the District
and what part for the national gov
eminent" contended Mr.; Newman. ..,o.
the cost of running the Capital city
Is twice as great as that of running
other American cities of the same
size"
Mr.. Newman replied that while the
expenses were considerably greater
here than in other cities, he did not
think they were twice as great.
why are they SO much greater than
in other cities?" asked Mr.. Gard
Mr.. Newman pointed out that in
Washington the city has many thou
sands Of square yards of pavement to
lay, repair and keep clean; that 1t has
more street lights to pay for; that 1t
not always done at the expense of the
municipality in other cities. and that
the park area in Washington is very
much greater and must be kept up.
Compared With Other Cities.
The whole scale of operations in the
capital is greater, and must necessari-
ly be greater. than in other cities, COM
parable to Washington" said Mr.. New
man. He said that more attention was
given to the esthetic side.
Mr.. Newman told the committee that
there was only one issue which Con-
plan suggested by himself and Mr..
Brownlow was adopted.
Congress will have to ascertain what
taxes the citizens of the District should
11 Il
much as citizens of other cities com
parable to Washington pay. But Con-
gress should be very fair to the citizens
of the District. and IL any deviation
from this principle is had it should be
in favor of the citizens of the District.
The fixing of the tax rate here must be
an arbitrary action, however. 1 hope
that this committee will make its own
Investigation, If 1t decides on such a
recommendation as 1 have outlined, to
determine what the taxes should be
here. and that it will not depend upon
the ex parte statements Of interested
persons"
In answer to a question by Senator
Works as to how he felt about estab-
fishing the single tax system. Mr.. New
man replied that he was single taxer
himself and believed that all improve
ments should be exempt from taxation.
IT am opposed to levying taxes on
improvements Of properly he said,
for believe that it paAalyzes indus
try and thrift" He said he would APP
prove 10 per cent reduction annually
in the assessments on improvements
until the taxes had been transferred
entirely to the land.
Mr.. Brownlow Gives Views.
Commissioner Brownlow followed Mr..
Newman on the stand. His brief is
printed, in part, elsewhere in The Star
today. Mr.. Brownlow told the COM
mittee there was no justification for
continuing the half-and-half plan and
submitted figures to show that it had
been disregarded for many years. He
urged that the federal government pay
all the expenses of the District, the
citizens paying a reasonable tax into
the federal Treasury. 1t was pointed
out that the revenues of the District
might be used to pay any of the ex-
penses of the federal government.
What right has Congress to tax the
people of the District to pay the ex-
penses of the national government"
asked A. S. Worthington Of the joint
citizens committee.
That's not the question" said Mr..
Brownlow But gentleman proved
to the committee Wednesday that Con-
gress has no right to tax the citizens
Of the District for any purpose except
as 1t taxes the citizens of the rest of
the country, but 1t has been taxing
the people here just the same for over
a hundred years"