Evening star., 1915-01-12
Representative Page Says the
Voters of Country Will Re-
sent Federal Neglect.
SENTIMENT OF CONGRESS
NOT HOSTILE, HE ASSERTS
Advocates Abolition of Half-and-
Half System. However, and Up
poses District Suffrage.

Not a single individual in Congress
believes that the citizenship Oh tHe
District should have to support WASH
ington without national aid. according
To the belief expressed by Representa-
tive Robert y. Page of North Carolina.
chairman of the House District appro-
priation committee, in an address be-
fore the Mid-City Citizens Association
at Frcunds last evening. He said that
the people in the states would demand
that congress give aid to the nations s
capital.
He urged the abolition of the half
and-half plan. however. saying that
its time of usefulness is now passed.
He said that the money raised in the
District this year was approximately
$1,000, 900, and that under existing con-
ditions Congress would have to appro-
pirate dollar for dollar. making $780,
100000. The Commissioners. he said.
had submitted an estimate Of $4,000
600 You can't spend sf6,000,OOO
on the Distric; of Columbia without
throwing some of it away he said.
Il believe that the taxes in the Dis
trict should be supplemented from the.
national Treasury, as much as neceS-
sary, 1 don't care whether it be 25 per
cent or IS per cent. Indeed. I can con-
ceive a time when you might want to
put through some special project when
the federal government should con-
tribute rs per cent. j think the time
has come when no man dare to stihe
the growth of the nations capital. 1t
would not be tolerated by his con-
stituency.
Emphatic Against Suffrage.
Mr.. Page was emphatic against
far ha IF
no greater calamity" he declared.
which could be put upon the city of
Washington than that Congress should
pass law giving you the ballot. I
know that people must be active on
something, but for Gods sake quit
working for the vote and go for some
thing you can get. ] do not think that
Congress will ever give the District the
ballot. Remember that this is 4 ma
tional capital and not your capital.
You have been told that there is no
graft in the District. i agree woth tha.,
But why is there no graft here? If
YOU had had the ballot you would have
had both graft and bad government. In
fact. know that as your population is
made up you would have many bad
things of which you do not now dream.
The people in my state and in every
state in the Union are going to see that
this is national capital in reality and
not in name only
The newspapers of Washington have
interpreted things certain members of
Congress have said to mean that Con-
sress has in mind taking away nation
al aid You cannot find in either body
IL single Inan wtro thinks that the citi-
zenship of Washington should support
this city. But this does not mean that
we are to Keep to the old plan. On
that principle business men who had
formed plan in 1873 should keep to
that plan.
papers say. 1t certainly has worked
we'll for the District. But ! think the
time has come when this should be
changed
Denies Taxes Will Increase.
Speaking of the fear that the pro-
posed amendment to the District ap-
preparation bill would increase the as
sessment of property or taxation in the
District he declared: Il have carefully
read this amendment, and through it
assessment or taxation would not be
increased in a thousand years. There
is no idea of increasing the taxes. If
so. have not heard d word OF it.
This is one of the few communities
where there is no assessment of in
tangible property he said. referring to
the proposition TO tax intan gibie prop
erty in the District. THE purpose of
this is to relieve taxes on personal
property and real estate. If ] have
stocks and bonds from which I receive
an income and I have to pay no taxes
thereon. am favored citizen. and
YOU have bestowed upon me privileges
TO which ] am not entitled. Many gen
tlcmen are coming to this city to escape
taxation.
II think this capital should always be
little ahead of amy other American
city,. he said. in conclusion. millions
OF dollars have been spent here by the
federal government for improvements
to which the city has not contributed
one cent. refer to things like the
large park to be made from Union
station to the Capitol and to the Lin
coin memorial. All these benefit the
District property owners.
Il want maintained the condition that
does exist here now-freedorn from
graft and extravaganza. II the present
plan is continued YOU will have more
money than you can arcad without
waste and extravaganza.
Comparison With Other Cities.
There is not another political division
in the United States or which either
the assessment or rate is not higher.
You may find cities where the mu-
nicipal tax is lower. but nine times out
Of ten there is county tax and state
tax The rate Of taxation here is lower
than any other American city COM
parable to this in size.
Prior to Representative Pages ad-
dress. D. A Edwards. ex-president of
the Federation of Citizens Associations,
delivered an address in support Of the
'half-and-half plan" Mr.. Page said he
could not agree with what Mr.. Ed
wards had said.
Extravagance in p. o. Alleged.
That recent changes in the city post
Office had come as the result of ex-