Evening star., 1915-01-11

to be named by the Speaker OF the House,
whose duty it shall be to prepare and sub
init to Congress statement Of the proper
proportion of the expenses of the gov
ernment of the District of Columbia or
any branch thereof, including interest on
the funded debt, which shall be born by
the District and by the United States, re-
spectively, together with the reasons upon
which their conclusions may be based. and
in the discharge of the duty hereby i'm
| posed. the said committee Is authorized
! to employ such assistance as it deems ad-
visable, at an expense not to exceed
$4,000, and the said sum or so much
thereof as may be necessary be and the
same is hereby appropriated for that pur-
pose"
Norris to Support Rider.
Declaring that he had been converted
by the debate in the Senate on the Dis
trict bill. Senator Norris of Nebraska
told the Senate today that he intended
to vote for the johnson rider, which
repeals the half-and-half principle of
| appropriating for the District.
| Before this bill was taken up in the
Senate said Senator Norris, IT had
been OF the opinion that to make a
radical change in the method Of ap-
propriating for the District should not
pc attempted in an appropriation bill.
But 1 have listened to the debate and
nave reached the conclusion that the
| House provision Is better than the COM
mittee amendment. which would restore
the half-and-half plan. I see no rea-
son why the plan contained in the John
son rider should not be approved.
though 1 do not think that it is a
complete remedy for existing evils.
| Because it is not a complete remedy
l think that some provision should be
placed In the bill calling for an in
sestigation into the whole matter OF
| trict of Columbia. This investigation
might very properly be made by a
joint congressional commission.
| Some of the senators have argued
| that an investigation should be made
before any change is made in the
trfct. But 1t seems clear to me that
the johnson plan is more equitable
than the old half-and-half plan, and I
see see no reason for withholding favor
1t was at this point that Senator Gal
ilnger interrupted the debate on the
District bill to offer his amendment.
James Opposes Delay.
Senator James of Kentucky, who is
supporting the johnson rider, insisted
| that the commission which Investigated
District matters in 1876 had recon-
mended that the proportion of expendi-
| lures for the District government
should be 60 per cent for the District
and 40 per cent for the federal govern
ment. He said the adoption of the
Johnson rider would put into effect
| next year practically that proportion.
Therefore he urged that even If Con-
gress provides for an investigation as
proposed by Senator Gallinger, the en-
| actment of the Johnson rider into law
| should not be delayed.
Senator Lippitt of Rhode Island call
ed attention to the fact that the pres
ent form of government was adopted
| in 1873 as a result of the recommends
| tion of joint commission in 1876, and
| this fact should be an argument in
favor of continuing it.
Senator Root of New York said that
it was now proposed to abandon the
principles set forth in that report. He
said that while the taxable property in
| the city had increased vastly since
then. it was also true that the public
improvements had increased. and on
| the scale upon which the capital of the
nation is required to be managed.
How absurd" said Senator Root, ito
abandon the principle before the sub
ject is inquired into by commission
Praises Assessors Office.
Senator Norris said that the willing
| ness to agree to the commission for an
| investigation was an admission of the
| belief that something was wrong in the
present system. He took up the Ques-
| property in the District. In his judg-
| ment, said Senator Norris, the as
| SCISSORS office is now being conducted
fairly and honestly.
The value Of improvements is some,
| times assessed too high, he said, and
there ought to be exemptions on improve
ments. He said he intended to offer an
amendment to cover that point. He
| hought that an exemption to the amount
| of S2,50O should be made where the i'm
provements are in excess Of that sum.
Discussion Of Exemptions.
Senator John Walter Smith of Mary
land insisted that the exemption In as
sessments suggested by Senator Nor
ris would decrease the taxable property
of the District very materially.
Senator Norris replied that the result
| of such reduction would be to require
the tax collector to go after property
| not now taxed. He contended that his
proposition would operate to the ben
| eft of the poor man and the small
property owners.
Senator Norris displayed map of the
tween 9Th and 18th streets and B and
TX streets northwest. He said that
within the last four years sales OF
property in that region aggregated
$l6, O,0OU, ana tnat the assessed value
was s1s,500000.
How do you know these sales values
are correct" asked Senator Works OF
California.
| Senator Norris replied that the as
SCISSOR had told him he had in his office
Il man whom he called the "sleuth" to
investigate the real consideration paid
for property.
Evidence of Fair Assessment,
Senator Norris then displayed a mar
showing the sale of property in acre.
age lots. The sales, he said, amounted
to $2,500,0 600, and the assessed value /:
$2,700,000. He declared this to be goot
evidence that the present board of as.
SCISSORS is proceeding upon a fair basis
Next he showed a map of one city
by residences. the street being Macoml
street west of Connecticut avenue Ht
said he feared the assessors were as
sessing this property too high.
Prohibition Amendment Considered
An amendment providing for prohi.
bition in the District of Columbia ma,
be submitted by Senator Morris shep.
pard of Texas, author of the resolution
introduced in the Senate for nation.
wide prohibition. Senator Sheppard
said today that he had not fully de.
cided whether to offer the prohibition
amendment or to offer separate
measure for prohibition here.
| '1t might be subject to a point o,
order as being general legislation or
an appropriation bill,'' admitted Sena.
tor Sheppard. "and much will depend