Evening star., 1915-11-12
is ONLY WAY TO STOP
WRANGLING, HE ASSERTS
Says Last House District Committee
Was Nightmare to Tax
payers Here.
JUSTICE SIDDoNs AGREES
Both Believe Taxes Here Should Be
Reasonable, With Federal Govern
ment Assuming Burden of Ex-
penses-others Testify.

The abolition of the half-and-
half plan and the substitution for
it of plan by which the federal
government will pay all the ex-
penses OF the District, aided by a
reasonable tax paid by residents
of the District of Columbia, was
urged before the congressional
committee investigating the rela-
tions of the District and the
United States today by former
Senator ]. c. S. Blackburn Of
Kentucky. Senator Blackburn
was chairman of the House Dis
trict committee when the half
and-half plan was enacted into
law, and he strongly favored it
at that time.
He gave as his reasons for
abandoning the half-and-half plan
that the government is today
paying too small share of the
expenses of the National Capital.
If a fixed ratio was to be main
tanned, he suggested, the govern
ment should pay Is per cent and
the District IS per cent.
For Reasonable Tax Here.
In suggesting his plan by which the
government should pay all of the Dis
trict expenses Senator Blackburn said
that the people of the District should
pay a reasonable tax, which should go
into the federal Treasury. but which
should not be considered by Congress
when making appropriations for the
District
Justice Frederick l.. Siddons of the
District Supreme Court. former Dis
trict Commissioner, testified before the
committee that in his opinion the half
andhalf plan should be abolished. and
that the government should pay all the
expenses of the District in much the
same way as advocated by Senator
Black burn.
Justice Siddons also advocated doing
away with the District government as
such, as advocated by Senator Works.
and having the government of Wash
ington bureau of the national gov
ernment. probably under the Interior
Department.
Only Way to Stop Wrangles.
Senator Blackburn urged that the abo-
lition of the half-and-half plan was
the only way to end the wrangles
in each succeeding Congress.
He said that the House District COM
mittee. as constituted in the last Con-
gress, was a nightmare which every
taxpayer in the District found on his
pillow when he went to bed at night.
He said also that the only settlement
to be found in Congress or in the coun-
try at large opposed to liberality on
the part of the government in the Dis
trict of Columbia. was to be found
among those members of Congress who
sought to make political capital in
their rural districts by posing at
watchdogs of the treasury.
William H. Saunders and John Joy
Edison appeared before the committee
in defense of the half-and-half plan.
Mr. Edison had merely begun his state
ment when a recess was taken for
luncheon.
Government Reducing Tax Values.
William H. Saunders was the first wit
ness heard today. What do you think
of the half and half plan of the present
assessment of property in the District.
Mr. SAUNDERS" asked Senator Works
II think that the half-and-half plan
should be continued" said Mr.. Saun-
ders.
why is that plan an advantager"
asked Senator Works.
N ~
ment-owned property in the District is
keeping pace with the improvement of
private property" was the reply. Mr..
Saunders told of the great holdings the
government has in the streets, the
parks and public buildings.
The government Is constantly taking
more land from taxation in the Dis
trict." said Mr. Saunders. You have
only to look out of the windows OF this
building to see that
Mr. Saunders told the committee there
had been a decrease in land values ia
the District in recent years and that
was too high.
Thinks Half and half Fair.
Ought not the government to pay all
the expenses of the District. irrespec-
tive of the amount of taxes paid by the
citizens here?" said Senator Works.
The intelligent people of the Dis.
trict. believe, think that the half-and-
half plan is fair. and is as fair and
equitable today as 1t was in 1875"
What do you fear If the half-and-
half is abolished?" asked Senator
Works.
When the appropriations have been
made in the Congress for the District
IN recent years. members have opposed
he half -and-half plan. apparently de-
string to make the District pay larger
proportion of the expenses This dis
position has been manifested by con-
siderable number of congressman. but
believe that they have felt so because
hey did not have the proper informa-
lion on the subject"
I'm your opinion. would not cgnErsss