The Washington herald., 1915-04-21
OPPONENT FACED
With own WORDS
Blackburn Once Pleaded for
Adoption of Half-and-
half Plan.
UPHELD PEOPLES RIGHTS
mcfarland Quotes Him and Says
Conditions Have Not
Changed.
UPHELD PEOPLES RIGHTS

| Henry B. F. Mcfarland last night
| issued statement in reply to the as
sertion made yesterday by former Sen
ator ]. c. S. Blackburn, who aided in
framing the half-and-half plan in 1878.
that the plan is unequitable and un-
fair, has outgrown its usefulness and
should be replaced by system where
| by District residents would pay n fair
property tax and the Federal govern
ment would spend what it pleases on
| the District.
The most striking statements made
by Mr.. Blackburn yesterday were The
half-and- half principle is fair neither
to the government nor the District.
1t is least fair to the District. With
present conditions l believe 1T mathe-
matically impossible to work out a fair
percentage of expenses as between
Federal and District governments.
Il believe Congress will establish
81 stem of taxing District residents what
they should pay on their property and
permitting Uncle Sam to build up his
own city. The private holder of property
should pay A tax equal to that paid in
any cities of like size. This money should
be paid into the Treasury and every dollar
for the District should be appropriated
by Congress direct from the Treasury"
Quotes Blackburn for Plan.
Mr.. mcfarland said: 'Mr. Blackburn,
in advocating the half-snd-half plan in
the House, said some things which are
just as true today as they were them;
Mr.. Mcfarland then quotes Mr.. Black
burn follows:
Tho people of this District have
right TO demand that Congress shall fix
permanently their relations to the Fed
eral government. The people of this Dis
trict have right to protest against be-
ing left subject to the within and coprice
of Congress with each recurring session.
Should any one of you go out to pur-
chase real estate in Washington. you
would ask to what taxation it was SUBJ
ject. If the owner is honest he can SIM
ply reply that he does not know. The
people here have and can have no tangI-
BILE value to their real estate property.
Tn" property holder does not know
whether the appropria ton made by Con-
-ress will BE- 10 per cent or 80 per cent
of the expenditures of the District.
'If YOU do not intend to bear more
than 10 per cent of the burdens of taxa |
ton. say so; if you will bear 80 per cent.
then say so. But whatever per cent the |
Federal government is to bear should be
and fixed permanently, SO
that legitimate and permanent values |
may be established in this District"
Would Cut Federal Allowance.
After thus quoting Mr. Blackburn's own |
words to answer his attack on the half |
.nd-half plan Mr. mcfarland added: |
No gorgeous but illusory dream of the
'nited States paying more than one-half |
If the expenses of the National Capital
'ould then. or can now, affect the practi-
al craftsmanship of the definite
plan. Every practical
al man acquainted with operations of
congress must know that if the contri-
Iution of the United States is left to what
Mr.. Ella Ckhurn called the whim and ca
rice Of Congress with each recurring ses-
ion that it will be whitfield down to
he smallest possible size and at best will
20 variable and uncertain.
The last Congress defeated in both
Iouses the measure to abolish the half
'rd-half plan and leave the amount Of |
lie contribution of the United States
lOatins in the air. In the House. the
Johnson rider providing for such action,
vas squarely defeated by the substitution
f the Underwood provso creating the
oint select committee, afterward ap
roved by the Senate. which had al
cady voted down the Johnson rider |
he Underwood proviso. now law. con-
aimed in the District appropriation act
" the terms EXPLICITLY states that the
uty of the joint select committee shall
e to prepare and submit to Congress A
tatement of the proper proportion Of
he expenses of the government of the
district of Columbia, or any branch
hereof. including interest on the funded
ebt. which shall be borne by said Dis
riot and the United States, respectively.
ngether with the reasons upon which
heir conclusions may be based; and
hus emphasized its reputation of the
rhemCs for leaving the contribution of
he United States without definite pro-
ortion and subject to the within and !
apricc of Congress with each recurring I
rssion."
The executive committee of the joint |
itiZens committee on the half-and-halfj
Ian met last night in Mr.. Macfarland's |
flee and heard informal reports of the
;Ork being done by the subcommittee
facts to present 10 the joint $
congressional committee which will in
estigate fiscal relations between the
ederal and District governments. Mr..
Mcfarland said that the reports were '
and satisfactory" and that I
ne subcommittee are making progress. J