The Washington times., 1915-11-05

I alton. that this committee Is confronted
| by what In really quite a simple s,tua-
tion and not so complicated and difficult
~ one would presume from the vast
| amount Of evidence. discussion and ar
gunent that has been presented in this
| matter. II seems to me that these GER
tain surpluses automatically dispoSes Of
| the hnlf and half. for this reason: that
| to defend the half and half in the face
of them means TO do ono of two things
appropriate twice ss much money
| every year. as the District raises and
thereby absorb the surplus. or reduce
| the tax rate in the District Of Columbia.
II d. not anticipate that any member
OF this committee would seriously pro-
pose TO this Congress q reduction Of the
tax rate in the District OF Columbia.
When you realize that | per centum In
cludes "A great many Stnte and county
taxes which you pay In your home
you that the present tax rate at least
is not oppressive. On the other hand,
think II must be apparent also TO every
member OF this committee that when
appropriating habits OF the Congress
of the limited States. you will know that
Congress Is not going to make appro-
rrintions for twice the amount OF these
Increasing revenues OF the Distric. Of
Columbia
Congress Won't DO II.
Congress is not going to do II, not
only because In making provisions for
an institution of the character OF tho
District OF Columbia. 1t Is not likely
to make sudden and abnormal in
crcascs In appropriations In any one
year. but also because the hnanciai
condition OF the District OF Columbia
is most excellent. Our indebtedness
is less than six million dollars: In
fact. we have no Indebtedness except
the outstanding 3.66 bonds. which rep
lars that have Just indicated. Any
large extraordinary projects such as
the Great Falls power plant or the
branching out Of the District govern
ment into municipal ownership. or
operation of any public utility, coull
and should be financed by a bond is
sue. Our credit. both for sentimental
and financial reasons could hardly be
better. We not only have very small
Indebtedness when compared to our
taxable values: but being a sort OF
stepson OF Uncle Sam. we are able TO
float bonds at a much better rate OF
interest than any other municipality.
Same Situation.
"a defender Of the half and half
system might with some logic aivo-
cate the payment Of this balance Of
less than six million dollars Of 3.65
bonds with the surplus OF District
bonds off at a rate of about seven
hundred thousand dollars a year now.
and even II we should devote all our
surplus to paying off these bonds. In
two or three years they would all he
paid and we would again he In the
same situation as we are now.
II now want to make statement to
the committee which will not be re-
ceived with enthusiasm in some quar-
ters OF the District OF Columbi., but
I am absolutely convinced Of Its truth.
! believe that 20 per cent of.the friction
hetween members OF Congress and citi-
zens OF the District of Columbia. and
80 per cert of the friction between In
Congress or tho District OF Columbia,
Is due to tho very existence OF the half
snd-ha'f plan. because II causes every
thing in the District to be discussed on
the basis of the haIf-and-haif and not
jcct under discussion. Every question
pertaining to the District Of Columbia.
10 text books for the schools. or to
street paving. or to the cost OF side
walks. or the collection OF garbage. or
to the paying Of street car tickets for
policemen and fremen. or TO the sa,ar''
OF the Commissioners. or to the pay Of
an additional messenger in the court
house. Is discussed not at al, upon the
merits OF whether the thing should be
upon the basis Of why should the
United States pay half Of this and why
shou'd the District of Columbia nay
haf or this, that. and the other thing
Adverse Report.
FOR instance. here is a case In point,
In the last session Of Congress a bill
was introduced providing that police
men and firemen OF the District OF CO.
lumbia should ride free on street cars
when in uniform. II was referred to
the Commissioners for report. The
commissioners sent UP an adverse re-
port port on the bill saying tat. In tue
SHOULD not he permitted to accept grH-
tulties from corporations which were
resuiah Il by the District. and that the
corporation should not be asked to
missioners had asked In their estimates
Tor an appropriation to purchase car
tickets to be used by policemen and
tiremen while travelling on duty. The
the bill because It would favor one ccr-
tain class of employees Of the District
OF Columbia as against all other elf
Dloycs. The bill was before a commit
IT, ,s of ~ Congress- for a hearing and in
mittee said: I am inclined to agree
with the Commissioners on this In OBJ
JectinG TO the free passage of police
men ana fircmcn on street cars. I
think the Commissioners should issue
tickets to them whenever riding in the
iormanCe of their duties Two MEM
n"rS ~ the committee lcrcled their
fingers AT the new member and said:
But yoG don't realize that the United
states has got to pay for half Of every
one OF those tick.ts.' When you come
down to splitting street car tickets you
have reduced your consideration of the
affairs OF tho District to terms OF alb
surtiity. This Is not an extreme case:
II IL typical case. We can never
eliminate that sort of discussion until
We get rid OF the half-and-half.
Outlines Plan.
Il wish to outline very briefly the plan
OF fiscal relationship which Commisslon-
or Brownow and believe ought to DO
adopted in the District OF Columbia. |
am not going into very great detail In
explaining that plan. because we navo
divided the business Of presenting our
views to this committee 30 that there
may b. no duplication. | viii cover
certain subjects and he others. to tho
end that the committee may conserve
us time. IN explaining our views.
want to state n sort OF premise which
49, to 40 with the QueStu,n "hetnGr
Washington is the seat OF Government
OF the National Capital, or whether
Washington Is city OF $4,000 people.
v ou hear many people. including many
members OF Congress. advocate the