The Washington times., 1915-10-28
HIGHER TAXES URGED
FORLAND| DISTRICT
Herbert J. Browne Asserts Pres
ent Assessments Keep In
provements Out Of District.
Continued from First Pagc.)

at xZb n fOOt
Senator Works asked II real estate
values In the District were intrinsic or
speculative.
Certain sections still show epecula-
tive values" said Mr.. Browne. There
though much land Is still held for spec
ulative purposes. and the. spectators
hnd II more profitable to hold It than
to improve It,"
Urging the abolishment OF the half
and-half system, Mr.. Browne quoted
from Senator Roots speech before the
constitutional convention in New York
wherein tho Senator said that no i'm
provement Is POSSIBLE In the world
men with things as they are"
THAT applies to the District Of Co.
lumbia." said MIR. Browne. You cannot
have a change here without overturning
rights-the privilege OF dodging proper
and adequate taxes"
Inquiry Roams Afield.
The fiscal inquiry roamed far afeld
for a time today, embracing such sub
Jects as the administration OF civil serv-
ice laws. tho salaries of Government
employees. the city building plan of Ger
many. the "spoils system" Of former
years. and the shabby buildings along
Pennsylvania avenue.
Mr.. Browne precipitated the general
discussion on many topics by denying
that the Federal Government prohibit
cd the construction Of manufacturing
establishments In Washington. The
laws relating to the height OF buildings
and the anti-smoke regulations, he as
serted. were not the cause OF lack Of
manufactures in Washington. The alb
sence OF these establishments. Mr..
Browne contended, was due to the high
land values here and the high cost Of
living-the two operating against both
factories and their employees.
Take Baltimore, for instance. said
Mr.. Browne. at Is similar to Wash.
ington In many ways, but the cost or
living Is about one-half of what 1t is in
Washington. and Baltimore Is one of
the greatest manufacturing cities. for
its size. In the country"
Mr.. Browne said he hoped the build
ing regulations In this city will be
made more stringent to prevent the
small attached dwellings. which are
foisted on Government employees as
homes"
Try To Utilize All.
Land values here. said Mr.. Browne.
are such that the builders try to utilize
every inch.
long rows Of houses an abomnation.
between Government and prvately-own-
ed structures in Washington.
mo man who has any pride In the
Capital can see the buildings along
the principal business streets without
n sense of shame" he said. I'm the
main they are shabby beyond descrip-
| ton"
Il have often heard expressions about
the magnilicent streets Of Washington.
said Congressman Cooper. Take away
l hn nd h frn ~
Pennsylvania avenue and would you
not have one of the shabbiest streets in
| the country"
"Assurcdv." said Mr.. Browne. who
! said that beyond three or four private
| buildings and the Postoffice and mum.
to the Capital. and the other buildings
wouldn't fit in third class Western
| town.
THE Federal Government" he said
has kept up its part of the building
| program. but other structures are faI
behind. The private structures in Wash
| ington on the whole are a disgrace"
| Senator Works said he had been tolG
one reason for the ramshackle buildings
| in Washington Is the necessity for low
| rents.
Question OF Money.
1t had been suggested. he said tha
/ Government employees and others here
are not able to pay rents on fine build
ings.
III that Is the situation" said tn,
Senator. ''it Is not a question of civic
pride, but dollars and cents. the com
mercial instinct"
Mr.. Browne asserted in passing thai
the European war is due to land grab
| bng and human greed" The same
agencies. he said. may eventually brinl
the United States into trouble and war
| He then discussed at length the city
building" plan OF Germany.
Germany rebuilds her cities alons
modern lines he said. she rebuild.
cities that were old before the Pilgrims
landed on our coasts and this answer:
the argument against tearing down the
existing order of things
Mr. Browne said he was inclined tt
challenge the statement made in thu
citizens brief that WashinGtonians arr
all cheerful taxpayers. He proceeded
with discussion of direct and indirec
taxation. referring incidentally to In
direct taxation under the tariff.
"You are getting on very dangerou!
| ground and may split the committee.
said Chairman Chiffon, Democrat. whil'
everyone laughed.
lumhia," said A. S. Worthington. OF th'
citizens committee.
Ridicule Suggestion.
| Mr., Browne rldICuleO the suBBestlol
that the slogan Of Revolutionary days
no taxation without representation-ap
piled to the District situation.
| "Taxation in those days for the bene
| fit of England and taxation here for tn
benefit of the citizens of the Distric
are entirely different things" said MI
Browne. "SuCh an argument cannot b
used as a refuge for the residents o
the District "
Somehow the discussion turned to tn
old "spoils system" and Mr.. Brown
said that for one thing "it put men wit
q punch into the Government service.
II am not enamoured of schola sticisr
as applied to Government tests" h
added. II have hired and fired man
men, and have been hired and fired my
self and | have found a ten-minut
conversation of more value than exam
ination papers
For the class of work done by Gov
ernment employees they receive highc
pay than they would in private life.
know temporary employees In the do
partments who go In and do the wor
just as well as the veterans"
Congressman Cooper asked " NJ
Browne attacked the civil service. Tn
Wisconsin Congressman said the exam
inHtion method had been improved
, late years and the civil service was al
soiutcly necessary to end "spoils sv,
tenn" which WAS decricd by such states
men as Grant, Garfield. Bayard, an
Vest.
Another Discussion.
This led to an extrancous discussion {
| 4 H. .l,,u 81, t.lN -