The Washington times., 1915-11-17

District OF Columbia lust as u pays all
OF the expenses OF the AGRICULTURAL Dc
partment, the Navy Department., the
War Department. the department OF
Commerce. and Of all other executive
departments or branches OF the Federal
Government. II should paw all biiis
out OF any moneys In the treasury not
otherwise appropriated. so much for
what the Federal Government ought to
do In the District OF Columbia.
Now what should the GO.0OO people
In the District dor what should the
second. minor element In the equation.
dO7 Take an Individual member of
that group OF 5OOO0-take q man. John
Hobbs, living anywhere In the District
OF Columbia. John Hobbs should pay
into the Treasury OF the United states
q fair and reasonable sum of money for
the privilege. protection. and civic rights
that ne enjoys by living in the District
OF Columbia. All Of the John Hobbses
In town should pay reasonable and
fair sum OF mo orey because they live
here, Just as anybody In any city pays
living in that city. In Washington
Jchn Hobbs would pay u into the
Treasury Of the United States as a tax
for the privilege OF living here"
Louis Brownlow.
Louis Brownlow. District Commits
sioner:
LAO hhA-uHu-nhh UihH u
Legislative fiction. There In not
on the books of the Treasury Depart
ment any account between the United
States and the District OF Columbia
which shows or purports to show that
there 10 any such class OF moneys In the
Treasury Department held as a trust
fund or otherwise known az the reve-
nues Of the District of Columbia.
believe that your duty will be best
fulfilled II YOU report to Congress that
percentage to describe the proportion Of
the expenses OF the National Capital
that should be paid on the one hand
bv the Federal Government. and on the
other hand by the residents Of the
Capital: but that in your opinion II will
be wise in the future for Congress to
appropriate for all the expenses Of the
District OF Columbia out Of any money
In the Treasury not otherwise HDpro-
printed. the Government thus assuming
TO the full its obligat ton to care for
the National Capital: and that the
people here shall be required to paw a
Just and equitable tax such as they
would pay n they lived In any other
the revenues 70 collected be covered
into the United States Treasury as a
part Of the receipts OF the United
States"
Major c. w. Kutz.
Major Charles W. Kut1. Engineer
Commissioner: =.
should continue TO contribute a fixed
proportion to tho maintenance and de-
velopment Of the National Capital.
believe 1t would be preferable all around
to have the Federal Government and
the District government contribute fixed
sums rather than have a plan whereby
the United States would make ND tho
balance needed here. Nv opinion is that
Washington. both as the seat Of 0ov-
ernment and a residence citv. will 10
forward more rapidly under a fixed con-
tribution system. whether the proportion
be bO-J0 <0-60. or 35-65. or any other
figure. I do not predict any dire disas-
ter. however. no matter what plan may
be adopted"
Charles c. Lancaster.
Charles c. Lancaster. attorney. tax
payer and member OF several citizens
associations:
Criticised Supreme Court for 'dodg-
inS tho issue in the Newman custer
case brought by homo rule committee
Alleged that the Ben Johnson tiscal plan
for the District was creating "a A.
and half and approved substs ntiaily tie
Brownlow-Ncwmsn plan for the Ma
tional CaRitsi PROTESTED asains,
laws requiring ell District officials and
employees to be residents here.
c. B. Hemingway.
e. b. Hemingway. single taxer:
Presented single tax arc Iment and
attacked various civic organizations
here as unrepre sentative and selfish.
Asserted the Chamber Of Commerce and
Board Of Trade did not represent
per cent Of District residents. Tho
half-aad-haif plan. he said: was ur. r..
Congress for the District.
William P. Richards.
William =. Richards. tax assessor:
Defended assessments of his office at
tackled by Herbert ]. Browne and com
plained OF lack " help In ASSESSORS Of
lice. Urged annual instead OF trienninl
assessments. Said the present force Is
doing the best IL can under handicap
Agreed with Commissioner Brownlow
that the proportion spent by the Fed
| erai and District Governments Is never
exactly one-half each. despite organic
| act.
8. r. Blanton.
8. r. Blanton. Senate smploys and
announced representative of a farmers
| organization:
Opposed to the half-n nd-half. but 1t
| ought to continue. he suggested, II Dis
| trict residents are to continue without
| the privilege to vote. He suggested
| District residents ought to vote. and
then the Federal Government should
| contribute a reasonable amount to
the Capitals upkeep.
William +. Shannon.
! william E. Shannon. real estate oper-
: ator:
Approved of the Brownlow-N Newman
plan. and suggested:
| Il fully believe that the half and-half
| plan il detrimental to the people and
the city Of Washington as clearly point.
! ed out by Commissioners Newman and
! Brownlow.
Il am firmly convinced It Is the half
| and-half plan that forces Congress TO
look upon this city merely as any other
city Of 10000 people instead OF looking
upon II ~ the capital OF the richest and
greatest nation on earth. 1t keeps Con-
gTess from looking upon II as Its own,
as belonging to its constituents. loo'oVA.-
900 strong
Harold E. Doyle.
Harold Z. Doyle, realty expert;
| Blamed Democratic Administration
and half-and-half controversy for de-
preston In real estate market Said he
thought the assessment OF unsubdiyided
land In the District Is about 20 per cent
too high. and disagreed with some OF
| the values put on property In the
George report and the Herbert j.
browne brief.