The Washington times., 1915-10-25
National Citizenship and Gen!
eraI Equity Featured In
Argument.
on CITY DEVELOPMENT
Reviews Relations Of District
with United States Before
Congressional Committee.

Henry 3. F. Macfariand, as chairman
Of the toint citizens committee. opened
his argument at the District tax hear
ing today
As spokesman for the Joint citizens
committee, Mr.. Macfarland told the in
vestigators that this committee repre-
sented the Board of Trade. Chamber of
Commerce. the Committee OF One Hun
dred. the Bar Association. the Retail
Merchants Association, the Builders
sAd Manufacturers Exchange. the Fed
station OF Citizens Associations and the
Northeast. Columbia Heights. : and
Georgetown associations.
Mr., Macfarland said District residents
believed tNe people Of the country de-
sired their National Capital to be as
nearly perfect as possible and did not
besrudge the small per capita contri-
buted to its upkeep. Likewise. he said,
District residents appeared before the
committee as national citizens" and
were representative OF national as we'll
as mere local sentiment. The people OF
the District. he continued, contributed
cheerfully to the upkeep or the Capital
"Our fellow-countrymen are not pro-
testing against the continuance Of the
half-and-half arrangement. nor have
they ever so protested" said Mr.. Mac
farland. I'VE feel sure they would not
want their share of the common burden
shifted wholly or In part to our shoul-
ders. We shall show that our tax bur-
den is greater than that of many
American cities and comparable with
that of any city of similar population
even though there Is no other city OF
similar conditions"
General Equities.
Analysing. the half-and-half arrange.
ment as equitable. the former Commits.
sioner continued:
our position Ia not taken upon any
particular proportion between the Gov.
ernment property and the private prop.
erty in the District of Columbia. but
upon the general equities OF the matter
The Government property exempt from
taxation Is an important fact that
ought to be considered, but Is not de-
cisive.
Estimates OF It's value will differ
Exact measurement is not possible
Moreover. 1t is shifting proportion
and therefore unsuitable for a perman
ent ARRANGEMENT. A division on such
line would he as detrimental to the wei
fare of the Capital as a division on
line between expenditures claSsci ~
national and expenditures classed as 10
cal In common municipal outlay. ever
II such a division were practicable.
The National Capital as such mus
be first considered above the Interests
of any individual. but II Is not in thu
interest of the National Capital to ado
to the tax burden OF the comparativel!
few people living here. and thereb!
check the progress now being made Il
its DEVELOPMENT as the mere threat o
such unjust taxation has measurabl!
done"
The Southard Report.
Mr.. Macfarland reviewed the South
and report for 1885. This report to tn
Senate described the Capital as plac
designed ito be built up and sustaine,
Federal Government. and not dependen
upon the will or resources OF any Stat
or local interest" The removal OF tn
d Capital from Philadelphia to Washing
ton and the ambitious plans of It
founders were discussed fully by MI
Macfarland. who continued:
Decisions Of the courts and declare
tions Of public men are quoted In ou
brief to show the supreme control O
Congress without participation by tn
District residents. Without amendmen
10 the Constitution the District canno
be represented by anyone with vot
In either Senate or House. No Distric
man can aspire to the Presidency O
Vice Presidency or even to the Electors
College. Practically none can hope
sit on the Supreme Bench. Industria
and commercial development are dis
why did not the nation from the frs
carry on the development of its Capita
in a regular and systematic fashion? !
was. OF course. because at the outse
the National Treasury was empty s
that 1t had to borrow money fror
MARYLAND and Virginia to supDlemer
the lot money In erecting the nationt
buildings. The agitation for the r,
moval OF the Capital following the car
ture OF Washington by the British
1914; the winning of the West; the al
sorption of the people In the settl,
ment and development of the countr,
the absorption OF Congress In nationi
political questions; the distribute
among the States and Territories.
1887. of the first large surplus of II
National Treasury. and the civil WI
prevented Congress from doing its fu
duty to the National Capital.
Thrice Bankrupt.
"Spasmodic appropriations were mao
from time to time for municipal pu
poses. over and beyond those whic
were made for public buildings and the
surroundings, but until the act OF Jur
IL, 1878. no permanent provision WI
made for regular appropriations by Col
Eress for the expenses Of the DistriC
In that period the District residen
thrice bankrupted themselves. In 1885.
1871. and in 1874. In their attempts
do the great task OF developing al
maintaining the common CAPITAL.
THE desperate condition OF the nv
nicipal affairs eventually led up to Il
organic act of 1873"
MIR. Macfarland argued that It is Q