Evening star., 1915-11-16

are applied to the government esti-
mates in general, and the Commission
ers Will not say for minute that the
estimates they made in the second
year represented their views of the
needs Of the District. They felt that
as part of the general administration
they could not ask for what the Dis
trict needed, SO that the estimates
themselves were below what would be
double the amount of the revenues"
Question by Senator Works.
TN other words, they were affected
all along the line by the fact that the
government had contributed part of
it," suggested Senator Works.
YES" replied Mr.. Noyes, land they
treated this particular appropriation,
which we think should be put aside by
itself and handled along the line of
the law that still is in existence and
prevails in regard to such appropria-
tions. 1t was put on the same basis
spect of which there was no obligation;
even self-imposed, on the part of the
United States to appropriate a particu-
lar amount, and 1 hope that that limi-
tation does not apply this year, and I
do not believe it ought to, and l do
not believe it will apply
Attacks on half and Half.
The history of the various attempts
to overthrow and undermine the half
and-half plan in the House was related
to the committee. including the fight
on the Crisp bill and the passage of
the johnson amendment" in the lower
body by vote of 1S6 to 100.
Mr.. Noyes continued:
Thus the House. by a nearly 2-to-1
vote, threatened the capital commu-
nifty with taxation that would raise
$15 100000 annually. bringing distress
upon all taxpayers. financial disaster
upon the business community and bank
ruptcy and ruin upon thousands of the
small taxpayers.
Only the existence of that myth, that
delusion. that fiction-the organic act
Washingtonians believe. the
adoption of this ruinous legislation.
hastily and inconsiderately, as an
amendment to an appropriation bill.
Enough representatives who were
ready to believe the twin errors in re-
spect to local wealth and taxation, but
were unwilling to overthrow the Dis
trict constitution by vote OH an ap-
propriation bill. and without giving
Washington chance to be heard, voted
to refer the issue to this joint commit
tee for deliberate and thoughtful con-
to turn the hostile majority
into minority by a very slight mar
gin-165 to 151."
Absolves Congress From Blame.
Senator Works asked:
you do not suppose. if Congress knew
the facts. as yeu claim the facts to be,
that any such legislation as that would
have followed? You do not believe that
Congress would do such a thing as that
purposely, do your
''No. sir; I do not Mr.. Noyes replied
"But I should have done exactly what
these men did if I believed the same
things that they believed. What l do
criticise, though, is that they did not pay
attention to what was said in Washing
ton They treated as interesting state
ments everything that was said verbally
or that was printed in regard to the
real conditions, and, as we have seen.
this statement. that I think you are now
absolutely convinced, with respect of val
uation. is several million dollars out of
the way, they tried at one time to cor
rect as being selfish and interested, and
they took these words OF the George re-
port, backed by Mr.. Georges reputation,
backed by the allegation Of government
valuation that was $31 900, 900 larger,
backed by these explanations of the care
and the thoroughness Of the research in
the best source of learning the truth
that was set forth In Mr.. Prouty's speech.
mo. do not blame them at all. except
for not believing what was said on our
part in respect to those matters. They
went ahead and threatened US with triple
men in the House-and they
did it in the belief of the truth of those
things. and they were prevented by just
this feeling. that the organic act ought
not to be overthrown by an amendment
on an appropriation bill; that while it
was, of course, repealable by a majority
vote at any time, at least it was entitled
to the same kind or something approx
mating the same kind of careful con-
sideration that is given to any amend
that the Supreme Court has called the
Constitution of the District.
Reliance Upon the Committee.
I'VE have been relying upon the COM
mittee to appreciate our peril. to SYM
pathize with our reasonable fears, and to
remove the causes of them.
1--WE have come before you represent
ing the business men and citizens organ
izations of Washington. including thou
sands of influential and uninfluential
Washingtonians of almost every occupa-
ton and condition of life, to urge you to
pass judgment upon these prejudice-breed-
ing errors which lie at the foundation of
If you find them misleading, and
these findings to change the cur
rent of thought and belief and action in
the House, which has been reflected to
some extent in the Senate.
rs the Washingtonian undertaxed to-
day? Is not his actual tax burden, how
ever measured, fairly equal to that Of
American cities approximating it in size
and condition, and using per capita
considerably in excess of
the burdens of residents Of the average
American city?
eff your finding is in our favor on these
points we think that Washington is en-
titled to distinct declaration of that
verdict in such shape as to protect the
people Of the capital in the future from
assaults based on the prejudices naturally
aroused by such gross eXaggerations and
Misrepresentation.
Regarded as Essential.
"And these distinct findings will in
equity become absolutely essential if. hav-
ing refused to repeal the organic act on
these grounds, you repeal it on some other
grounds. If you do not wish the repeal of
the organic act to mean your assent to
the reasons which were given for it's re-
peal in the last Congress. it will be only
fair to say SO in unniistakable terms, if
you decide to repeal it at all. 1 say this