Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-27

government is strong here in the Dis
trict." said Mr. Worthington. even
though the most absolute deSpotisnl, so
far as taxation is concerned. in the
world exists here" He pointed out that
the people of the District, through their
civic organizations. endeavored 10 on
tain recognition of their DESIRES ne
argued that the District government
gave in a mea sure some representation
TO the citizens.
Representative Cooper enumerated
the various services performed by the
District government, such as fire ana
police protection, care of streets. ETC..
in the benefits of which the federai
government might be said TO snare
and asked if the appropriations from
The federal Treasury should be con-
fined merely TO these
Mr.. Worthington replied that they
should not. and went on to show now
the city had been built upon mag
nificent lines and how its very extent
added TO all the expenses OF the DIS
trict government.
You have had it demonstrated to
YOU, he said. that Congress is rails
ing by taxation as much money from
the residents of the District as is
raised from the citizens of other places
government"
He said that if that was the case it
was clear that either the expenses OF
the District were just double those OF
other cities having the population Of
Washington. and that therefore 1t was
necessary the federal government
should contribute dollar for dollar for
the District government, or that Con
gress had been 50 extraTagant that IT
paid twice as much for municipal eS-
penSes here is paid in other cities.
Of course, it is not true that Con-
Gress has been so eXtravagant," he said,
and il remains that the first Conten-
ton must be true"
Asks About Own Plan.
Senator Works. during the course of Mr..
Worthingtons argument. reverted to his
own idea that the District government
should be abolished and that a bureau
control should be installed for the people
here. He asked Mr.. Worthngton what
objection is there to the plan of having
the District raise its taxes, place them
in the Treasury, and the United States
should assume entire responsibility.
You have to take care of municipal
affairs with some sort of municipal
government" replied Mr. Worthington.
and I do not see how Washington
could be governed by bureau. Then
YOU cannot get away from the fact that
YOU must have some man or men to in
form Congress of the affairs of the Dis
I should be spent Then. again, we
fear that the opponents of the half
and-ha1f plan will fix upon the District
arrangement whereby the expendi-
lures would be entirely met by the
taxpayers of the District. leaving the
United States nothing to pay at all.
We want the protection of the half
and-half plan. We see developments
cially."
Asked About Protection.
How does the half-and-half plan
protect you" Senator Salisbury asked.
1T protects u.s., replied Mr.. Worth
ington, 'in the way expressed by SEN
ator Blair Lee, that for every dollar
raised by the District the United States
must pay dollar that bites. I would
add to that also, that Senator Lee. in
making this assertion. also added that
he had heard an eminent Kentucky
congressman remark that Congress
cares no more for the protests OF civic
associations in the District Of Column
bia than for the barking of a dog in
the back yard"
That is severe accusation against
Congress" interposed Senator Works,
and I must say / do not believe there
is any hostile disposition toward the
District; that Congress wants to deal
in no way. except fairly and justly with
Senator Chiffon said:
Don't you think that the develop
ments you speak Of arise from the fact
that nation of a hundred million peo-
pie wants to run its own capital, which
has only $50, 900 in it?''
Il do not know, except that within
the last three or four years we have
seen in Congress a disposition to sad
die US with a burden that would ruin
US"
No Need to Fear, Is Claim.
There rs no need for you to fear
Congress" Senator Chiffon replied.
And yet leaders on both sides of the
Capitol argued against the half-and-
half plan and planted it on the as
sumption that we could pay all the ex-
penses of this Capital city by an in
creased tax"
81 am not hostile to the District of
Columbia said Senator Works.
Il would rather make the mistake
of saying the government should pay
100 much for its capital than that it
should pay too little" Senator Chiffon
remarked.
Representative Gard asked: why
does the government of the District
of Columbia cost twice much as
other citfes?''
Details OF the city government were
not at hand, but AIR. Worthington re-
piled.
The fact remains. and you cannot
escape the cold facts. that we do raise
and pay into the United States Treas
ury much more than any other
city of our size. and yet Congress adds
as much more. Either our expenses are
proper or Congress is e,travagant. You
can't escape that
Representative Rainey then asked a
long question of several hundred words,
the purport of which was just why the
District government cost SO much
more than the ordinary city.
We want evidence by items" said
Mr.. Rainey. and SO far you have failed
to submit these items" Mr.. Worthine-
ton said the information would be
forthcoming.
Scores George Assessment.
At this point Mr.. worthington re-
hnquished arguing on the subject of
expenses, and turned suddenly to the
George assessment and taxation report
and began raking IL fore and aft; at
which Herbert J. Bro&ne, one of the
moving spirits of the report and prin-
cfpal witness for the prosecution" at
the time. grew exceedingly interested
Mr.. Browne sat only a few feet from