The Washington times., 1915-11-17

appearing before the Congression
weeks is as follows:
H. B. F. Macfsrland.
Former Commissioner Henry b. r.
Macfarland, chairman Of the joint citi-
zens' committee:
he first considered above the interests
Of any individual. but It IL not In the
interest Of the National Capital to add
to the tax burden OF the comparatively
o few people living here and thereby
its development. as the mere threat OF
such unjust taxation has measurably
done. ''' During the period of indefi-
residents here thrice bankrupted them
selves in their attempt to do the great
task Of developing and maintaining the
National Capital. We believe con-
tinued progress is possible here only
lnder a definite. fixed. regular contrbn-
tion from the United States, which
should not be less than one,half. AS at
present"
Theodore w. NOyes.
Theodore W. ,Noyes. Of the Joint citi-
zens' committee:
The claim that there is here $Ii4VDo.-
900 worth Of taxable property but that
only $3.50. 1900 Is assessed IL q fallacy.
Cldlm Is TtuuCtu " an
by the inspection of the assessed valua-
tion Of other cities and IA study Of the
valuation standards they employ. Under
such a valuation the 1900 taxpayers Of
property owners. crippled and cramped
In money making. would be required to
pay in taxes to sustain the NATIONAL
Capital more than the aggregated tax
payers of New Orleans. Louisville. ana
ST. Paul pay in municipal taxes.
Washington Is and has always been
poor in taxable resources and mas been
crippled commercially and industrially
inRton is doing its full share now In
paying taxes"
A. s. Worthington.
A. q. worthington, of the joint citi-
gems committee:
rBecause Of this oity's expansion.
Washington residents have already
had to pay large taxes. To gay
for II all would be tremendous bur
den. . Opponents of the half-anG-
half plan have said II they could get Il
abolished they would be in position to
force the people of the District to pay
all the taxes necessary for the Dis
plans have been urged t. force the
people Of the District to raise 1900 .uU
from that sort of thing. AS Senator
Blair Lee said. the protection We have
now 10 that every dollar Of District
revenue 10 matched by a dollar that
Senator Lee said something else. and
that 10 that a lawmaker from Ken
lucky had said that the members of
Congress did not care any more for
the protests of the civic organizations
Of Washington than they did for the
barking of dog ia a back yard. 1t Is
against that feeling that We want pro-
tsctlou."
Herbert J. Browne.
Herbert J. Browne. single taxer and
expert of the George subcommittee in
vestigation OF 1872:
"It pas to hold land idle in the Dis
trict. That is why three-fourths Of the
area Of the District today is as naked
as when Columbus discovered America.
You cannot have a change here
without overturnng what some per-
sons consider their vested rights-the
privilege OF dodgins proper and ade-
ouate taxes. You cannot get a
balance Of accounts in the assessors s
office: the books will not balance.
for the past quarter of century have
not been on the square. As soon
ms Congress stepped in to aid (by the
organic acD values began to shrink
instead Of the haif-ani-haif plan beWs
met in a spirit of cordial Co-operatioT,
the cirizens buckling down to do their
part, thev tried to shoulder as much
OF the expense as possible on the FED
eral Government."
w. d. Mackenzie.
w. d. Mackenzie. of the Tax Reform
Association:
The Chamber OF Commerce and the
Board OF Trade represent the plutoc.
racy of Washington. They want prof
Its; they want to promote the interests
OF the few at the expense OF the masses
Municipal elf-government II
needed here. so far as purely loca
affairs are concerned.
There are two methods whereby tn,
fiscal relation between the District anC
the United states Government may bt
eauitably adjusted: first, by segregat
ing Federal and municipal expenses
and, second. apportioning cost accord
the District owned by the Nationa
Government and by the residents OF th'
District.
'The present system OF taxation ant
assessment should be reformed in or
der to tighten the burden OF taxation
on the small homo owners Of Washing
ton, and especially to prevent any bur
densome increase of taxation, II Con
Eress should decide to withdraw SOM
portion OF the amount now contributes
by the Federal Government"
James Hugh Kelley.
James Hugh Kelley. OF the Tax Retorr
Association:
"The hslf-and-half plan served wei
IN its day, became a miechtef-maKe
later, and now the time has come wnel
II should be changed. Conditions ar
Q eepsra' cf municipal and natlona
expenses a.,d a board Of commissioner
~ uniCrlt' ~ whom should he chose'