The Washington herald., 1915-12-13
HALFPLANF FOES
LOOK TO REPORT
Enemies of Present System
Will Not Go Behind Find
ings Of Fiscal Body.
GEORGE Is DISCREDITED
Consressmen Admit They Based Their
Opposition on Charges Made
by Single-taxer.
GEORGE IS DISCREDITED

That many members of the House and
Senate who voted in favor OF apolishins
the half-and-half plan last Congress VIII
not 60 behind the report of the JOINT Sc
lect Fiscal Committee in determining
attitude at this Congress Is indicated oS
expressions at the Capitol.
It Is generally admitted that In votins
against the half-and-half arrangement a
very large majority were influenced by
the statements Of the George tax report.
which placed the District in the position
of tax-dodging. Hearings before the
fiscal committee, however, completely dis
credited the George report and thereby
cut the ground from under much OF the
opposition to the ha f-and-half plan. In
readjusting their positions. many men,
bers will be guided by the report of the
fiscal committee. therefore. instead of by
the George report. Thus, it would be I'M
wise to count as an opponent of the half
and-half principle In this Congress. every
man who voted against it in the last Con-
gress.
Senator Ollie James. of Kentucky. one
of the Democratic leaders and a member
of the District Committee, took the floor
against the half-and-half plan during the
debate in the last session. AS was the
case of Senator Kenyon, Senator James
depended for his arguments upon the fig
ures given in the George report and
while urging the retention of the fixed
proportion principle. suggested that the
proportion be changed so that the Fed
eral government would contribute only
30 per cent of the cost of District MAIN
tenance.
Mapes Depended On George.
Il depended wholly upon the figures
in the George report" declared Sena-
tor James to a representative of The
Washington Herald, in discussing Dis
trict matters. 81 was given to un-
derstand that those figures were ac-
curate. l have not read the testi-
mony given before the joint fiscal
committee, but I shall do so as soon
as the hearings and report are pub
lished. OF course I desire to base
my position upon authenticated facts,
frorl whatever source. I shall be
much interested in studying the hear
ings and report of the fiscal commit
tee"
Representative Mapes. of Michigan.
one of the two Republican members
of the District committee in the last
Congress. who probably will return to
it this Congress. declared yesterday
that in voting in favor of the Page
rider which sought to abolish the
half-and- plan, lie had been in
fiuenced largely by statements in the
George report
Il have every confidence in the per-
SoHnel of the joint fiscal committee.
declared Mr. Mapes yesterday. IF l
am again on the District committee
do not believe | will attempt to go
behind the report of the joint commit
tee. ! am satisfied of the thorough
ness of their investigation into the
facts.
Discussing his appointment to the
House District committee. Representa-
tive Wilson. of Florida. yesterday de-
clared that he Joined the committee
without legislative fsds or fancies
ready for try-outs on the Capital.
when il comes to legislative inno-
yations | am one of those who believe
in making haste slowly" Mr.. Wilson
declared.