The Washington herald., 1915-11-17

he could find no authority for the
payment by the United States of the
interest and sinking fund on these
bonds between 1874 and 1873.
And not one word did Mr.. Prouty
say about the act of Congress. which
authorized these payments" declared
Col. Worthington.
There were three of those statutes
authorizing the payments, weren't
there" suggested Senator Works.
Yes. there were three" replied Col
Worthington.
with these examples of what
Congress may do of injustice to the
whether you still think there is a
question as to the reason why people
OF the District should be alarmed at
a proposition to rob them of what
protection they now have from the
half-and half plan and to put them
absolutely under the dominion. not
only of this Congress, but of future
Congresses"
Col worthington declared he consid-
cred fatal the part OF the civilian Com
missioner plan which contemplated that
revenues OF the District should be col
Iected under the direction OF Congress,
placed in the general fund OF the Treas
ury and then expended as Congress
should see fit. He declared that the Su-
preme Court OF the United States would
find some way to prevent the establish
ment OF a plan which. in effect would
tax the people OF the District for ex-
penditures elsewhere.
Works Expresses Approval.
'I must say that I think there Is a
great deal of force in the argument OF
Col worthington that Congress has no
right to levy a tax in one locality and
then spend 1t in another locality. re-
marked Senator Works. later in the
hearing. Senator Works is the author OF
a plan that embodies the same funda-
mentals as does that proposed by the
civilian Commissioners.
Col. worthington also quoted decision
OF the Comptroller Of the Treasury.
which declared that a surplus over DIS
trict revenues existing over the amount
called for by the appropriation law OF
that year must be held In the treasury
subject to the direction OF Congress out
10 he applied to the expenses of the Dis
trict
RanIving to the contention OF Commis-
sioners Newman and Brownlow that the
indefinite contribution plan had not eN-
isted prior to 1873. because Congress up
TO that time had had no responsibility
since the District citizens raised and d.
rected the expenditure OF revenues, Col.
worthington made a telling point when
he showed that during the reign OF
Terror" when the Board OF Pubic
Works ran the District into debt of
so 10000. Congress had had complete
control. and that the situation so de-
veIoped caused a number OF Congresston-
al committees TO declare unanimouslT
that the only way to remedy the situa-
tIon was to fix a definite proportion Of
contribution by the Federal government
Offers His solution.
One of the principal objections raised
by the civilian commissioners 10 the
rendition Of the half-and-half plan was
that, under its present administration.
IL would create large surpluses. as Con-
gress would not appropriate for double
the amount raised here by local taxation.
Col. worthington met this objection with
a solution offered at an earlier period
by the commissioners. in indorsinG the
George tax bill which provided for a
flexible tax rate adjustable TO the de-
mands of the annual budget.
DO what is done I'm every city in the
country" suggested Col. Worthington.
Instead of making an estimate as 10
how much can be raised by taxation, and
then setting out to see how you may eN-
pend that amount OF money. first esti-
mate how much money is needed for the
wear ana lnGn hOS ~ ldieo
that amount of money. This Is the
method which the trainers of the half
and-half plan had in mind when they in
serted the following provision:
ITO the extent to which Congress
shall approve of said estimates, Congress
shall appropriate the amount of 20 per
centum thereof: and the remaining 80 per
centum of such approved estimates shall
be levied and assessed upon the taxable
property and privileges In said District
other than the property of the United
States and the District OF Columbia
The Commissioners urge that the act
be abolished because II hasn't been COM
piled with, instead Of suggesting that II
be complied with commented Col.
worthington.
Gard Questions Civilians Plan.
In a rejoinder to Col. Worthington's
closing argument. Commissioner Brown
low declared that the principle reason for
urging the indefinite contribution plan