The Washington times., 1915-10-18
TAX INQUIRY OPENS
HERE WEDNESDAY
Congressional Investigation OF
HaIf.and. Halt Plan to Begin
at Once.

The Conversational investigation OF
the long standing controversy regarding
the equity of the existing half-and-half
fiscal arrangement between the District
and Federal governments will begin
Wednesday.
The Joint citizens committee. which
will advocate the retention of the pres
ent fiscal relations between the District
and the United States Government
whereunder one-half OF the expenses
OF the municipality Is paid from the
Federal Treasury-is ready to file its
voluminous brief with the Congress.
sional investigators.
It is understood today that the men,
bers OF the investigating committee are
en- route to Washington. and there will
be no further postponement Of the In
quiry. originally scheduled to begin
September Is. The committee comprises
three members Of the Senate and three
House members - Senators Chiffon.
Salisbury and Works. and Congress
men Rainey. Gard and Cooper.
May Last a Month.
The hearings before the joint investi-
gators may continue for month. but
the committee will endeavor to have its
report ready for the opening day Of the
session OF Congress. The resolution un-
der which the Congressional committee
was named provided that It should con-
duct full inquiry to determine
whether the existing fiscal arrangement
Is Just. or whether It should be modified
or abrogated.
All members OF the committee assert.
ed that they went into the investiga tior
with "open minds
The committee consists OF legislators
who have not been active in the con-
troversy which has continued at the
Capitol for several years. Tho three
Senators and Congressmen named are
not regarded as biased one way or the
other, and their selection was made
largely because of their open-Tinded-
ness on the wrangle which has cropped
up recently during. the consideration of
bills
Chairman Macfarland, OF the citizens
committee. said today the citizens body
would go to the Capitol on Wednesday
prepared to defend by written and ora
argument the contention of Distrlc
residents that the present plan 8 fair
and satisfactory.
1t Is understood that the brief com
rilcd by tho committee representing
the citizens of the National Capita
covers 100 or more printed pages. II .e'
Views concfsely and accurately the his.
tory of the National Capital from the
time Washington was made the seat o
government. and explains In fullest de
tail the various governmental plan
under which the Capital has operated
The plan now In effect Is defended n
most satisfactory to all parties con
cerned.
An opposition brief Is to be filed BY
Herbert ]. Browne. a taxation expert
who aided In writing the George taxa
ton report Of the Sixtv-sccond Con
Eress. Mr. Brownies contention will b'
that II District property were adequate
" taxed. all District expenses would b,
paid.
The filing OF briefs and the appoint
ment Of a joint committee to reprcsen
Washington's citizens and civic organi
cations will shorten the WORK OF tn,
Congressional inquiry hoard. Ora
arguments will be heard from those on
titled to speak for any inta-es.. cut tn
Chiffon committee signified last sprinl
that It preferred written rather thar
oral arguments. and It Will 10 Possible
1t Is thought. to conclude the inuuir!
within month.