Evening star., 1915-11-17
he would do that" answered Mr..
Brownlow.
Would Support Half and Half.

Commissioner Brownlow said that if
he believed the half-and-half system
necessary to safeguard the people of
the District from overtaxation he
would defend it stoutly. even though
he were opposed to it in principle.
, Senator Salisbury asked him:
Have you any reason to believe that
the needs of the District and the
amount of money that should be rea-
half-and-half is continued. by the Dis
trict and the national government, will
be less than double the tax raised by
levy OF one and one-half on two-thirds
OF the value of the real estate here?
Il have none." he replied. II believe
the fact that 1t has been less and less
In the last two or three years is largely
responsible for the agitation about the
half -and-half. 1 cannot help believing
Senator salisbury asked:
You think the government. in
oeaut1fyfng the capital and in continu-
ing to treat it in the way it should a
national capital, can readily spend at
ieast as much again in uses for Dis
taxation?'
Yes. and I believe If we had had
this plan. instead of the balance strik-
ing OF nifty fifty, it probably would
nave been above instead of little be-
low. The instance of the change in
the highway act, which accounted a
good deal for the fact of that situation,
| believe. ought to be a national mat
ter.
"Mr. Worthington spoke about the
$50 bonds: The 1855 bonds under my
plan would take care of the back fed
eral bonds. The entire obligation
Would vs De assumed by the United States.
Mr. Macfarland said the Commissioners
had made an issue of bonds to meet
extraordinary expenses. l think we
had in mind possibly the betterment
OF the Great Falls waterpower prop
that Of course would be done by the
national government, and If any bonds
were necessary to be issued. .hey would
be issued by the national government"
Never Literally Observed.
Representative Rainey interposed a
question:
Il understand from your argument
the other day that the position you
took was that the half-and-half plan
had never been observed and had been
absolutely abandoned from its very
inception"
"1 say it has never been literally
observed"
II understand now that from 1907
down to the present time it has been
literally observed"
mot in any one year"
Advances have been made to the
District%
Commissioner Brownlow said in re-
ply: Advances have been made. yes
and there have been repayments."
Mr.. Rainey continued: THE District
revenue was not sufficient and those
advances have been subsequently re-
paid?'
THAT is true"
Every one of them?" asked Mr.
Rainey.
"I stated that at the time"
Mr. Rainey said: $50 from 1902 down
there has not only been a substantial
but an absolute compliance with the
law of 1882"
Except in those cases that were spe-
officially excepted and where the Con-
gress provided for certain things to be
paid wholly out of revenues of the Dis
trict of Columbia" replied Mr.. Brown
low. Il did not intend, by the table
| submitted, to controvert that fact,
but to say that Congress had, when it
was making up the appropriation bill
each year. decided what 1t would ap-
propriate that year for the needs of the
District, and in some cases forced a
loan on the District. 1t was a forced
loan, with a forced rate of interest -
But it has been repaid every time?'
"Yes." answered the Commissioner
they repaid it every time when Con-
gress in later years did not appro-
priate.'
Representative Rainey stood up, and
fixing his eye upon Commissioned
Brownlow. made the final statement OF
the hearing. What he said was this:
"I think today you very ably and con
clusively destroyed the argument you
made the other day"