Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-11-06
OPPOSED TO THE PROGRAM
OF CIVILIAN COLLEAGUES
Thinks Interests of Capital Best
Served by Modification of
Present System.
MR.. BRowNLow CONCLUDES
Finishes Statement Before Joint Se-
lect Committee of Congress In
vestigating Fiscal
Relations.

Relations
The present plan of paying the
expenses of the District of Co.
lunbia, modified by lessening the
share contributed by the United
States, was advocated today by
Maj. Charles w. Kutz, u. S. A.,
engineer Commissioner of the
District.
He told the joint select COM
mittee of Congress investigating
the fiscal relations between the
United States and the District
that he was Convinced the federal
government should continue to
pay a fixed ratio of the appropria-
tons for the District. He op-
posed the abolition of this princi-
pie as suggested by his colleagues,
the civilian Commissioners.
Thinks Fixed Ratio Best
"It is believed" said Maj. Kutz. that
the interests of both (the federal gov
ernment and the people of the Dis
trict) can be better served by adhering
generally to the present plans whereby
the District is maintained as a sepa-
rate and distinct municipality than il
the District is abolished as such and
merged into the federal government.
Il am also of the opinion that the de-
ve1opment Of the District, both as a
national capital and as a place Of resi-
dence for. $4,000 people, Will progress
more rapidly and more satisfactorily il
the United States continues to con-
tribute fixed proportion of the ex-
penses than if the District revenues
are covered into the Treasury and ap-
preparations made for the support of
the District, irrespective of these revs-
nues"
Maj. Kutz said. that he had reached
the conclusion that the government
was now paying too much, however,
and that it's share should be reduced.
Commissioner Brownlow completed
his statement to the committee. Like
Commissioner Newman, he advocated
a plan by which the federal government
should pay all the expenses of the Dis
trict without reference to the taxes
collected here, which should be paid
into the federal Treasury.
Chairman Announces Recess.
When the committee met today Sem
ator Chiffon. the chairman, announced
that at l O'Clock recess would be
taken until Monday morning al ~
O'Clock.
b. NJ. Seibold, who has argued before
the committee that the federal govern
ment has no right under the Constitu-
ton to tax the residents of the Districl.
except in so far as it taxes all the
OF her citizens OF the United States, nieu
ID supplemental statement.
Senator Works, while not opposing
the filing of this statement, told MI
Seibold that he hoped he had refrained
from dsparaging everybody In sight
in his statement. Senator Works. felt
that Mr. Seibold had been unjustified In
many of his criticisms of Congress and
District officials in his original state
ment.
his statement to the committee where
he had left off yesterday afternoon anu
completed it, When he had concluded
he was questioned freely by members
of the committee.
Mr.. Brownlow's Suggestions.
Representative Cooper asked what
improvements Mr.. Brownlow would
suggest in the system of assessment
and taxation of the District.
II believe thatsthis committee should
make an investigation of its own. or
have the census bureau aid in such An.
investigation, to determine just what
would be fair rate of taxation to
place upon the citizens OF the District.
Mr.. Newman made such suggestion
to YOU yesterday afternoon.
There some good things and
some bad things in our system now
existing" Mr.. Brownlow continued.
necessarily bring cri.:-
cisms l may say that an assessor VINO
is popular is no good.
There ought to be an increase Of the
staff of the assessors office. Three
men cannot make the assessment as it
should be made. There ought to be
field staff of twelve men. The board of
equalization and review ought not to
be made up of the same men who make
the original assessment.
How would it do to have the District
act as board of equaliza-
ton and review" asked Senator Works.
That wouldn't do" answered Mr..
VINO explained tHdt tnc DlStTlcC
already have all they can
DO.
Annual Assessments Favored.
Mr.. Brownlow advocated an annual in
stead Of a triennial assessment. He said
that 1t would be a mistake to divide the
.welve field men up into groups to assess
any particular section Of the city. for it
night prevent uniformity of action all
over the city. ~
Among the good things in the system
oday,", said Mr.. Brownlow, SIS the fact
hat we do not tax intangible personal
property. In my opinion. do not believe
We ought to tax. any personal property.
am q single taxer. Some Of the license
axes here are not justified. In the case
" the banks they are taxed per cent