The Washington times., 1915-10-27

Of the international Association
of Dairy and Milk Inspectors.
District expenses without relation to
| taxation.
I'm concluding this phase OF the case
] wish to point out that YOU have be-
that the Government expected to defray
portion OF Expenses during all that
period. You have seen where a group
OF accountants. in making a report on
which legislation trying to saddle that
entire debt on the District was based
have ignored these decisions and done
the unusual thing OF seeming to inter-
pret for themselves the acts OF Con-
gress.
"You have before YOU the fact that
the debt was incurred by the United
States after citizens had begged Con-
gress to stop the expenditures because
they were unreasonable. You even have
the statements of men like Senators
Thurman and Allison showing that II
, was the intent of Congress to bear a
part of the bonded Indebtedness after
the proportion to be borne by the Gov
ernment was settled"
Questions To Be Met.
Here Senator Chiffon interrupted with
the inquiry, Now. isn't this half-and-
half plan practically worthless Isn't
1t misnomer? 1t Is impossible to
match dollar for dollar. and in practical
operation doesn't the Government actu-
ally appropriate the money. Are we not
indulging in a Iction when We call It
a 'haii-and-half pldn?'
Not so long the District pays
half" answered Mr.. " orthington.
Congress, litter ali" continued Sena-
tor Chiffon. "is merely saying II Will
assume certain portion of expenses.
N he maid Hirart and then the M.
Government, having the same power.
fixes the payment oi the rest in another
way. Couiun't the Government say to-
could do that could It not say it would
! pay only forty. and have the citizens
pay sixty"
Il! could" replied Mr.. worthington.
Then, have We not a fiction In the
half-and-hal plan, and haven't We a
sort of fiction in the whole government
of the District Of Columbia"
You can't get away from the fac
replied Mr.. Worthington. that, though
the Government may have practical con-
troll over the District, about $50 600 or
315,oO0 people live here. and they are
to tax them any amount. But | have
shown what would happen If conditions
suggested by ;he Senator were again
imposed upon he District"
II am not suggesting anything" said
Senator Chiffon, Il have an open mind
on this sub iect. But these are questions
we shall have to meet"
Mr.. " NoIthIngtOn described how, in
1888 the District was in danger of
being overrun with small subdivisions
on the outskirts OF the city. which
violated the plan Of Washington in
arrangement of their streets and in
their general layout He said he had
been instrumental in preparing the
bill, backed by the Board of Trade,
which provided for comprehensive
plan of development of the National
Capital along the lines laid down by
It's founders.
Now. the citizens did that as Amer
leans" he said. mot as residents of
Washington. If any man had come
to Congress and said that he wanted
all this expansion, all this street ex-
tension, for the sake of the city, Con-
gress would have seen to 1t that he
was transferred to the other side Of
the Anacostia river"
Mr.. Worthington caused laughter
when he remarked: sixteenth street
was extended. at a cost of thousands,
for the glory of the nation, and not
for an example to the District"
Citizens Have Had To Pay.
Because of this city expansion
Washington residents have had to
shoulder large taxes already" he said
TO pay for 1t all would be n tre-
mendous burden. You can see hat
this large street area has the effect
OF adding, probably of doubling, the
cost of all such departments as the
street. the fire. and the schools"
Mr Worthington described, as an
examples of the distances here, tho
troubles of attorneys who tried to
court house.
added hgures were shown by Mr..
WorthinRton to prove that the bur
den of District taxation already is as
heavy as that of other cities, and. in
most cases. heavier.
II sat and listened yesterday to In
quiries about the taxation in other
cities" he said. "All you have 10 do
to get that is to take your per capita
YAK and multiply IT by the popuia-
comparison were New Orleans and
Newark. All right take those cities,
All taxes paid for general expenses
show a total of 5000 900 in Newark
of $4,000 900 in New Orleans and in
Washington s6,96S. 900" 80
Mr.. Worthington showed that these
figures contained many items, such as
election expenses. for which the Dis
trict should not be compelled to INV
since they do not have the vote. lie
debts etc. Which do not affect the
District, and showed that the actual tax
payments of Washington, as compared
with these cities. Is Newark, s., 5,593 OnD:
ton. 81 63i. OCO.
But YOU i've IN Washington, not in
Newark" said Mr.. Chiffon.
What | wish to demonstrate is that
these figures. again. absolutely demon
strate that the people OF the District
raise In taxes more than those In other
cities. This Is supplemented by n like
amount from the Govednment.
Now this shows either one of two
things 1t costs twice as much to con-
duct this city as 1t does to run other
cities, or the Government is paying
twice ms much to run Washington as
other cities cost. No one believes the
second condition to exist. All the facts
point to the fact that the added cost is