Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-21

are erected in solid brice rows, with
| insufficient light and ventiiation-a
| type of dwelling which, in this semi
tropical climate. is very uncomfortable
| during the hot summer months;
"(d) BY compelling thousands OF people
/ of very small incomes, mainly negroes.
to live in the courts, alleys and tene-
ments Of Washington, where over
| crowding and insanitary conditions
| have produced an appallingly high rate
| of infant mortality;
"(e) BY raising the rent OF stores and
| thereby increasing the cost OF living,
| as rents must be added to the selling
price of goods;
"(f) discouraging the establishment
Of manufacturing industries and by pen
alizing the replacement of unsightly
shacks with up-to-date buildings.
Pays High Prices for Land.
THE interests of the national govern
ment have also beee adversely affected
by the inflated market prices of land
in the District of Columbia. 1t has been
necessary in some cases to pay very
high prices for land needed for ma
tional purposes.
What changes are necessary In the
present system of District taxation to
enble all the residents Of the District
to share equitably In the benefits of the
federal subsidy? Our answer to this
question is in brief that the increase
of land values created by large expen-
ditures of federal funds should be re-
turned to the public Treasury by taxa
ton for the benefit of the residents of
this District and the people of the
United States. Specific recommends
tions to this end are submitted in a
subsequent section of this BRIEF.
In appropriating funds from the ma
tional Treasury for the Development
and support of the nations capital 1t is
undoubtedly the purpose and intent OF
Congress that the residents of the Dis
trict shall be relieved from taxation to
the extent Of the federal contribution.
This purpose Is defeated by the exist
ing system of taxation.
What is saved in lower taxes is lost
in higher rents and in the higher cost
of building sites.
Self-Government Urged.
The Tax Reform Association, while
admitting that the joint select commit
tee Is not commissioned to Investigate
the question of local self government
in the District, asserts that something
should be done to bring that about.
1t charges that the maintenance of the
half-and- half plan is a bar to the es-
tablishment of local self-government,
declaring that it has been used as a
club to beat down and suppress every
effort to the people of the District to
regain the right of local selfgovern-
ment 1t urges that the joint select
committee. in recommending a plan to
take the place of the half-and half
system, leave the way open for
eventual local government in the
District.
The brief is signed by the committee
on fiscal relations of the Tax Reform
Association, w. D. Mackenzie, chair
man: B. F. Lindas, secretary; Jennie
L. Munroe, Charles S. Davis, Elias J.
Dakin. James Hugh Kelley, George A.
Warren, Herbert l.. Adams. H. Mar
tin Williams is president of the asso-
citation and Walter l. Swanton .secre-
tary.
The Tax Reform Association is in
clined to favor the retention of the
half-andhalf plan, provided the sys-
tenn of taxation here is so modified
that all of the residents of the Dis
trict may share in it's benefits" said
w. D. Mackenzie. today, in explanation
of the position of the association. Mr.
Mackenzie said that the members of
the committee had given great deal
of time to research into the history of
the District and its financial relations
and into mum ;ipal and taxation
problems