Evening star., 1916-05-21
Pay Fair Rate of Taxes.

Representative Rainey Of Illinois, also
member of the special joint commit
tee, said:
LAS ] understand the report of our
special joint committee, it found in the
first place that the city of Washington
did not pay less taxes per capita for
public purposes than the citizens OF
other cities of comparable size, and
also that they did not pay less than
they ought to pay. On the contrary,
was convinced by the evidence that
and New Orleans. which are the two
cities in point of population nearest
approaching Washington. My impress
sion was and is, that the expenses of
conducting the National Capital on ac-
count of the unusual situation ought to
be paid entirely out of the national
Treasury; that the citizens Of Wash
ington ought to pay as much taxes as
they would pay if they lived in any
other city of comparable size. They
ought not to pay more and they should
not pay less
The legislative provisions in the Dis
trlct bill, in my judgment, go as far as
necessary to carry out the findings of the
joint committee at the present time. The
repeal of the organic act contemplated
therein. with other provisions means that
the taxes of property owners should be
converted directly into the Treasury of the
United States. regard it as immaterial
whether a special fund is created or not,
though. perhaps. for purposes of account
ing this is desirable
Thinks Fears Groundless.
Fears of the citizens of Washington
that these provisions may mean an ulti-
mate attempt to force the District Of Co.
iumbia to pay all costs are groundless.
Il do not understand that the bill pro-
poses an apportonment of 20 to 30: in
fact, it abolishes all apportionments,
winch is absolutely necessary in order to
carry out our findings. Any rate of ap-
portionment must necessarily be artificial
and an attempt to accommodate the ex-
penses of the District of Columbia to any
method OF apportionment must always be
unsatisfactory In the future it would be
subject to attacks on the floor by any
member of Congress anxious to make DO
litical capital through opposing contribu-
tlonS OF the government to the expenses
of the District.
''There will be times when the national
contributions will largely exceed the
amount of taxes paid by the city and
times when it will be less. The bill as
reported is subject to amendment on the
floor and if il is found that essential items
OF appropriation have been omitted they
can be put in on the floor. irrespective of
any half-and-h half proposition or any other
proposition for definite apportonment
think other legislation will be necessary
in the near future to carry out the sug-
gestions of the special joint committee,
and if possible should be attempted at
this session. They would ra,are to meth
ods of assessment TO be based or such
4 consideration as would make it OBJ
ligatory upon citizens TO pay as much
taxes always in the future as the citizens
of any other city of comparable size would
pay. 1t appears however that at the
present and under the present assessment
this is being done. But this contribution
should be definitely assured for ali time
and wehn that is done the findings of the
joint committee will be definitely carried
out"