The Washington times., 1916-07-28

hospital and purchase Of the Dean tract
for park purposes. The biennial as
sessment amendment was passed over
at request OF Senator Works.
Tsking up broad discusson s.,,n,So S1 S1oths the
went into II IN great detail, He has
made a profound study OF II, havinH
served on the special joint commission
that investigated the fiscal relations be-
"ft Is a mere SHE'LL said Senator
Works. seeking to emphasize that the
District Of Columbia is not & = real
no power to legislate. 1t has no power
to do anything"
Calls II Compromise.
The original half-and-half statute, ne
said, was compromise.
Some of the men who brought II
about had no idea It would last until
now" said he.
Ever since have been in the Sem
ate It has been a subject Of contrc-
yersy between Congress and the people
Of the District of Columbia
He ~ aSo,t the HSu;s tbs sos HScy S Of
District the chief burden Of conduct
Ing the government, the Government
Of the United States being q mere con-
tributor and the people having no voice
Senator Pomerens questioned Senator
Works about self-government and
whether the. Works amendment would
not leave the people here with still
mo greater mistake could be made
than that the people OF the District
have any rights on any voice In the
people Of the District have no more
share in tho buildings IN the District
than the people In my State. ] am
utterly opposed to local self-govern:-
do not believe II possible under the
Constitution for. any such double au-
thonty to exist"
Favors Voice in Congress.
Nevertheless, on the basis Of the
present system, Senator Works said the
District should have representation In
Congress.
Senator Pomerene had asked about
"I believe that every American citizen
should be represented In the Govern
ment wherever he may live." Senator
The consideration Of the bill was in
terrupted at this point by Senator Mar
tin, at whose instance a resolution was
passed continuing the old District ap-
Reverting to the House plan Of elimi-
mating the half-and-half and making
the District pay most Of the money for
the District government. leaving the
General Government to contribute what
i pleased. Senator Works objected
Senator Kenyon asked II the District
people were not supposed to pay at q
fair rate Of taxation.
Tax Matter Disputed.
THAT is disputed. whether they are
overtaxed or undertaxed." said Sem
jator Works.
One of the interesting observations
Of Senator Works was that Theodore
Noyes. who. he said. had written
and H. B. F. Macfarland have done
more to injure the District than any
other two men in the District"
He expressed his respect for these
two men. but he deplored the contro-
versy.
Senator aallinger took the view that
to try to change the existing order of
things by LEGISLATION on an appropria::
ton bill was violent"
II cannot agree with the Senator" A."
said Senator Works.
1t is q fictitious idea that there Is
another Eoveument apart from the
General Government hero. in the opin-
lon Of Senator Works.
Would Not Change Tax.
He proceeded to explain that the rate
Of taxation here was nxed, and II the
General Government assumed complete
ownership and control and paid every
thing It would in fact not alter the
amount paid by District residents.
"They would be paying 1ust the same
a. they are paying tode-.", said he:
Senator Works read al length from
his own expression Of views on Distric,
Joint committee to examine Into the
fiscal relations Of Government and Dis
trict.
toned by Senators Brandegee, Curtis
Gallinger and others about the taxation
and assessments here.
Taxes Here High as Other Cities.
In answer to questions by Senator
Vardaman. Senator Works said that tn,
people Of Washington were taxed al
least as highN as those in other cities
He pointed out intangible property wal
He said the commission had investi
gated the question and taking the aver
age Of cities the country over. though
the people here were fairly taxed.
Senator Smoot declared property wa
valued here higher than In other citiei
Of the same population for assessment
purposes. .-,
People Pay Two-thirds.
Under the plan. as provided in thu
District bill passed by the House
Senator Works pointed out, In an ex
change with Senator Dillingham;. thu
District people paid two-thirds of thu
cost Of the District Government ant
the General Government one-third.
II think this iss indefensible." sale
Senator Works.
He declared repeatedly that the rea
way to get Justice for the District wa
to do away with the District Govern
ment and thus practically compe
Congress to treat the Capital as a ma
tional affair.
He paid his respects to the existinl
District Government by saying th'
people thought they had "a real self
government. whereas they do not
Attacks House.
Senator Dillingham;. in reference I
the House treatment of the District, pal
his respects to the methods followe
in this matter.
lie dec.1red the House was trying I
get all 1t could out of the District, en-
contribute as llttel as possible to Il
support. He charged that the Hous
members had no fear of the man !
the District. becsIse he could not vote.
Senator Works emphasized his vie