Evening star., 1916-08-12
city, county and state burdens of a
majority of these cities.

majority of these cities.
In accordance with the suggestion of a
member of the joint fiscal committee,
(city, county and state) of New Or
leans and Newark. the cities next
larger than Washington in population
with the city tax of Washington. (See
page 1640-41. Hearings Before Joint
Committee.) -
The. grand total of city, state and
county taxes In the respective cities in
1913 was: New Orleans. $500 800;
Newark. $7,569.61s. and Washington
municipal tax alone). $6.966,232.
was little more than Newark's per
capita of combined city, county and
state taxes, and only little less than
that. of New Orleans.
New Orleans municipal taxes alone
were more than $4,000 less than those
of Washington; and those of Newark
were more than s., 100000 less.
Our fifteen varied bases of comparing
municipal tax burdens were applied not
cnly to the typical group of eleven
of neighboring cities; to the group of
southern cities; to a group of typical
northern central cities. and to the gen.
eral group of all cities in the United
States more than 100000 in population.
Washington's tax burden, measured
by the per capita receipts from all mu-
nicipal taxes. including the taxes on
the sale of liquor and tobacco and those
on public utility corporations. banks and
trust companies, is distinctly heavier
! than that of the American cities with
which Washington is appropriately
compared. This comparison fairly
measures the respective burdens of all
city taxes. Washinston's burden ex-
ceeds that of every one of the neigh
boring group of cities and of all in the
south. eleven out of thirteen of the
northern central group. and forty-six
out of fifty-eight of the general groun
If equitable proportions of county and
state taxes, representing certain items
Of county and state expenditures from
which the city man derives benefits
which are comparable with benefits en-
joyed by Washington, are added to the
tax burdens of other American cities,
Washington's per capita tax burden is
still above the average In comparison
with that of other cities. OF the gen
eral group of fifty-eight cities, thirty
seven are less heavily burdened than
Washington. Not one of the neighbor-
ing group Or of the southern group. and
only four out of thirteen of the north
ern central group show as high per
capitas as Washington,
To measure the tax burden necessary
to meet current expenses of the present
and those of city development of the
immediate future, the per capita in
terest payments on Indebtedness rep
improvements. graft. or gross extrava-
gance may appropriately be deducted
in the case of each city. When this is
done, Washington's tax burden to meet
the needs of the present and future Is
distinctly heavier than those of most
of the other American cities with which
it is comparable. Not one of the south
ern cities or of the neighboring cities,
only three out of the thirteen northern
central cities, and only thirteen out of
fifty-seven of the general group of
cities exclusive of Washington) are.
according to this measurement. SO
heavily tax burdened as Washington.
Washineton's city tax burden Is so
heavy that, even when compared with
the total city. county and state tax
burdens OF taxpayers I'm other cities.
who enjoy state benefits and privileges
which are denied the capital. 1t shows
up creditably in the comparison. Its
showing is still better when by the sub
traction of per capita interest payments
the comparison is limited to the tax
burden necessary for the present and
future, eliminating past graft or waste.
Washington's city tax burden alone is
heavier than the combined city, county
and state taxes of such cities as Cleve-
land, Indianapolis. Atlanta. Birming-
ham. Wilmington, Wheeling. Phfladel-
phia and Newark, and is within a few
cents of this combination burden in
such cities as Baltimore and New Or
leans.
When interest payments are elimi-
mated, Washington's tax burden (even
under the unfair standard of measure
ment employed against it, is greater
than that of any of the group of nine
Ineighboring cities, of all but one of the
twelve southern cities, and of all but
four of the thirteen northern central
cities. It's burden, thus measured, is
greater than that of such cities as
Philadelphia. Cleveland, Baltimore, Gin
cinnati. Newark, New Orleans, Jersey
city, Indianapolis and st. Paul.
The grossest unfairness to Washing
ton I'm the comparison Of WashtnRton's
city taxes with the total of city. county
and state taxes I'm other cities In In the
litcyu Of state and county lakes I'm the
tax burden which Washington In to
duplicate. WasAfngtOn enjoys none OF
the privileges or beneats Of . state or
| Of state governmeAt Of it's own. when
tyNashamgton ~ paSt Of . state ana sen-
joyw the .expeAd1ttres Within Il Of IT.