Evening star., 1916-01-08
SOON TO DRAFT BILL
| TO END 'RA[F' PLAN
Mr.. Rainey to Begin Work
Next Week, Embodying Sc
Iect Committee Report.
CHANGE IN TAX RATE
SEEMS, ALMOST CERTAIN
Repeal of Organic Act of 1878 and
Payment of Interest of 1855
Bonds Important Features.

Representative Rainev of Hi
nois. secretary OF the joint select
committee which drafted the re-
cent report on the fiscal relations
between the District and the
United States. intends early next
week TO start work on d draft of
bill following the recommends
|tions OF the report.
The bill will provide for the repeal of
the organic act of 1878. will provide for
bonds on the half-and-half principle.
as recommended, and will endeavor to
incorporate an outline of a plan for
tax rate system that will cover those
expenses of the District which are to
be ascribed simply to municipal activi-
ties and not to the fact that the city is
national capital size and is a seat of
national government.
I The rate may he more or less than the
present rate. That has not been de-
termined, but it is likely the Rainey
bill will place the power of fixing the
tax rate in the hands of the Commits
sioners: but these will also be safe
guard against over or under taxation.
This it is planned, will be through
scientific study of the taxes of other
>citines of sizes comparable with the
District of Columbia
May Be Indorsed by Others.
The Rainey bill may have the in
dorsement of the other two House
members of the committee: and if so.
ii will be the bill which Representative
Page. chairman of the appropriations
committee. will endeavof to have
speciai rule. if needs be. He will have
tO-get a special rule. because it will
certainly be killed by sharp point of
order from Representative Johnson of
Kentucky or Representative Crisp of
Georgia.
The latter congressman are under
stood to be contemplating various bills
aimed to bringing The joint committee
recommendations into line with their
own views. s.s--.a
Representative Crisp of Georgia. who
uses the District of Coiumbia's affairs
az campaign fodder in his own district,
and who promised to work for the abo-
lition of the half and half plan. as 4
plank in his congressional platform,
will endeavor to impose a further tax
on the District through the introduc-
tion of bill to tax personal intangible
property He will do this, it is under
port of the congressional investigating
committee that the District is now
taxed fairly.
Gives Position of U. S.
Speaking of the general matter today
Representative Sherley of Kentucky,
who has always given a study to NUM-
cipal affairs in his own city OF LOUIS
Vile. as well as of Washington. said:
There need be no fear ever that Con-
gress will relinquish it's interest in the
city of Washington.
.The fact that this is the seat of gov
ernment is the important thing to Con-
gress The municipal feature is the incl
dent the seat of government the main
feature Congress does not want to give
up all control over this capital, and there
fore will not give up all financial support
Representative Johnson may introduce
a bill TO annul section of the organic act.
which is the half and half paragraph, and
then write into the proposed law the pro-
posals in the committee report.