The Washington herald., 1916-07-31
Fair Play for the Committee.

10 the course of discussion of his amendment
to the District appropriation bill providing for
the adjustment of the District government, Sen
ator Works said:
81 have already said, Mr. President, that prac-
tically only one side of this (the half-and-hal)
question was presented, and it was very ably
presented, too But the committee OF its own
motion endeavored to get in few OF the resi-
dents within the city to find out what their
individual views were on the subject. Some OF
them did not come at all. They were afraid to
come. They knew what was being done by this
committee of one hundred to maintain the half
and-half, and they afraid it would be
unpopular to appear in opposition to what was
being maintained by that committee. Some Of
them did come, however, and the statement was
made by some of them that they believed the
majority of the people within the District were
opposed to the half-and-half and thought it ought
to be abolished"
This reflection upon the committee of one
hundred is unjust. The committee was thor
oughy representative and reflected the prevailing
opinion of the majority of the taxpayers. Its
members made no attempt to ntimidate those
who might differ from their point of view, and
were instigated solely by the desire to prove that
the existing plan of taxation was equitable alike
to the government of the United States and the
citizens of the District of Columbia.
Would it not be nearer the facts to say that
the public believed that its interests we'll
safeguarded by the committee of one hundred
and was content to have its opinion voiced by a
civic body that had compelling interest in see
ing that the District got justice. That fact.
rather than fear of opposing the committee of
one hundred, kept to few the number of tax
payers who opposed the half-and-half measure at
the meeting of the joint select committee investi-
eating the Districts fiscal affairs.
Senator Works called for a show Of hands
of those who had read the report of the joint
select committee and three Senators raised their
arms to indicate they had studied the findings.
Is it unreasonable to expect that when the SEN
ate, probably eugrossed with weightier problems
could give little attention to such important
report, that 1t is now prepared to pass upon as
revolutionary measure as the Works amendment
in the short time that it will be before the Upper
Branch of Congress?
Senator Gallinger points out that there are
statutes to deal with before the existing
law can be changed. He states that the Senate
Committee thought it wise to retain the half-and-
half principle for one year more, and have the
committees of Congress try to work out bill
that would fairly and equitsbly adjust the rela-
tions between the Federal and District govern
ments.
So far the rate of taxation goes, Senator
Smoot, who has taken the pains to gather sta
tistics on the point, says that Washington is
assessed higher than any other city of equal pop
ulation and higher than a number of cities with
population double that of Washington
On the question whether the people Of the
District want the half-and-half retained, let US
quote from Senator Salisbury, member of the
Joint Select Committee, who attended nearly
every meeting. 81 very industrious, think,
as the chairman will bear out, in these hear
ings. believe the people of the District do want
this system which has been In force for thirty
eight years to continue, unless some one can
show them, by suggesting better system that
something else should be done.
There has been no one, so far as I know,
who has suggested a better system than that
which has obtained for thirty-eight years. and al
though joined in that report although I heard
this testimony, until somebody brings before the
Senate a proposal, which in my judgment will
better meet the conditions of the District and
provide more safeguards for the taxpayers,
shall vote to continue this system"
That statement fits the case better than the
belief of Senator Works that the passive opposi-
ton to the half-and-half plan was much greater
than that which found expression at the hearings
E.~r.. D..k..l. 4 r.I