The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-01-07
PASSING. OF THE HALF.AND-
HALF

The unanimous report from the
select joint committee Of Congress
on fiscal relations between the Dis
trict and the Federal Government
presages the discontinuance Of the
half-and-half plan.
The committee very properly says
that plan has served most useful
purpose. It was inaugurated at a
time when a belated effort at i'm
provement had plunged the Capital
City deep into debt. Bankruptcy
stared the town in the face, and ex-
traordinary effort was required to
meet the situation. That effort took
the form of the equal-contribution
plan.
Nobody has ever maintained that,
as permanent program, it was
logical. The circumstances of one
period might dictate equal partner
ship in the municipal cost; those Of
another time might require that
Congress pay three-fourths. or only
one-fourth, of the expense.
Months ago The Times took the
position that the select committee
has now occupied: that there ought
to be a fair assessment and reason
able tax levy against property here,
based on comparison with the tax
burdens of other cities of Washing
tons class. This sum should be
spent on the municipal require
ments; and beyond that Congress
should appropriate from the Ma
tional Treasury for whatever deficit
existed.
Properly maintained, with regard
to its special physical and economic
circumstances and to its dignity as
home of the National Government,
Washington will always cost more to
govern than a reasonable taxation
will produce. Long ago The Times
pointed out, as the Congressional
committee does now, that probability
that the Federal obligation will grow
rather than decrease; for the ma
tional needs will require that more
and more property be taken over
for national uses, and thus sub
tracted from the limited area sub
ject to taxation. Thus the time ap-
proaches when there is need for a
readjustment to meet these impend-
ing changes.
If not at the present session, GER
tainly in the not distant future, the
half-and-half plan will be abolished.
1t is supremely important that the
people Of Washington shall under
stand that this is not calamity, but
an adjustment. In all probability it
will mean a more generous and a
more efficiently generous attitude to-
ward this city.
There has been in some quarters
a disposition to paint the possibility
of change as a great and unmixed
calamity. This has given fright to
some propertyowner who have
imagined any change would inau-
gurate an era of confiscatory taxa
ton. Nothing of the kind is going
to happen; and Washington must
recognize that fact, else there will
be a period of depression and mis-
giving.
There is no occasion 10 fear for
the future. Washington'g destiny is
depicted in as sincere and confident
terms, by the Congressional COM
mittee's report, as the most devoted
Washingtonian could wish. Liber-
atty in appropriations from the
Federal Treasury is recommended
with more emphasis than sny other
part of the new policy.
For several years the signs have
pointed to the probability of this re-
organization. There have been muir.
murings of dissatisfaction in Con.
gress. These have in turn led ia
charges and counter charges and fl.
nally to something like a deadlock
in matters of legislation affecting
the District. There have been de.
lays and failures in the effort Il
pass laws which had no possible
relationship to the underlying fisca
arrangement; laws that were neceS
sary for the proper administration
of the city, and that ought not tC
have been delayed. The settlement
of the basic controversy will clear
the atmosphere and open the way
as The Times confidently believes
for an epoch of real material, spirit
ual and institutional advancement
such as the city has not known be-
fore.