davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-06-20

range Of American cities by statisti-
clan BeaIes OF the census bureau, uttl.
Using the great mass Of pertinent ma
example. Washington tax burden thus
measured IL compared with those of
all cities in the United States having
over 100000 population. fifty EIGHT In
the republic. Next It is compared with
those of the cities over $4,000 In popu-
lation of the neighboring states OF
MARYLAND. Virginia, Delaware and
with those Of all cities over $1,000 in
population in the south. including New
Orleans, which of all American cities
is nearest to Washington in popula-
ton. Finally it is compared with those
in Wisconsin. Michigan. Ohio. Indiana.
Illinois. Kentucky and Tennessee. The
comparative figures Of Washington's
tax burden In relation to those of these
conceivable viewpoint. In comparing
Washington with these groups Of
cities every possible factor that goes
to make uD the city tax burden is
basis of column of comparison. Even
full county and state taxes in other
cities than Washington are admitted
under protest into these columns of
comparison.
washington's equitable tax burden
in the country. 1t. is. conceded by the
reasonable that non-industrial, nom
commercial Washington. with the small
taxpayers in government employ consti-
tuting the city's financial backbone, is
poorer in taxable resources than the
average American city Of its size. and
lis less able to bear the same tax burden.
No other city has SO large a. percentage
of property exempt from taxation as the
National Capital, with very large frac-
ton of the city,s realty held from the tax
list by the United States. and within
great Industrial plants and factories. The
extra ordinary exemption. of taxable val
ues makes the same burden weigh the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-06-20
are being taxed too high. because the
assessRent OF real estate II too hiGh."t

Thua the committee absolutely de-
stroyed both c0ntentions wpoa which
repeal of the half-aad-haIf law was
demanded by It's assailants. Since the
reasons for its repeal have failed md
since ma need IL shown to exist which
will be net by Its repeal. why should
II not In consistency he permitted to
stand In respect to other future ca
penses well In respect 20 the
funded debit
Last year only twenty senators
voted for this repeating rider when In
auenced by the Inaccurate representa-
lions quoted, which have since been
completely destroyed by the evidence
before the joint committee and that
committees report. Now that the rem
sons for repeal have been thus dem0l-
ished. why should amy senator vote for
repeal.
The senate vigorously rejected this
proposition when many believed sr
feared that the half-nnd half law wns
unfair to the nation. Why should not
the senate reject IL stiii nOre rigorou--
~ this year. when the law hns heen
demonstrated TO he absolutely fairs
Balaam Of old. when called upon as
. prophet to curse the conquertnE
IsrneIites. against his own will did
bless them. The joint committees re-
port, Invoked to destroy the haif-nnd-
half law. demoIishes every reason as
signed for fts death, and. like Balaarn.
bestows mot a curse. but pleasing.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-06-20

whole the 'Washingtonian's equitable
per capita tax burden should be some
what less than that of the citizens of
the average Industrial. commercial
American city approximating Washing
ton in size, location and general condi-
lions.
The figures In evidence before the
joint committee show that Washing
TOMS per capita tax burden. instead Of
being below the average, is distinetly
above II. that the few among CONE
parable cities which exceed 1t In tax
burden exceed 1t only sliGhtlys and
that many cities which ought to bear
and are able to hear u far heavier
burden fall below 1t, even when staAd-
nrds of comparison are employed which
in effect imply the unfair taxation Of
the WashinEtOnian for what he does
not get.
upon the local taxpayers Is fully ~
heavy ms that which the average self
governing municipality imposes upon
itself. and In view of the capitals lack
Of taxable resources and other pecul-
lar disabilities under which the Dis
trict of Columbia labors its tax IL
harder to bear than that Of the aver
age American community. Under the
generations of the half-and-half law the
Washingtonfan In clearly paying all the
taxe. that he should. His per capita
tax burden cannot equitably he in
creased. Disturbance of the half-and-
half law and reduction Of the nations
proportiOnate contribution would in
evitnbly increase the WashinEtonian's
tax burden. and thus violate equity.
The joint congressional committee
gave thoughtful consideration to these
facts and figures concerning the proper
standard of measuring comparative
CITY tax burdens and the results OBJ
tanned when this standard OF measure
ment is applied to Washington and
other American cities
The joint congressional committee
decided. against the tax rate standard
of measurement, discredited as unre-
liable by the census authorities. ana
adopted the per capita property tax
levy standard of measurement. ap-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-06-20

heavier upon the -taxpaying fraction of
tho community. No other city, perhaps.
has, 20 large a percentage Of nom
taxpaytng transients, who figure in the
ington. which from its very nature as the
nations city 10 unstable and shifting in
population. Nearly 30 per cent of It's
people are colored. and this fraction pays
of the total taxes. The disabilities, COM
mercial, industrial and political. which
attach to legal residence in the nations
city tend to cause those who live within
its boundaries to secure or retain legal
residence elsewhere and to keep; OF the
city's tax list. Thus the non-taxpaying
census population, which reduces the
nominal per capita tax levy without. in
fact. making cash contributions, Is at a
ma ximum and the taxable resources at
minimum. with the result Of serious
disadvantage to the District in. per capita
comparison. How much per capita of tax
levy could Philadelphia, Baltimore, New
Orleans, Chicago. Cleveland or Milwaukee
afford to pay IL its largest taxpayers, the
owners Of its mills and manufacturing
plants. were omitted from the calculation
If one-half Of the built -up section of the
city were exempt from taxation. and IL
an extraordinarily large percentage of its
population were transients or non-tax-
paying for other reasons?
1t is conceded also by all reasona BILE
people that the tax burdens. of many
American cities contain factors which
represent conditions not found here
and that in estima ting the equitable
tax burden of the Washingtonian the
sums representing these factors may
be eliminated. since it's government by
Congress. under national safeguards,
prevents graft and renders unnecessary
and unfair any compulsory local tax
contribution to meet expenses of this
character. There are also certain ex-
penses of sustaining representative
government in the states which do not
need to be raised by Washington. since
it is denied all representative govern
ment. and which ought not to be du-
plicated in figuring its equitable tax
burden. 1t is conceded that on the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-06-20
Fantastic Discrepancies.

Assuming. that the reported bases of
assessment are accurate, the assessor
reports in the taxed fraction of non i'm
dustrial Washington realty values
amounting to s5os.7ss.4s5. On the same
assumption the Cincinnati assessor re-
ports in the whole of that popuIous,
wealthy and money-making city realty
values of 1915, $50, $4,000, 900 less
than in the taxed fraction of Washing
ton. The Newark assessor reports S207,-
100000 less of realty values In that CITY
than In Washington. The New Orleans
assessor reports $285. 000. 900 less of realty
values in that city than in Washington
Or course, the reports of relation of
assessed to true value which develop
these preposterous results are false and
worthless. Instead of WASHINGTON
realty being assessed at a two-thirds
rate. as compared with a three-ouarters
valuation in New Orleans and full val
uatfon in Cincinnati and Newark. the
true relation will place Washington AT
comparative 100 per cent and the
other cities at small fractions of full
valuation.
The truth which I am urging ia
taught not merely by few selected
cities. but by the entire list. Compare
the reported 100 per cent valuation Of
Washington's realty with those Of the
other cities (all except Baltimore an
proximating Washington in size) in the
following table:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-06-20

proved by the census authorities.
The evidence before this Joint com,
mittee demonstrated that Washington's
property tax burden. combining It's
ality tax. fs heavier than those of most
American cities and averages up to
those Of cities approximating 1t in size
and general conditions. One hundred
over 10000 in population bear a lighter
burden. Only one Of the neighboring
group of cities and only two of all the
southern cities show a higher prop
erty tax per capita.
Washington has been steadily i'm
proving its position in the list of cities
under this head. passing each year
some cities in the per capita total
property tax levy.
Total numbsr of cities larger - ,..
1a ansa 5000 psT Capita than wash i'2 ''@ i's
Smaller per capita than wash
in8ton OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. lzS l4s 100
The joint committee applying the
per capita property tax standard of
measurement to comparative tax bur
dens. declares that Washington's bur
den. instead of being a half burden. as
contended by enemies of the half-and
half law. is a full burden, measuring up
to that imposed in other American cit
les. On this point the joint committee
declares: ~The annual tax in WASH
ington IL approximately SIC per capita.
In the judgment Of your committee this
10 q reasonable tax levied At this time.
especially when we consider. as we
must. that . large proportion of the
population here pays but small
amount of the taxes imposed"
Senator Works adds on this point:
81 have been entirely convinced by
the evidence taken ut the hearing that
the people Of the District are not Nm
dertaxed. They are, in my Judgment,
bearing their full share Of the burden
of the expenses Of the District. just
now, when times are hard and real es-
tate values are depressed. I think they
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-06-20
Cuban Solons Fight Duel.

HAVANA, June Ex-senator Maza
v Artola and Representative Armando
Andre fought a pistol duel yesterday. The
result of the affair is not known. II
was the outcome of a quarrel over
Senator Maza's bill requiring the re-
tirement of the president sixty-hve days
previous to an election.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-06-20

In calculating the actual tax burden
the assessment alone IL Of NO value,
the tax rate a1one 4. Of NO value. and
the application to the tax rate Of the
unreliable reported relations Of as
sessed to true value to measure conn
parattve tax burdens gives results that
are confessedly erroneous.
The only reliable STANDARDS of meas
urfng the tax burdens Of the various
cities are the tax levies or total tax re.
cefpts, the dollars actually raised by
taxation. and the Per capita tax levy
or per capita tax receipts which dis.
persons constituting the taxed CONE
munity.
The demonstration Of the AEures in
not that Washington's assessment IL
more than tw0.thirds Of the true yalue
Of it's realty, but that the assessments
Of most other American cities are less
than two-thirds. even In eases where
the nominal full valuation prevails
and that the reports from the cities Of
the relation of assessed to true value
ror that fantastteally misleaainx re.
suits follow any attempt to aDply these
false reports to modify the actual tax.
rate as measure Of comparative tax
burdens.
The table Of hxures relied on in the
House debate to demonstrate the con.
pnrntfve liGhtness of the washing.
tonian's tex burden IL rendered value-
less BY -se use Of ana reliance upon
thi: disereditea and Misleading factor
In its calculations.
Washington's Heavy Comparative
Tax Burden.
Clearly then the comparative tax
burdens of cities are most accurately
measured by comparison of tax leyies
and tax receipts in the aggregate and
per capita There Is no factor of ir-
responsible guess work anywhere, in
this calculation to develop erroneous
and deceptive results. No other method
of measurement enables comparison to
be made between cities Of widely vary
ing population. differing more or less
from each other In respect TO their
system Of raising revenue and no other
method promises equally accurate and
equitable results At the hearing be-
fore the Joint committee this standard
OF measurement was applied to a wide
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-06-20

cash transactions, but the guarantee
title companies had always refused to
give it, But when this committee got
after them, using the strong power OF
panies consented to lay their books
open for examination. Expert account
ants were Put upen these books, and
they examined transactions covering
the last three years. They found ae-
tual Bona AAe cash transactions
amounting to $1,000. II you remember
that there are only 10000 families In
WasAinSton you will see what large
Per cent they got In actual bona Ade
The evidence before the Joint con-
gressional committee demonstrated
that Mr.. Prouty had been misinformed;
that no expert accountants whatever
were put upon the title companies
books: that the only person who ex-
amined title company books was Mr.
Browne, who does not claim to be an
expert accountant: that instead of
comparing these $4,000 cases of cash
a very small number. much less than
100, and that In selecting this small
number of foundation cases from which
to generalize Mr.. Browne made nu-
figures and selected q considerable
percentage of cases which were not
typical, and when thus used were mis-
leading.
(5) The gross excessiveness of Mr..
Brownies valuation is finally demon
strated by its comparison with the ex-
pert valuation of the District assessor.
approved as fair and reasonable after
exhaustive investigation by the joint
congressional committee.
This committee in it's report says:
THE present assessment valuation OF
privately owned real estate in Wash
ington is fair and reasonable The
valuation of Washington realty thus
for 1915 are to be compared with Mr..
Brownies $744,000,00O valuation three
years earlier.
The same conclusion of gross over.
valuation results from comparison OF
browne to be $5o4,oo0.ooo in 1912, and
declared by the assessors to be only
$4,000, 600, or nearly s20o,oo0,ooo less.
three years later.
which, adopted by the George commit
tee, became the main factor OF last
years assault by the House upon the
half-and-half law. is thus cOmpieteiy
demolished. 1t is shewa to be .s q. t sas
ing Of the Joint congressional com it.
tee. (2o By the report Of the District
assessors, ca by the testimony OF the
censua bulletin summoned ~ Mf:
RroUue m n corroborative witness. ana
n. reduced to an absurdity by COMPARE
ron with the assessment valuations OF
other large American cities.
The False Standard of Measurement
Error.
The second vital factor of last years
attack on the half-and-half law con-
sisted of a table of comparisons OF tax
rates, modified by the application to
them of the census-reported relation Of
assessed to true valuation. This table
seemed to show that Washington was
the highest taxed of large American
cities, paying only about one-half the
average payment of other such cities.
This standard of measurement of COM
narrative tax burdens was demonstrated
before the joint committee to be abso-
lutely unreliable and misleading, and
was discarded by the joint committee
The table utilized in the House and
Senate debate last year and by Repre-
sentative. johnson this year. and cover
ing forty American cities, is as follows;
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-06-20
NO SENATE REPEAL
OF ORGANIC ACT

Continued from First Page.)
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-06-20

of tax burdens. the total and per capita
tax levy, commended n accurate by the
census authorities, and apply to the
tax rate this confessedly grossly mis-
leading factor of calculati0nf The re-
suit will be worthless a. measure Of
comparative tax burdens.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-06-20

general subject for the year 1912. but
had prepared no figures for bulletin.
and that none would be issued for at
least one and probably two years from
date.
The bulletin predicted by Mr.. Browne
has been recently Us15) issued. 1t esti-
in 1912 at s1.I13.s57.ll2. 1t estimated
all the personally In the District at
S2T1. sS3,221. the exempt realty at $685.
64o.1s1. and the taxable realty at $685.
,ls3.73o.
The total is only $4,000. 900 away from
| Mr. Brownies guess, but this total in
ciudes s271 100000 of personality. ex-
empt or taxable. and Mr.. Browne in his
deductions from this total makes no
| allowance whatever for the personally
| valuation. with the result that the gov
eminent witness whom he announces
tand makes Mr. George announce) as
testifyins to $4,000 900 valuation of
taxable realty testtfies TO only 1885,
oOe, 900. or less by $2S000O
The United States government, thus
called As a witness. instead of valu-
Mr. Brownies conservative" estimate.
testified to s2S0.o00.0 900 less than Mr..
Brownies grossly excessive valuation.
tD In the House debate last year
bolster up this s744.ooo. 900 valuation
of the George committee. said (Con-
gressional Record. vol. D. 734S): "A
committee was appointed and spent one
year IN inNest1SdtinB. VIII Yell you
how they got at the principal facts.
There are in the city of Washing ION
what are known as guaranty title
companies. Every transaction that II
made in the District of Columbia
passes through them because they
un rantee il. but in order to do that
| they require that the man who buys
the property shal! pay the money to
the company and after they have taken
out their per cent they turn it over
10 The man who has sold the property
They do that in order to protect
themselves against an inflated guar.
hntee That IL the way real estate
basses in the District Of Columbia.
iow, the District assessoSs have long
led TO get hold OF that Information.
scause that would show bona ode real
The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1916-02-04
FORMER
Members Of Battery B To Be
Mustered Into Battery
c In Columbus

twenty-five members of old Battery
B of this city will be mustered in Fri
day night as section of Co. G of Co
lumbus. The mastering in will occur
here and will be in charge of Captain
Pierce OF Columbus.
Ever since the battery was taken
from this city there has been talk of
securing some substitute among the
more enthusiastic members of the old
organization. This came to a head
last week when a member of the old
battery, Clifford Brentlinger, made a
trip TO Columbus and effected ar.
rangements whereby section of Co.
G. will be located here. MIR. Brentlin.
ger was aided in this by several other
members of the old battery and by
Sergeant s. M. Jacobs, who was in
charge of the drilling Of the old bat
terry here.
The new section will probably be
in charge of Edison J. Breeze, a non.
commissioned sergeant. Several cor
porals who will assist the chief OF
section have not been picked as yet
The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1916-02-04
sclatIca,s Piercing Pain

To kill the nerve pains of Sciatica
you can always depend on Sloan's
Linment. 1t penetrates to the seat
of pain and brings ease as soon as IT
is applied, A great comfort, too, with
Sloan's is that no rubbing is required
Sioan's Liniment is invaluable for
stopping muscular or nerve pain OF
any kind Try 1t at once If you suffer
with rheumatism, lumbago, sore
throat, pain in chest, sprains, bruises
etc, 1t is excellent for neuralgia and
headache. 25c at all druggists.
The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1916-02-04
Or. Bells Pine.rar.Honey

For your cold, for your cough, for
your feverish throat, nose and head,
use DIR. Bells Pine-Tar-Honey. Honey
sOothes the irritation, Pine-Tar cuts
the phlegm, thus relieving congestion.
Pine Tar also acts as an antiseptic,
as result general relief follows.
Breathing becomes easier and further
inflammation is arrested. Insist on
DR.. Bells Pine-Tar-Honey. 1t Is an
ideal treatment. Price 25 cents.
The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1916-02-04
/. X i. Il i. i. + + i. i. !. + +
i. GREER 4
!. !. \ + I /. + i + = !. !. !

John Temple and wife. Orlando
Temple and wife, Robert Mckee and
wife, and Otto, Henry and Walter
Temple were at Warsaw Monday at
tending the funeral of their uncle,
John Keyser.
Dewey Farquhar is quite sick with
pneumonia at his home west of town,
Miss Gertrude Shuts spent last
Monday with her cousin, Mrs. A. H.
McClurg.
Mr.. and Mrs. William Poland, who
have been at Barberton, caring for
Mr.. Poland's parents, returned home
Friday evening. Mr.. Poland and wife
who are in feeble health accompan-
led them home to spend the winter
here.
Quite number of our citizens are
sick with the grip at this writing.
Nathan Brubaker of near Perrys-
Vile spent Saturday with his parents,
Philip Brubaker and wife,
c. G. Fulmer was called to Buck.
eye City one day last week by the
critical illness of his father, Dewalt
Fulmer.
Mrs. John Greer and son, Fordie
of Akron were here last week and
shipped their household goods to that
place, where they will make their flu
ture home.
Mrs. Philip Brubaker was the
guest of her daughter, Mrs. Jud Glas
iner at Loudonville few days last
| week.
Logan Kline of near Lakeville spent
last Friday with John Darr and fam
lily east OF town.
Frank Heaton has purchased the
George Hilliar farm near town.
Mrs. Grace Simpson, who has quite
sick, is some better at this writing
The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1916-02-04
Many PeopIe pon,t Know

A sluggish liver can cause a person
an awful lot of misery. Spells of diz'
ziness, headaches, constipation and
biliousness are sure signs that your
liver needs help. Take DR., Kings
New Life Pills and see how they help
tone up the whole system. Fine for
the stomach too, Aid digestion. Pur-
iHes the blood and clears the CON-
plexion, Only 25c at your druggist,
The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1916-02-04
KILLED
In Battle Near Warsaw Was
Cousin OF A MI. Yer
non Man

Charles PAIL of Coshocton avenue
received a letter from Germany Mon
day telling of the death of his cousin,
Gustav PAIL, aged "a, soldier in the
German army, which occurred in the
battle before Warsaw. 1t took the
letter one month and two days to
come from Germany and it had been
opened by censors. The letter also
contained a photograph of the deceas
ed. Mr.. PAIL also has another cousin
brother of the deceased, who is o
lieutenant in the German army.
The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1916-02-04
For children,s Cough

You cannot use anything better for
your child's cough and cold than DR..
Kings New Discovery. 1t is prepared
from Pine Tar mixed with healing
and soothing balsams. 1t does not
contain anything harmful and is
slightly laxative, just enough to ex'
pei the poisons from the system. DR.
Kings New Discovery is antiseptic-
kills the cold germs raises the
phlegm-loosens the cough and
soothes the irritation. Don't put Off
treatment. Coughs and colds often
lead to serious lung troubles. 1t is
also good for adults and the aged
Bet bottle today All druggists.