Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-05-31
Senate and D. C. Appropriation Bill

rleS, repeating tne nan ana nan law, Is
the same in substance as last year 5
rider. the johnson amendment.
The subcommittee and the full appro-
priations committee and the Senate by
vote of 46 to 90 last year rejected this
rider.
The Senate debate last year shows
clearly that the twenty votes for the
rider were largely influenced by the rep
resentation that the half-and half law
was grossly unfair to tho nation, that
District residents we're underassessed by
hundreds of millions. were only half
taxed, were able to bear and should bear
practically the whole expense of capital
maintenance and upbuilding Since last
years action the congressional joint
fiscal committee has reported that the
half and half law is no longer neces-
sary to compel either nation or District
residents to make adequate contribution
toward capital upbuilding. The commit
tee also finds that the Washingtonian
is not underassessed, that as compared
with the resident of comparable Ameri-
can cities he Is not undertaxed, that no
more than his present tax burden should
equitably be exacted from him; and
that while the Washingtonian is con-
tributing all he should toward capital
upbuilding more instead of less should
be done by the nation, in response not
only to the impulse of equity. but of en-
larged patriotic pride in the nations
city.
The joint committees report thus i'm
pressively concludes:
"Our unanimous conclusion is that the
rate of taxation in the District should
be fixed and certain; that the Congress
should pursue definite policy of regu-
lar and liberal appropriations. having
IN view not only the permanent moral
and physical advancement of the city,
but also its pre-eminent beauty and
grandeur as the municipal expression Of
the nations home and its peoples pride"
This rider is in substance and effect
the same as that urged last year on the
ground that the half and half law was
grossly unfair to the nation. The joint
committee reports that the half-and-
half law is absolutely fair to the nation.
Yet on the prete1t of following this re-
port, which cuts the foundation from
under last years rider, that hostile prop
osition is resurrected and vitalized in
the pending bill.
This rider adopts only the destructive
suggestions of the joint committee and
ignores its constructive recommends
items.
1t destroys outright the old law for
which the committee found no reason or
necessity for continued existence and
leaves chaos in its place.
1t fails to provide by law fixed and
certain local taxation along the lines
urged by the joint committee. Such taxa
ton is left uncertain and fuctuating.
The pending bill adds to the local tax
burden. which the joint committee says
is ample, by imposing additional spe-
street paving, new charges in connection
with the aqueduct and a new tax on
vaults under sidewalks. These local
payments under the bill reduce cor
respondingiy the nations contribution,
which the joint committee says is now
too little.
ho Nv,
preparation bill, fails to provide in place
of the repealed law the definite policy
of regular and liberal appropriations by
Congress, urged by the joint committee
The appropriations proposed, divorced
from any definite policy, are irregular
and illiberal.
If the joint committee had found that
= the half and half law was grossly unfair
to the nation, and that the District resi-
dent was underassessed and undertaxed
and Sinking his proper capital con-
tribution, the appropriation bill, with
itG cut Of three and half millions
from the Commissioners estimates, its
new tax exactions from local residents.
and its rider Internationally repeating
the half and half law, would hardly have
been differently worded.
How, then, can it be maintained that
this bill is in accord with the findings,
the letter and the spirit of the joint
committees report. Will Congress
which rejected this rider when MANY
thought or feared that the half and half
arrangement was unfair to the nation
adopt the rider after the law has been
demonstrated to be fart
VII not those friends of the District
in Congress who would repeal the half
and half law in order that the nation
might do more than at present for the
upbuilding of the capital vigorously op
pose a repeal which. reduces at once the
national contribution by millions and
clearly points to the ultimate Withdrawal;
of that contribution
In the words of the unanimous ex
preston of the Board of Trade:
"The opinion of the joint committee
that the half and half law is no longer
necessary as self-imposed obligation
to keep Congress up to the mark of &
differentiation does not override the
o&b,r 6rd;nOo Of he ronarf and doot