Evening star., 1916-01-06

Real Estate Assessment Fair.
The committee finds that the present
assessment valuation of privately owned
real estate in Washington is fair and
reasonable
The committee holds that there is no
reason for any arbitrary rule of proper
tionate contribution for the expenses Of
the District by the residents and by the
people of the United States outside the
District
The correct rule should be. the COM
mittee holds, that the responsibility
and taxation of the residents OF the
District be as fixed and certain as the
responsibility of residents of other
American cities comparable with
Washington.
Would End Responsibility.
The payment of such taxes should be
properly assessed against privately
owned taxable property. and with the
payment of those taxes the financial
responsibility of the residents of the
District should be concluded.
The report was signed by Senator
Chiffon, chairman of the committee;
Senator's Salisbury and Works, and
Representatives Gard, Rainey and
Cooper.
The committee suggests that an in
heritance tax be imposed in the District
OF Columbia.
The report Of the committee in full is
as follows:
Report OF joint select committee ap-
pointed pursuant to the act of Congress
March 3. 1915, TO determine the fiscal
~eiation between the United States and
-;,s District of Columbia
To the Senate and the House OF
Representatives of the United States
of America:
Your committee appointed pursuant
10 the act of Congress approved March
g. 1915. which was in the language fol-
lowing:
That joint select committee shall
be appointed, consisting of three SEN
stors. to be named by the presiding Of
hcer of the Senate, and three members
Of the House, to be named by the
Speaker of the House of Representa-
tivss. whose duty it shall be to prepare
and submit to Congress a statement of
the proper proportion of the expenses
of the government of the District of
Columbia, any branch thereof, in
cludIng interest the funded debt,
which shall be borne by said District
and the United States, respectively to-
Sether with the reasons upon which
their conclusions may he based"
beg leave to submit the following unan-
tnloUs report:
The committee met March do, 1915
and organized by electing w. y. Chill
ton. senator from the state Of West
virginia. as chairman and Henry T
Rainey. representative in Congress
from the state of Illinois, as secretary
and on that date recessed to meet at
the call OF the chairman.
Pursuant to the call of the chairman
the committee met in the city of Wash
ington October 20, 1915. for the pur-
pose of obtaining all knowledge in its
power to obtain touching the question
or the proper proportion OF the ex-
penses of the government of the Dis
trict of Columbia. or any branch there
OF. including interest on the fund ed
debt. which shall be borne by said
District and The United States, re-
upor which their conclusions may be
based
The committee was in open session
almost every day from October 20 1915
TO November is. 1915. hearing the evil
dence and argument of persons appear
Ing voluntarily and persons appearing
upon the invitation and request of the
committee. and has since had such
full consideration.
Briefs Of Citizens.
Several briefs were filed on behalf of
various organizations and by indi-
viduals and many communicate tions from
individuals and organizations were re-
ceived by the committee
All of this evidence and argument
both oral mad written. the committee
has ordered to be printed in it's hear
ibgs, and has carefully considered, be
HevinS 1T to be most important for the
guidance of this and future Congresses
o. the United States that a definite
finding of facts be made upon the
questions presented for determination
and. therefore. while the committee
was very liberal in affording time and
opportunity for a thorough presenta
tion of facts, circumstances, opinions
and views of those interested and com
petent to give evidence. this was with