The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-01-06
TAX REPORT FAVORS
PRESENT RATES HERE
Joint Committee Finds Assess
ment and Rate Are Not
Unfair.
tcontinued from First Page.l

the amount of District taxes collect
cd, the Federal Government shall pay
whatever sum may be needed by the
District and that the Federal appro-
priations Should always be in sums
as will not only continue the city OF
Washington as q splendid ami beau
tiful central residence Of this nation,
but also cause 1t to become and be
Forever maintained rs a model for all
the cities of the world"
Under this recommendation the Dis
tricts contribution to it's upkeep
would be fixed by the amount of taxes
collected, and the Federal Govern
mentis contribution would be fixed by
the Will of Congress, whether or not
the Federal Government contributed
SIS much or more than the sum raised
by the District
The report throughout breathes a
spirit Of fair treatment for the District
OF Columbia, and Il Is especially signifi-
cant in that 1t refutes claims made re-
peatedly by opponents of the present
fiscal system that washington resi-
dents are under assessed. The Joint
committee says washington residents
are fairly assessed.
The report of the committee was sub
mitted both in the senate and House.
Although Senator Works signed the re-
port, he filed a supplemental document
celebrating upon his plan for turning
District revenues into the general re-
oeipts of the Treasury and have the
flnAn-
cial responsibility for the National Capt.
tai.
Would Pay Debt.
The committee recommends that the
payment of the funded debt OF the Dis
trict shall be continued on the half and
half basis. but this is the only infer
enee in the report where the half and
half principle is rigidly upheld.
Strictly interpreted. granting that the
report is adopted by Congress, the con-
tributions of the Federal Government
may be on the basis Of 40 to 60 per
cent or the Federal Government might
pay so per cent, and the District 40 per
cent.
The full report of the committee was
as follows: .E.
Your committee appointed pursuant to-
the act Of Congress approved March 8.
1915. which was in the language fol-
lowing:
That a joint select committee shall
be appointed consisting OF three Sena4
tors, to be named by the presiding Of
neer of the Senate, and three mem
bers Of the House, to be named by the
Speaker OF the House of Represents
ttNes, whose duty 1t shall be TO pre-
ment OF the proper proportion OF tho
eNpensessof the government of the Dis
ttlct OF Columbia. or any branch there's
OF including interest on the funded
debt, which shall be borne by said
District and the United States, respec4
lively. together with the reasons upon
which their conclusions may be based"
beg leave TO submit the following unani-
NOUS report.
The committee met oil March X, 1915,
and organized by olGcting w. Il. Chill
ton, a senator from the State Of West
virgins, ass'choirman. and Henry r.
Ea!ney a Eeprestntative m Congress
tftry, and or that date recessed TO meet
at the call OF the chairman
Pursuant t. TIE call cf the chairman
the committee met Ia the city OF Wash
pose of obtaining ali knowledge IN it's
power to obtain touching 1ne question
or the proper proportion of the cX-
nenses of the government of the Dis
trlct of Columbia. or any branch there
of. including interest on the funded
debt. which shall be horne by said Dis
tJtct and tho United states respective.
~. together with the reasons upcn
which their conclusions may be based"
he committee was i'm open session
almost every day from October 90 1915,
IN November l6 1915. hearing the evil
dence and argument Of persons appear
ing voluntarily and PERSONS appearing
u9on the invitation and request OF tho
committee. and has since had such evil
deroe. and arguments under Its careful
consideration
Several briefs were filed on behalf OF
various organizations and by individuals
and many communications from indi-
ridusls and examinations were received
by the committee.
Al Of this evidence and argument.
both oral and written. the committee has
ordered to be printed in. its hearings
and has carefully considered, believing
it TO be most important for the guidance
of, this and future Congresses Of the
kniled states that a definite finding OF
facts be made upon the questions pre-
scented for determination. and. there
fore, while the committee was very lib
eral In affordinE time and opportunity
for a thorough presentation of facts
circumstances. opinions. and views OF
those interested and competent to give
evidence. this was with the sole idea
of establishing facts from which just
conclusions OF entire. honesty. fair deal
ing. and justice could be drawn.
or the two questions submitted e
your committee, Il first considered the
following. viz: What is the proper
proportion of interest on tho
said District and the United states re,
epectively, and now submits the follow
ing statement with the reasons upor
which its conclusion is based.
We md that the interest on the fund.
ed debt should be paid by moneys from
the treasury Of the United States and
fifty per cent (50ft) charged to the reve-
nues OF the District OF Columbia and
fifty per cent 5000 charged to the
amount appropriated for the expenses
OF the District of Columbia from thu
moneys Of the United States.
The funded debt" consists entirely
Of S.65 bonds $50 called because of tn;
rate Of interest they bear OF the Dis
trict OF Columbia amounting at thii
date to SO, 22S. 000O0. and of which 1915,
lQS.00 is paid yearly, one-half by tht
revenues of the District of ColumblJ
and one-half by the moneys of the Uni
ted States.
The time Of payment of this funde:
debt extends to the, year 1924 but witt
an annual appropriation of approx
matcly sos. i0S0o, the debt will be full!
and completely paid q year or tw,
prior to 1924, and when paid, the Dis
trict OF Columbia will have no othe
This funded debt had its origin in tn
very extraordinary expenditures 70
city improvements, principally the Us
tabllshing, grading and paving o
streets and avenues, the construction :.
sanitary sewers. the planting OF tree
and, generally, the rebuilding and re
eauipment OF the city Of Washington
from then existing deplorable conii
ton OF utility and sanitation along tn
lines Of a great National Capital whic
i. was intended to be ond which desun
h Is fulfilling.