Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-12-10
FIRM IN SUPPORT
OF $3.50 TAX PLAN
Board of Trade Committee
Discusses Civic Problems
at Banquet.


OF the half-and half system for the
raising of District revenues and urg-
ing elimination of the bootlegging
and social evil, the public order
committee of the Washington Board
of Trade met last evening at a ban
ouet in the National Hotel.
Chairman Odell Smith vigorously
declared that every effort must be
modified to fight for the defeat Of
the latest District bill, which, as pro-
posed by the House committee, would
place unfair taxes upon the people Of
the District, he said.
Washington World Capital.
Commissioner Gardiner and Chief
Justice Siddons of the District Su-'
preme Court also spoke In favor or
the half-and-half system of taxation.
Telling of the great growth of the
District during the last few years,
COMMISSIONS Gardiner expressed the
hope that Washington would be the
model city of The world. He said that
President Wilson. on high seas, would
soon animate the new league of ma
lions idea. and then the world would
look to Washington as the base stone
of their relationship.
1T is altogether fitting said Mr.
Gardiner, TT We should have nne
avenues. fine public buildings, for we
shall make Washington the temple IN
which is contained the shrine OF
world liberty
Deploring the taxation situation, in
which the people of the District are
paying taxes which are not used, but
piled up in the United States Treas
ury. Chief Justice Siddons said the
Board of Trade must not sleep until
II has induced Congress to wipe OH
he statute books or prevent being
laced there the proposed change from
lie "half-and-half system
In theory, for the past few years,
sd Justice Siddons, The congress
,',nal authorities have provided half
Of the revenue and the people of the
District the other half: t. in act''0
practice, we have been paying in taxes
millions of dollars which have not
been spent. The Treasury has accu-
mulated more than $t,O00,OOO of taxes
which cannot be spent. why should
the District pay taxes if there is no
need to spend the money! 1t seems
rather foolish to me-
Calls It an Evil.
Chairman Smith. jumping to his
feet at the conclusion of Justice Sid
dons' talk. insisted that taxation of
the District citizens without any
place TO spend the money was an evil.
I'VE shall not tolerate an evil he
said. "There is no such thing a neces-
s;Iry evil. 1t is either an evil or a good.
Commissioner Brownlow. speaking
Of the maintenance OF order. said that
though there had been an increase of
% per cent in population. an actual
decrease in crime had been shown.
He blamed the bootlegger and the
gambler for many of the crimes COM
mitted.
Chairman Smith declared that the
bootleggers were presenting prob
lem that must be dealt with dras-
tically. The murders committed With
In the District have been largely as
the result of bootleggers carrying
concealed revolvers or razors. He
also said that fourteen and fifteen
year old girls are seen on the streets
after 10 o'clock at night, and that
crimes originating from this cause
had become an important part OF the
local criminal docket.
Standardization of the home must be
brought about" said Mr.. Smith, and
unless il is we will see a horrible
condition among our young people.
Sentiment was expressed by many many
that the police employ special Flsl-
lance in handling such cases.
Asks More Pay for Police.
SUIT. Pullman Of the police depart
r1ent asserted that the present pay,
Of the force was Inadequate. and rec
commended that 50 day De eS1ao-
liShed as the minimum. Chief NaS-
ner Of the fire department advocated
motoriaation of the entire equipment
OF the firehghting establishment
Brig. Gen Simms Walter Brown.
president of the Board OF Trade, ana
Charles Waters, treasurer or the
Board Of Trade, also discussed local
civic problems.