Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-12-09
Obnoxious Method of Repeal.


This method of repeal is the kind
repeatedly advocated by those VINO
have believed that the half-and-half
ration. pampering under-taNed or UNI
taxed mendicantS of the District at
the expense of the people of the
United States: 1t has been steadfastly
resisted by those who have believed
that the law is fair to the nation
that under it the local taxpayers have
been and are now doing all that
equity demands; and that if either
party falls short in meeting it's CAPT
tai obligation it is the nation and
rot the people of Washington. The
evidence before the joint congress
sional fiscal committee demonstrated
that the half-and-half law is fair to
the nation and Injuries no one: and
the committee SO reported in it's find
ings
The Senate, by an overwhelming
vote, has repeatedly rejected this I'M
just and obnoxious method of alter
ing the Districts fundamental law,
even when the fairness of this law
was at issue and in doubt. Can the
Senate be expected to do otherwise
than to continue to reject this method
of repeal now that the law itself has
been demonstrated and is conceded to
be fair to the nation and injurious to
no one?
This repeating rider says, in effect,
that the nation may contribute as
little rs it pleases to capital upbulld-
ing, but that it must not contribute
rs much n. one-hnf OF capital en-
penses. How can any one who favors
doing away with the half-and-half
law in order that the nation may not
be restricted even to one-half con-
for this particular method of repeal
which voices the old undeserved
prejudices and hostility of the unin-
formed toward the alleged mendi-
cants of the District?
If the evidence had shown and the
congressional joint committee had
reported that the half-and-half law
was grossly unfair to the nation and
that the District resident was I'M
derassessed and undertaxed and
Sinking his proper capital contribu-
ton, repeal of the half-and-half law
would appropriately be accomplished
in the manner proposed. But the use
of this method of repeal is unnatural
and unjust, now that the organic act
has been demonstrated to be fair to
the nation and the District resident
proves Enthusiastically to be adequate
ly taxed.
The findings of the joint congress
sioual fiscal committee in effect pro-
hibit this method of repeal, though
cited as approving it.
The giSt of the report of the hScal
committee is: The District is not
underassesSed or undertaxed, but is
meeting fairly and fully its capital
obligation. The half-and-half law is
fair to the nation. 1t has been. but
is no longer n necessity. In view of
the changes in conditions since 1878
the Districts financial system should
be so altered by appropriate legisla-
tion that under the new system Dis
trict taxation shall no longer be on
the half-and-half basis, but shall be
=, k0fs nv " N q
no greater eXaction from the people
of the District of Columbia than "a
tax comparable in assessment. rate
and amount to that paid by residents
of other cities similar in population
and location to the city of Washing
ton" and in addition Congress under
the new system shall pursue "a DELI
mite policy of regular and liberal APP
preparations for the upbuilding of
the capital.
Joint Committee and Organic Act.
The committee does not find that
the capital no longer needs the ma
tional half contribution. On the con-
trary, the committee clearly indicates
that the national half contribution is
needed more than ever. and should, if
altered, be increased. The need OF
more than a half contribution by the
nation is affirmed; only the need of
w.
tribution is denied.
The abolition of the organic act. If
accomplished in accordance with the
report of the joint committee. Will be
attained only by the substitution of a
system which shall in the final, i'm
pressive words of the joint committee
cause Congress to pursue "a definite
policy of regular and liberal appro-
priationS" for the advancement OF
the city, and which shall cause the
taxation of the local community, its
contribution to capital upbuilding, to
be shxed and certaiu." Any proposed
legislation, in substitution for the or
ganic act, which in final result leaves
the annual national expenditure for
capital upbuiiding Indefinite. frreEu-
lar and illiberal and leaves the local
contribution through taxation huctu-
atinE and uncertain, will not be IN
accord with the principles of legisla.
ton laid down by the joint committee
and will not be in harmony with the
principles Of equity.
The repeating rider fails to provide
by law "Axed and certain" local taxa
ton along the lines urged by the joint
committee. 1t leaves this burden of
taxation to shift from year to year in
accordance with the judgment of Con-
gress as to what constitutes "rea-
sonnble taxation" the opinion Of some
influential members of the House be-
ing that no local tax is reasonable and
fair which leaves any of the expenses
of the nations city to be borne by the
nation. The repeating rider fails con-
spicuously and hopelessly to provide
legislation which in making national
provision for the capital shall cause
Congress to pursue a definite policy
OF regular and liberal appropriations,
having in view not only the perma-
nent moral and physical advancement
OF the city, but also its pre-eminent
beauty ana grandeur as the municipal
expression OF the nations homo and