Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-05-02
THE EVENING STAR THURSDAY, MAY 2 1918.

mont Of the half-and- half law to be
held In the Treasury a. trust fund
for the bensflt Of the District to meet
Its needs in some future year.
We protest against the repeal at TINS
time Of the half-and-half Law: whicn
the Joint congressional committee has
in effect declared to be fair: and we
especially protest against such repeal
by rider on an appropriation Dill; or IN
such form as to be retroactive: or by
the proposed legislation through pre-.
Nminary consideration by the District
committees. and by Congress. and which
does not substitute for the repealed
law one sstablishing a DEFINITE policy
Of regular and liberal appropriations By
Congress for capital maintenance and
development and q fixed and certain
tax burden for the District OF Column
bia.
We further earnestly protest .s.,n.t
trict appropriation bill OF any amount
less than twice the Districts estimated
revenues in accordance with existing
law unless the resulting surplus Of Dis.
trict tax money is declared TO be held
in trust in the Treasury for the benefit
OF the District to meet in part its needs.
outside OF current, routine expendi-
lures. in future years.
chairman's Supplementary Remarks
Supplementary to the formal report Of
the committee. Theodore W. Noyes. the
chairman. submitted remarks. in part. N
follows. which are directly pertinent TO
the present case:
This report was framed before the pend
inf appropriation bill with its legislative
rider was made public. But this pro-
posed legislation fits upon its own head
with precision the cap of our just and
reasonable condemnation. 1t leaves un.
done the things for which we petition, and
test.
1t does not secure for the proposed iegis-
lation thorough preliminary considera-
ton by tho District committees and by
Congress The provision Is. without pub
lie hearings. rushed through under whip
and spur, by the all-powerful appropria-
tons and rules committees.
Repeal takes the Objectionable shape Of
rider upon an appropria ton bill, operat-
ing covertly. by indirection.
This rider 10 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 pretext Of following this report.
which cuts the foundation from under
last years rider. that hostile proposition
is resurrected and yitalized in the pending
bill.
This rider adopts only the destructive
suggestions Of the joint committee and
tons.
1t destroys outright the old law for
which the committee found no reason
or necessity for continued existence and
leaves chaos in its place.
II fails to provide by law fixed and
certain local taxation along the line.
urged by the joint committee. Such
taxation is left uncertain and fluctuating.
In the background with the half-and-
half law repealed Turk the Inheritance
tax and the tax on intangible person.
atty.
The new organic act. by rider on ap-
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 commit
vorced from any definite policy, are ir-
regular and illibera1.
II the joint committee had found that
the half-and half law was grossly unfair
to the nation. ana that the District resi-.
dent was underassessed and ufdertaxed
and Sinking his proper capital contribu-
ton, the appropriation bill. with its cut
Of three and q half millions from the
COMMISSIONER estimates. and IT.
rider Internationally repeating the hail.
ferently worded.
How, then, can it be maintained that
this bill 10 in accord with the findings, the
letter and the spirit Of the joint COM
mittee's report? VIII Congress. which
rejected this rider when many thought or
feared that the half -and-haf arrange
ment was unfair to the nation. adopt the
rider after the law has been demonstrated
to be fair?
Win 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 upbuild-
ing Of the capital vigorously oppose a re-
peal which reduces at once the national
contribution by millions and clearly points