Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-05-02

expenses. think the government. own
ing property OF immense value mere
ought to pay some taxes; that the Con.
sress ought to be able to determine how
much money 10 necessary to meet ex'
penses Of running the city and to make
ALI necessary ana proper improvements
that it ought in some way to detsrmint
should pay ana tho remaining portion
that the people Of the District should
pay on their property.
| Now, 1t is urged by the gentiemen
supporting the amendment Of the gen
the government contributes in lieu q
taxes one-hAlf Of the expenses Of this
city, and the taxable property OF the
oity pays the other half. that because
the people and the property OF wash
inEton pay a small amount OF money;
the property than 10 paid in any other
city in the country, that therefore 1t IL
wrong and that The city 10 imposing
upon the government do not believe that
nately situated that they can escape a
large burden Of taxation. II they can prop
terly do so 1t is their right ana privi-
llege. Gentlemen who have spoken lay
it as a charge against the people OF
Washington that their tax rate is low
and that taxes are less in proportion
to value OF property and advantages en-
joyed than in other cities Of the coun-
try; that property owners OK Weshne
ton have to pay only one tax, city
tax, instead Of number OF taxes. sucn
as city, county and state taxes, as the
people Of almost every other city in the
country have to pay.
People Here Not to Blame.
"Washington and its people are not
to be blamed for that condition; 1t is A
privilege they enjoy or q burden they
escape. It is pointed out that the val
uation Of taxable property is only two
thirds OF the full value and that the
rate Is only IN. making a rate Of taxa
ton Of per cent on the full value, az
in some states. That is certainly very
low rate but the people OF this city
may be entitled to it. If the govern
meat contributes what it ought to con-
tribute in proportion to the value of
its property, if the burden placed upon
the people of the District Is 60 reduced
that it is only per cent--to an In
significantly small sum-the people OF
The fact that there is money In the
Treasury indicates that too much has
been levied, that is all.
mo people are ever asked or ought
to be asked to pay more than enough
that money is left in the Treasury is
an indication that the people Of the
District have paid more than they
ought to have been asked to pay under
the plan in vogue; that is, the half
and-h plan.
III the half -and-half plan is not right
let 1t be two-thirds on the city and one
third on the government. or let 1t be
four-fifths on the city and one-fifth on
the government, but insist the federal
government ought not. in Justice and
right. to escape taxation on all its i'm
mense property in this city.
There is a government building in
the city in which I live. The govern
ment pays nothing on it; no taxes.
have heard gentlemen say here that by
analogy the government of the United
States ought not to be REQUIRED to pay
taxes on any of It's property here.
do not believe that. do not think the
cases are parallel. I think the govern
ment Of the United States ought not to
pay on ITS post once building In my
pay properly, on its immense holdings
in the city Of Warrington" ...