Evening star., 1919-12-17

paid by citizens in other cities Of the
country Of the same size as wash
ington.
You would take the total amount"
asked Representative Reed.
Yes" said Mr.. SisSon.
Points to Drawbacks Here.
Mr.. Focht said that in many other
cities there were factories and big
business enterprises making big money
which contributed to the support of
the city, and that they were lacking
here. Mr.. Sisson said that he might
take that fact into consideration. But.
he said, the government pay roll is
steady here. Returning to the replies
he had received from cities regarding
taxation, Mr. Sisson said that the rate
in Dallas, Tex, had been given as 2.S7
per cent on full value, and in Buffalo.
n. Y, as $50 per cent.
Representative Murphy wanted to
know if Mr.. Sisson would tax the fed
eral property here so that the govern
ment would pay it's share of the up
keep of the city.
No said Mr.. Sisson, but I would
have the government pay all its eX-
penses here"
Enter Into Sharp Exchange.
Mr.. Murphy and Mr.. Williams en-
tered into sharp exchange with Mr..
Sisson. Mr.. Murphy insisted that in
other places the business enterprises
are taxed to help pay expenses. while
MFR. Sisson plans to exempt the big
business in Washington, the business
of the government.
Il think you are fair said Mr.. Will
liams to Mr.. Sisson. but 1 don't un-
derstand your logic"
Mr.. Murphy said that, with the gov
ernment paying half and the District
paying half, the city of Washington
was being run all right, and yet with
the contribution of the government
taken into consideration. the tax rate
here would be only per cent on real
estate as compared to 2.97 and 2.80
ETC.. as claimed by Mr.. Sisson in other
places.
You are getting away with it Won
derfully well here" said Mr.. Murphy
and it seems to me that no harm is
being done any one"
Mr.. Sisson said that the pending bill
does not propose to change the method
or rate of taxation here. He said that
what the people feared was that the
taxes might be raised later.
There can be no objection on earth
to this BILL" he said.
Attitude of Committee.
Continuing. Representative Sisson
explained that the proposal to pay all
expenses of the District government
out OF District revenues as far as
those revenues go. with the balance
TO be made up out of the national
Treasury, was first drafted by Repre-
sentative Sherley of Kentucky, after
ward chairman of the House appro-
objection that with the half-and-hal (
system removed the appropriations
committee would be<more likely to
run up the expenses on the District
taxpayer. Mr. Sisson said: Il do not
Deileve that the appropriations com
mittee or any member of it stops to
think or cares who pays the taxes"
representative Focht of Pennsylva-
ma asked Mr.. Sisson. Isn't it a fact
that this bill was designed to make
than half the expenses of Keeping up
this beautiful capital city?" When
ne received negative answer he
said, We'll, then. if you do not intend
70 make them pay more than half
why bother about this legislation at
all?"
Again Mr.. Focht asked Mr.. Sisson:
Don't you think the government is
pretty fortunate in having a partner
like the people of the District. willing
to match dollar for dollar in beauti-
hcatiOn of our capital city?"
Repr> entatfve Sisson resumed his
argum...t that many people come to
the District in order to avoid here
payment of taxes that they would
have to make elsewhere. Representa-
criticism that an absurdly low tax
on intangible property was operative
in the District, asking: isn't the real
reason that it is higher elsewhere be-
cause in other communities there are
more tax dodgers?'
Representative Sisson insisted that
men of large fortunes can move to
Washington and save enough on the
intangible tax levy to pay their en-
tire living expenses. Representative
Murphy of Ohio asked if it is not
true that the same condition exists as
between states in the Union, and men,
toned certain specific illustrations.
"It looks to me-" he said. las if you
want to have Congress penalize the
people of the District because they
kept the tax rate down. Under this
definite arrangement this city is
being governed cheaper than any
other city in the country on which
records have been shown.
Assessments in Other Cities.
REPRESENTATIVE Sisson put in the rec
ord. letters from state authorities snow
ing how the assessments had oeen inaue .ae
in other cities and what the tax rates
are in those cities. Representative VIII
liams OF Illinois, questioned the rena-
hility of some of these letters, calilng
attention to conditions in his own state
where, he said. the assessment was
never more tnan one-thiio "a Ne
tual sale value.
Penrrsentative Woods of Virginia
questioned Mr. Sisson as to how he
thought it would work out il the gov
ernment consented to taxing govern
ment property. and whether 1t Wouid
not lead to interminable controversy
over the question of taxing the govern
ment buildings in cities throughout the
country. Mr Worthington interjected
the comment that the buildings in other
states are for the transaction OF local
business, while the government proper
ties here are for transaction OF general
federal business. Representative Sisson
admitted the force of this comment.
Theodore w. Noyes called attention
of the committee to the fact that all
the letters submitted by Representative
Sisson contained unreliable guesses or
surmises of some one as to the relation
Of assessed to true value. and he urged
that the committee would find in tables
of figures presented by the spokesmen,
for the District residents. taken
from the census bureau records, more
reliable basis for comparison of actual
tax burdens.
sentative Could of New York, Repre-
sentative Sisson reviewed the history
of the fight to abolish the half-and-
half.
Representative Mapes asked if it
was not necessary for the orderly
conduct of business to have this mat
ter settled as distinct Legislative
proposition. in order that the appro
priation bill might not be tied up. Mr..
Sisson replied that in his opinion in
order to get the half-and-half abolish
ed by Congress. it will be necessary
to get it through on an appropriation
bill or the Senate will never consid
er it.
I'm f1Onu Near CAnitOI.
Herbert ]. Brown questioned Repre-
sentative Sisson concerning assess
ments on the properties between the
ca I-ninn afian yollln q