Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-12-12
D. C. TAXES HIGHER THAN
IN MOST LARGE CITIES,
HOUSE COMMITTEE TOLD

4
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large as the requirements of the Dis
trict demanded. there would have been
no such unexpended District revenue,
said Mr.. mcfarland.
Chairman Mapes asked if this sur
plus could ever be used If the half
and-half law is continued in effect.
Mr.. Macfarland replied that undoubt-
eddy it could be used in view of the
fact that the limitation in the law
is placed upon the estimates submit
ted by the Commissioners and not
upon the appropriations that may be
| made by Congress.
Arrangement Here Is Unique.
Representative Drain of Florida
asked If there was any parallel in the
other capitals in the world to the
method of appropriating in Wash
ington.
mo. the arrangement here is
unique" replied MIR. Macfarland. IN
other capitals the people have full
representation in the national parlia-
ment and a voice in their own gov
eminent, which we have not. In otn-
err capitals the national government
has contributed largely to their de-
velopment and upkeep.
Takes Up Question of Taxes
Mr.. mcfarland was closely ques-
toned by members of the commit tee
when he began to discuss the relative
amount of taxes paid in Washing
ton and in other American cities He
said that statistics prepared III dc-
cordance with the plan adopted oy
the United States census pureau
showed that the taxes paid in WASH
inTton compared favorably with the
taxes paid in other cities Of similar
size. and that in number OF them
the taxes paid for similar purposes
we're considerably less. He explained
th.t in making the comparison the
census bureau showed the per CAPITA
tax in various cities taking into con,
sideration both the assessments ana
the rates. 80 Illinois
said that If had been frequently stated
on the floor of the House that prop
erty owners in Washington pay iower
taxes than they do in other ci'ie' III
the United states.
Representative Lanham OF Ie4as
said also that the argument hao oeen
made in the House that man coulo
move here from other places and save
enough on his taxes to pay his living
THAT is not true" said Mr.. Mac
farland.
Offers COMPANION by Cities
Members Of the committee asked Mr.
Macfarland to compare the amount OF
taxes paid on $1,000 worth OF prop
erty or $4,000 Of property by man
living in Washington and another man
living in Baltimore or some otner
city. Mr.. Mcfarland said that ne
was making comparison or the
taxes paid by cities and not by IN
diyiduals and reiterated the fact that
the method of comparing the tax
burden in Washington with that IN
other cities was method adopted by
the federal bureau charged with max
ing such investigations.
In reply to a question by Represent
alive Burdick, Mr.. mcfarland said
that the tax rate here is $3.50 on an
assessment of two-thirds the valua-
ton. Representative Zihlman of
MARYLAND pointed out that the new
assessment in Baltimore was at rate
of S297 on an assessment OF W per
cent of the value of the property, and
in addition to this there was So
cent state tax. making total OF 1888.
He wanted to know II a person living
in Baltimore would have to pay
greater tax than one living in WASH
ington on property of the same value.
Representative Lanham objected to
the per capita tax comparison and ex-
pressed the opinion that the people in
his state, Texas. were paying higher
rate of taxes than tht people in WASH
ington. :.
Mr.. Macfarland again said that it
was not fair to compare individuals,
but that the entire tax burden of cities
should be compared.
"Not City Of Mnlionaires.'
Representative Mapes suggested
that If Washington were city of mil
Iionaires and its inhabitants paid
taxes on their property, it would not
be fair to compare the per capita tax
with that of a city where the people
were of moderate means.
Nothing Is further from the fact than
that Washington is city of million
aires" said Mr.. Mcfarland. He in
sisted, however, that if the assess
ments were properly made the per
capita tax comparison would be fair.
Representative Reed remarked that
in Washington there are large num-
Der of persons who probably do not
pay taxes at all and that was disad-
vantageous to Washington in making
the per capita tax basis of cQmpari-
son with other cities.