Evening star., 1919-12-17

trict committee.
He reviewed repeated efforts to
abolish the half-and-half system as a
rider on appropriation bills. He said
that he sees very determined dis
position on the part of the House to
abolish the half-and-half, and that un-
less a bill from the House committee
getting rid of this system of financing
the National Capital is passed he feels
certain that the next District appro-
priation bill will carry such a pro-
vision.
Fate Of Next Appropriation.
I'VE must look at this matter square,
~ as it is, because it is generally con-
ceded in the House, said Mr.. Good,
that there is nothing sacred in the
half -and-half. 1 do not believe that
there Is any disposition on the part of
heretofore on this proposition in order to
get the appropriation bills through. My
Judgment Is that the next District ap-
preparation bill will not pass, and in the
main the wheels of government in the
District must stop for lack of appropria-
tion unless this proposed abolition OF the
half -and-half is passed.
II am not sure that this is the most
scientific plan." said Mr.. Good. II have
been doing little computing to see how
taxation here checked up with some of
our western cities along the line of how
much the property actually sells for as
compared with the assessed value" and
ne gave a specific instance in his home
town.
WORD has come to me so often that
against their convictions as they have
heretofore in order to put through ap-
preparation bills, that while the ap-
preparation committee does not de-
sire to assume charge. It may be
forced to if this committee fails to
act" continued Mr.. Good. THE SEN
ate committee has on numerous occa-
sions said that if the House passed
the abolition of the half-and-half as
a District legislative proposition. they
have confusion again on the District
appropriation bill on account Of this
ISSUE"
Mr.. WorthinstOn Resumes.
A. S. Worthington, in resuming his
statement for the District taxpay-
ers said that in the contention OIL the
floor of the House and elsewhere the
question has always been raised
whether or not residents of the District
pay enough taxes. 'The only ques-
tion," he said, "is on what is a proper
fixed proportion. The joint commits
sion authorized by Congress to deter
mine whether the proportion is fight
reported that we are paying enough
already.
"Now. although the law of the land
says that appropriations for the seat
Of government shall be made half and
half by the federal government and
by the residents of the District, we
District go to smash if the Senate
does not yield to the demands of the
House. Those who make such a sug-
gestion seem to forget that the Senate
has equal jurisdiction and has equal
right to say we will not surrender.
l.. h
to take such position against the
existing law. This is plain speaking,
but think it is about time for plain
speaking.
Way to Reach just Decision.
"You say that the tax rate here is
! per cent on actual value. and that
this is only small proportion of
what it is elsewhere. To reach any
just decision we must consider the
tax rate and the assessment. The
only way we can show a fair COM
parison is by how much per capita
we pay and by showing how we stand
in comparison on total taxation. We
have presented Statistics to show that
as regards real property we stand
very nearly at the head of the list"
Mr.. Worthington laid before the
committee volumes from the Library
Of Congress giving the reports Of
state tax commissions. making the
point that it is utterly useless to take
the rate of taxation by itself.
Suggestion by Chairman Mapes.
Chairman Mapes said that there was
no difference of opinion between the
committee and the witness on that
point. that the tax rate and the as
seSsment must be taken together. Mr.
Worthington insisted. that he wanted
to make that clear in the record of
the hearing. because members of the
House in debate persistently referred
to the tax rate as though that told
the whole story. AS one illustration
Mr.. Worthingto ton showed from the
Maryland tax commissions report
that the total tax here, "in the little
city. of Washington, is more than so
per cent higher than~in the big city
of Baltimore" When Representative
Benson of Maryland. remarked that
that is because you have more rich
people here" Mr.. Worthington en-
phasized that Washington is pre-
eminently city of small homes. and
that the small home owners are in
creasing in proportion. He quoted
the names of millionaires in New
York Chicago and Pittsburgh, but
said you do not find such groups here
The conclusion is unjustifiable that
we pay more taxes here because 1t is
a city of rich people"
Specific Instance Considered.
Replying to a specific instance given