Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-12-16
|XEDPROPORT|ON
DECLARED VITAL IN
D. C.-U.S.F|NANCE
"A. S. Worthington, at Hear
ing. Says This Is Essential
to Welfare of All.
URGES STUDY OF HISTORY
OF FISCAL RELATIONS
Argument Is Made Before House
Committee From Standpoint
of City and Nation.

If Congress decides that it is de-
fiscal relations between the federal
government and the District govern
ment, it should change the proper
ton of moneys to be appropriated re-
spectively from the federal Treasury
and from the District treasury rather
than by out-and-out abolition OF the
half-and-half principle OF financing
the National Capital according to
statement made today before the
House District committee by A. s.
Worthington, representing the citi-
ZenS of the District
1t is essential for the welfare of
Congress and the national govern
ment as well for the residents OF the
National City that a fixed proportion
should be maintained rather than the
indefinite contribution policy pro-
posed in the Mapes bill to abolish the
half-and-half system, Mr.. Worthing-
ton insisted.
Reports Analysed.
He analysed the reports made by three
joint commissions of Congress and by
the House judiciary committee and the
House District committee, based on
many years of experience, as showing
that from the early days of the capitals
history the leaders in Congress after
careful investigation of the situation
definite contribution plan is imperative
ly necessary.
Mr.. Worthington urged that the mem
beers OF the House District committee
should not take quick judgment on
this matter and should not vote to abol-
ish the half-and-haK system until they
had given careful study to the history
of the fiscal relations and profit by the
experience Of their predecessors in Con-
gress.
The hearing on the Mapes bill to
abolish the half-and half system was
scheduled to start before the House
District committee at 10 O'Clock,
Chairman Mapes having urged Mr..
Worthington, who Is the concluding
speaker for the committee represent
ing the citizens, to make his state
ment as brief as possible. so that the
hearing might be finished by noon
Because members were late. the hear
ing did not start until 1926, when the
members present were Chairman
Mapes of Michigan and Representa-
tives Woods of Virginia. Lanham OF
Texas. Zihiman of Maryland and Lam
pert Of Texas Other members came
in later.
Drafted ~ Fellow Citizens.
Mfr. Wofthington said that he ha.
been q resident of Washington since
1866. taxpayer since 1870; that for
ABOUT nifty years he was engaged in
retired: that he had been drafted by
his fellow citizens on number OF
occasions to speak in their behalf be-
fore committees of Congress; that he
thus represented the citizens before
the joint congressional fiscal commit
tee in 1915. and that he is similarly
appearing now as a representative OF
the citizens and taxpayers
Mr.. Worthington reviewed the his
tory of the so-calIed half-and half
act and said that the present agita-
ton has grown out of the activity of
Representative Ben Johnson. whose
sole ground was that il the half-and-
half principle can be abolished Con
gress can tax the District citizens
higher than at present.
II submit to the members of the
committee who are here that il you
grant that the people OF the District Of
Columbia are taxed only half of what
they ought to be. you have not ad-
vanced a single argument for this
bill and for repeating this law" said
Mr.. Worthington. This bill provides
not only for repeal of the half-and-
half. but says what is to be done
hereafter: the people to be taxed
what you deem fair, our money to b.
put in a common treasury and Con
gress to appropriate whatever :.
sees At.
Real Question Involved.
Exactly the same arrangement now
suggested-the indefinite proportion
was in force here for seventy-s'H
years The real question is not
whether we will pay half and the gov
eminent the other half. but whethe,.
we shall pay a fixed proportion and
the fedora, gevernm nnt ,sxs nSe enough p
the rate should be changed and not
the system.
Referring to what happened in III"
District prior to 1873. when the hxed
hn "a d.
baIf system. was decided upon. Mr.
Warrington reviewed the early MS
tory of the fiscal arrangement in the
District ,.,,
government was practically the same
&C in most cities of the United States
There was a mayor first appointed b.
the President and later chosen bN
popular election, and council select
ed by the people. For those Sixty
nine years. he said. the inaehn',e con-
tribution plan was in force
The people in the District decided
how much should be raised and how.
and Congress appropriated as mucr
in addition as 1T saw mt.
In a village or aggregation OF peo-
r,e anvwhere in the United States
laying on, a city for themselves.
would YOU find them extending bro-d
avenues through the forests, as was
done here?" Mr.. Worth!ngton asked
s.Whpp the Capital WAS WI
no one thought that any one ~ut the
federal government would be called
on to pay for it's support" he added
Once a DisErnce to Nation.
eft is admitted by any one looking
on at that time that the capital WAS
disgrace 10 the nation" sir. Wortn-
;ngton said There were no pave.i
streets or stores and disgusting CON
ditions were prevalent. Congress bad
neglected to DO what it ought to Go.
he said. He quoted statements made
in the Senate that Congress had spent
Sc 600. 600 toward upbuilding capital.
and that the scattered population, p
large proportion of which were for
mer slaves and the remainder gov
eminent employees. had spent $685.
900, 900.
what happened then is a strong
argument against the indefinite con-
tribution plan." Mr.. Worthington en-
nhasized He reminded the commit
tee that in 1871 Congress changed the
system and in the new order included
a board of public works appointed by
the President and confirmed by the
senate, in which the people had no
voice"
Public Improvements.
This board Of public works Nj
Worthington said. had obtained mi:-
lions of dollars from the government
of the United states and millions