Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-12-12

| as compared with any city. and also
that the assessments here are fair.
Therefore. an increase of taxation
such as would be necessary to con-
tinue the present progress would be
unjust. Moreover it would be con-
trary to the desire of the country
The present arrangement, the result
OF much study by the wisest men In
Indefinite contribution plan. has shown
IT'S wis ;son by the progress made
comes around to the necessity for
similar arrangement. equally definite
and regular. Half and half is the Gus
tomary division where actual meas
urement OF nearly equal service and
Dement'S is impracticable. Another
proportion may now be desirable.
The Commissioners' estimates show
tn, the great need of the District for
larger appropriations, and even those
estimates do not show all the re-
quirements by at least $4,000, 900, for
! they are hampered by the limitation
OF 1909. which ought to be repealed.
IS the Commissioners recommend.
| combining the estimates to twice the
amount of the estimated revenues.
The war held back development which
ought to go forward at once and for
years to come.
Proud to Do Full Duty.
Devoted citizens of the National
Capital are proud to do their full duty
and more. They ask nothing of Con-
greSS except that the United States
shall do it's duty to its own capital
over which it has and must have abso-
lutte control. and for which it is pri-
marily responsible.
1t is the nations city 1t is the
pride of the nation. which. it is be-
Aeved, desires no change in the pres
ent arrangement. but rather larger
.av -f<.ff 60
, and establishment of the common
capital. Other nations give their capt.
tails national representation and all
other citizenship privileges and large
contributions of money besides. and
some OF them are making more prog
, ress than Washington, which all
Americans want to be the best"
Chairman Mapes' Questions.
! Chairman Mapes injected several
/ questions. declaring that Mr.. Macfar-
i land was interpreting and drawing an
| inference from the report which was
not written into it. Mr. Macfarland
! insisted that he was quoting exactly
, from the report. which was written
! by lawyers accustomed to the use Of
! exact language.
Mr.. Mapes also said that he read the
! testimony of the then Commits
/ ,;ioners Newman and Brownlow as be-
| ing of the opinion that the tax rate in
Washington was lower than in other
| cities and should be made as high as
! in other cities of the same size
Not at ALL, said Mr.. mcfarland.
! He pointed out that the whole conclu-
sion of the joint committee was that
| the citizens of the District OF Column
| bia are well taxed. He quoted. several
| passa ges to this effect one of which
was that the tax was fair and rea-
| sonable." That qcestion was debated
! at length and there was a plain and
clear declaration. said Mr.. Macfarland,
! that AIS far as the tax rate is concerned.
/ the citizens of the District are paying
| a fair levy. He pointed out that since
/ that report Of the joint committee of
Congress the taxation of residents of
/ the District has been twice increased
/ through raising the intangible tax
| and through an increase on real prop
! erty.
| Says Appropriation Inadequate.
| Mr.. Mcfarland pointed out that fire.
| Quently the appropriations made by
| Congress have not been as large as
| the needs of Washington really re-
! auired. if it's development was to con-
! tinue. He said that the itation
which is put upon the District Com
: missioners in submitting their esti-
/ mates to Congress. whereby those
I estimates shall not exceed twice the
! amount of estimated revenue should
! be repealed.
/ AS a matter of fact, he said. this
limitation in the recent book Of esti-
| mates made it necessary for the Com
| missioners to reduce their estimate
from something more than $22. 600. 900
! to S1S,000,000, although the $4,000
| 900 is needed.
I Comments on Surplus.
| He commented also upon the fact
that so-called surplus Of unexpend-
| ed District revenues amounting to
more than 100000 has accumulated
berause Congress has failed to appro-
pirate in recent years all of the money
available to be used under the half
and-h plan.
If the appropriations had been as
CONTINUED on Second Page.)