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

start With Few Present.
The hearing was scheduled to start
at 10 o'clock. When only two mem
bers. Chairman Mapes and Repre-
sentative Lanham of Texas, had ar
rived at 1925 it was suggested that
the hearing should start. Col. A. s.
worthington, a member of the execu-
tive committee representing the cftf-
Gems of the District, spoke briefly in
protest. He said that a great many
pieces Of legislation unfair to the Dis
trict had emanated from that commit
tee because the members were not
fully informed on the subject. In the
present instance the citizens are or
ganized and have prepared to give In
formation which will prevent unfair
and unjust action. he said. In reply
Chairman Mapes said that any state
ment by the citizens present may be
printed, and that the committee MEM
hers would have such printed state
ments to study.
Within a few minutes after Henry
B. F. mcfarland. the principal speak
err for the citizens in protest against
abolition of the half-and-half prin-
the following members of the commit
tee came in: Representatives Woods
of Virginia, Gould of New York. Lam
pert of Wisconsin. Zihlman of Mary
land. Burdict of Rhode Island, Drain
of Florida. Williams of Illinois and
Hays of Missouri
Citizens Glad of Opportunity.
Mr. Macfar,snd said. in part:
District citizens appreciate the OPP
portunity of this the first hearing
that has been given for many years
ny the House committee on this sub
ject. Some day we hope to have full
representation of the District of Co
lumbia in Congress, but now we have
only the right of petition.
70
cipal civic organizations. including the
Board of Trade. Chamber of Com
merce. Federation of Citizens Asso-
Citations. Recently 10000 members
have been added to the citizens as
socistions all o'-"r the DISTRICT Tho
total membership of all orga MIA lions
we represent is probably over thirty
thousand. entirely representative OF
all sections of the community. We
represent also. we believe, the gen.
eral sentiment of the community in
opposition to the pending bill and in
favor of the continuance of the pres
ent fiscal arrangement until a better
one is devised making equally definite
and liberal provision for appropria :
ton as between the national Treasury
and the District taxpayers.
Represent Desire of Citizens.
We are here. of course, as repre-
sentatires and not as attorneys. and
equally. of course. give our services
free. We do so because of the vital
Importance Of the question to the
life and progress OF the National Cap
ital- We are here as national citi-
zens. making orr full national con-
tributions through taxes and service.
We represent the general desire of
our fellow citizens throughout the
country that this should be in every
respect the finest capital on earth.
We represent also their will ingness
not asking for a change They do
not begrudge what they pay-less
than 10 cents per capita-any more
than we begrudge what we pay
about S19 per capita
We believe. With the Joint con-
gressional committee OF 1915. that
taxation in the District should he
lived and certain. and that Congress
should pursue a definite policy of-reg-
ular and liberal appropriations. A
definite and regular arrangement sue n
as we now have is more important
than large appropriations since il
provides for the uniform and steady
progress of the National Capita. in the
the United States from too large APP
p-opriations of national money and
taxpayers from excessive taxation.
AN indefinite Arrangement. such as
is proposed in the bill leaves every
thing uncertain. except that District
tax money will be appropriated
whether any. and if So row much
United States money should he APP
propriated is left uncertain and 70
irregular action from session to SEES
sion. Under it the government with
all its property here exempt from
taxation. and with the use of al
municipal services for it's property
and its personnel. is not pledged tc
pay one dollar out of the nationa
Urea sury. Some congressman avow
edly wish the whole burden put or
the District taxpayers
Statistics to Taxes.
I'VE show the committee from the
United States census statistics tina
ne are now paying more taxes thai
many cities. and reasonable amoun