The Washington times., 1919-12-16
Of
$3.50 PLAN
PER|LS CITY
/. S. Worthington Forecasts
Disaster to District II
Mapes Bill Passes.

the House District Committee, which
10 considering a bill to do away with
the present fiscal relations between
the District and National Govern.
ment
Passage OF the bill would place the
District on the financial plan that ob-
tatnsd for seventy-six years before
the half and half was adopted. In
that period all District taxes were ap-
Piled TO District expenses, the Federal
Government making up the deficit
F0g0er CpAses Rsvsewed.
There were three distinct prices
gone through by the District under
the cid system" Mr.. worthingtco
saiA.
Yirst, the indefinite plan Of cor
poration made the city the national
disgrses. Second, the city became al
most BANKRUPT, and was forced to
time oue-dfth Of the property here
was sold By taxes. Third. this vas
the period batween 1871 and 1874 Our
ing which Congress tried to ferret eut
the trouble with the District Out OF
these tavestigations came the organize
act OF 1873 carrying the so-callsd half
and half plan.
The present rate Of IS mills for .
tve-tAtrds valuation was nxed ~
Cengress In 1909.
Congrsssman Zihiman askad II the
District should not have her tax rais-
ed - has followed In other municf-
palittes In recent years.
Mr.. Worthington objected to IN in
crease and said that the Joint com
nnittss OF Congress- which investigated
this matter in 1915 held that the pres
ent rate was fair and just.
Rsveal Easets DetaaleA.
Mr.. worthington detailed at length
how numerous committees of the
HOUSE and Senate had wrestled with
the problem OF how sbes. to finance
the Districf
Every eiFort ever made by consrse.1
sicnal Committees on this subject, he'1
roin'ed out, recommended n definite,
regular and liberal policy OF appro-
one exception. all these reports
urged the continuation OF the hail.
and-half plan --.1
He quoted Congressman Blackburn.
former chairman OF the House Dis
trict Committee as saying: Repeal
II the half and half would leave the
District at, the mercy of the whin
and caprice Of each succeeding Con-
The first effort % repeal the half
and half was made In 1896. The
House Distric. Committee OF which
'ongressmsn Sabcock was then
ahairInan brought out "eport urging
retention or the half and half. An
ether effort was made in 1915 to re-
zeal the law. The joint committee Of
congress. which sat for weeks hear
s2g witnesses o nboth sides. recon-
rucnded that a definite liberal, and
-Sgula- appropriation be made TO the
district and held that the District
was fairly taxed This committee how
over. said that il was no longer nee
esssry 10 continue the half and half
plan
Real GSai of CaApaixn
The whole object OF this move
ment." said Mr.. Worthington. "has
been to tax the District sufficiently
TO pay all Of Z = expenses"
Mr.. Worthington discussed at length
tie bonded debt OF the District. now
amounting 20 s3.075, 900. This debt
viii be liquidated In 1922. The orig
inal bond issue was guaranteed by the
Federal Government.
You cannot get rid OF the half-and-
half plan honorably until the District
debt In wiped out" Mr.. worthinxton
said The United States entered into
. contract with the District TO share
this burden until the debt was paid
It Il probable that several members
Of the House. who have for several
haif-and-hAlf, will appear before the
District Committee this afternoon IN
support OF ths Aaoe, bill. abolish
ing It
witnesses yesterday afternoon a,.
lacked the so-called half-and-half ana
urged it8 repeal
Lew Tax Rate Hess.
In sptts Of the low tax rate that
weuid permit Of improvements nine
tenths Of The business property In
Warrington - an AREA OF shacks and
ons-stosy baildinSs on property ss
lad valsss higher than any city IN
tAo voRiA he oaid He called partSeu-
LAP e&4sation to Pennsyivanta avenuA,
esevSsn The Capitol and the Treasury
s10411G. Only . few exceptions are
fenA oa the Avenue. he said
vSe0 DorS than 800 . square feo<.
0ssA - the highest In the world
SAA property 10 worth SO. 900 IN
s@ - Against $1,000 An aero In Bal
et0seA
wfnian Mex. Clayton. member Of
tAs 3odnt ettisens' eommittee, which is
peeeesonS against repeal Of the half.
aA1~eA1f plan. denied that real estate
1tsseses Of the District ~bosy- the
efSt1aoS associations
tns Federation Of Cidsens' Asso-
etedSns contributed IS toward do
naysne the expenses Of preparing
ssAoseies before the House commit
tea NJ. Clayton explained The reso-
luton carrying the appropriation in
continuanca
W. L Swanson, who Is with tha
United states Reclamation Service
here, urged the repeal of the half-and-
max He recommended :hat taxes be
GRADUALLY removed from improve
nants and be placed on land values.
A. b Johnson told the committee
To fake the District OF its crutches
fths organization act. or haIf-snd-halr
D411. Hts plan 10 to have the Dis
- ~ ~ >Aass tAx bvxasa-