Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-04-07
VOTE
FOR HALF-AND'AALF

Columbia Heights Adopts
Resolutions, After Hearing
Representative Andrews.
A stirring plea for the retention OF
the "half-and-h half system OF fnanc-
ing the District of Columbia was
made by Representative w. E. An
drews of Nebraska. speaking before
a largely attended meeting of the Co
lumbia Heights Citizens Association
at St Stephens Parish Hall last
night.
The association. following the ad-
dress, unanimously adopted resoiu-
tions presented by Charles S. Bundy.
calling upon Congress to continue
and safeguard the 'half-and half
plan, and petitioning Congress to
make no change in local taxation
without full hearing upon the entire
tax system of the District.
Judge Bundy, G. c. Lancaster ana
G. A. Ward were appointed COM
mittee to present copies of the reso-
buttons to the congressional commit
tees having the District appropria-
ton bill under consideration.
Oppose Water Rent Increase.
The same members of the associa-
ton We're empowered personally to
bear the protest of the association TO
Congress against the proposed in
creased water rent for all people of
the District.
Upon motion of W. l. Swanton, the
association unanimously condemned
the proposed increase of % per cent
N FOL increase
100 per cent in the extension of new
water mains.
Mr.. Andrews Argument.
Locating a National Capital on a
small tract of land means that the Ma
tional Treasury must support financially
the National Capital" Representative
Andrews said. There is no escape
from that proposition" The speaker as
serted that he had recovered from the
disease which others on the hill seemed
to be suffering FROM and that mat
ters cannot be handled here as they are
in the states.
'In the early days the National Capt.
tai was small, but it challenges the ad-
miration of the world today" Mr.. An
drews continued. But you're not going
to pay all the bill out of ten square
miles of territory.
"See Washington in the mud. strug
CLING through the years Then, in 1878,
Congress took control, under the half
and-half act. and exercised some good
common sense. and began to pull the
National Capital out of the mud.
would the people of the United States
see the picture of the Capital in 1878,
in contrast with the glorious picture
now. and bcgrudge what has been done
for the National Capital?
mo, they wouldn't" said Representa-
tive Andrews fatty.
Government Leads.
The national government is directly
and logically responsible supplemented
by the people," the speaker continued
Let us stop saying that the govern
ment is to help the people carry on the
District of Columbia. The national gov
leads the enterprise. and calls
on the people who hold property here to
help the federal government carry it
on"
the people of the District ARE willing |
to go right along with the government"
He spoke of the National Capital as IAN |
object lesson in patriotism to the chill |
dren throughout the nation. and urged
that the city be beautified more and
more in the years to come.
The government itself, he declared. !
furnishes a large proportion of the
local population and children in the
local schools. Let the United States
law down dollar and the District
match it, and put the schools where
they ought to be- Mr. Andrews
added.
Protests Against Rider.
Protesting against the provisions in
he District appropriation bill which !
provide by rider repeal of the
'half-and- half plan and increase of |
he resolutions adopted by the asso-
citation as presented by Judge Bundy
protested against these propositions
and also against the arbitrary exer-
Else of power that would approve it
without opportunity for District tax
payers to be heard
The association petitionsd Congress
10 take mo final action upon this or
any other proposition intended to af-
feet the existing plan. except in a spe-
cial bill for the purpose. and to make
no change in the local taxation with
system of the District" ut is the
sense of the association" continued
the resolution. that the 'half-and-
half plan should be continued and
safeguarded by Congress. it having.
forty-two years experience.
proved the most equitable plan thus
far devised for administering the
fiscal affairs of the District"
Tax Rate Believed Enough.
The present tax rate. according to
the resolution. produces sufficient
revenue under the half-and-half plan
FOR all requirements, as evidenced by
an unexpended balance of $4.000,000
collected from District taxpayers.
With the intention that the nation
shall be relieved of its just share of
The expense of maintaining the Capt.
tai city, and that the District alone
shall ultimately bear all or the great
er part of that expense, this PROPOSE
ton would unduly increase the tax
rate in Washington regardless of the
fact officially brought out and proved
before the joint congressional COM
mittee of 1915 that Washington is
already paying a higher per capita
tax rate than other American cities
most nearly comparable to it,
The proposition is not only I'M
fair and oppressive to the residents of
Washington, but is also short GIFTED
to the interests of the nation in the
failure to appreciate that a definite
and equitable system of appropria-
ton is essential to the progress and
of the Capital city,
Officers Nominated.
officers for the next year. to be
voted on at the May meeting of the
MI