Evening star., 1920-03-25
Appropriation Bill
Provides p Per
Cent Levy Here.
HALF-AND-HALF
is DISREGARDED
Mapes Bill Provisions
Substituted for Pres
ent Financing Plan.

~44S u 444OS11SA44A = ASsAAe
Recommendation for an in
crease in the tax rate on real
estate and tangible personal
property in the District OF Co
lumbia from ~ per cent to 2R
per cent is made in the District
appropriation bill Tor 1921, re-
ported to the House today.
Coupled with this is provi-
sion for disregarding the time
honored half-and-half method OF
paying the District expenses, the
bill using the wording OF the
AIapes bill which recently pass
ed the House-that payment
shall be from the revenues OF
the District as far as such reve-
nues are sufficient and the
remainder from the national
Treasury, except the interest on
the debt OF the District and the
sinking fund. which shall be paid
half and hail.
Bill Carries $1S,190,4S4.ss.
The total amount recommended to
be appropriated in this bill for the ex-
penses of all branches of the District
government during the fiscal year
starting July 1 next is s1s.190.4S4.S7.
The amount recommended in the bill.
compared with the appropriations for
similar purposes for 1890 and with the
estimates for 1891. shows the following
differences:
II is s2,1e3.9s2.la more than the ap-
propriations for similar purposes for
the current fiscal year. 1t should be
stated here. however, that deficiency
estimates of approximately 100000 for
the fiscal year 1920 are now pending
before the Congress and to the extent
that they are approved the stated ex-
cess of this bill over 1890 appropria-
tions will be reduced.
1t is S2,13S,944 less than the amount
requested in the estimates.
Chairman Davis Explains.
In explaining the District finances
and the reason for abolition of the
half-and-half fiscal system and for in
Creasing the tax rate. the report sub
mitted by Chairman Davis of the sub
committee on the District says:
1T is necessary in considering
charges against the revenues of the
District of Columbia to consider in
addition TO the amounts in the district
of Columbia bill. the sums appropriated
in other bills. including the legislative.
etc, bill, the sundry civil bill. the va
rious deficiency bills, and any sums
which may be carried in special bills
and chargeable against such revenues.
The surplus revenues of the District
of Columbia accumulated under the
half-and-half method of appropria ton
amounted to $4.063,922-18 on June 80.
1919. Considering appropriations al
ready made for the fiscal year 1920 in
all acts and the pending deficiency es-
Inmates for the renal inder of the fiscal
year 1920. it is evident that the por-
tion of such total of appropriations for
the fiscal year 1920, chargeable to the
revenues of the District of Columbia
for the fiscal year 1920. will exceed
such revenues by S250.0O0.
More Than Twice Revenue Figure.
THE estimates transmitted to Con-
gress for the fiscal year 1921 on the
half-and-half basis. while apparently
within a sum twice the estimated rev.
enues of the District of Columbia for
the fiscal year 1921. are in reality
greatly in excess of twice such rev
enues when the full amount of all es-
Inmates chargeable to the District
revenues is taken into considera-
tion. If all of the estimates formally
transmitted by the District Commits
sioners and officers of the United
States government are taken into con-
sideration, well as other known
charges and supplemental estimates
transmitted TO Congress since the ses-
sion began. the portion of all such
estimates properly chargeable to Dis
trict revenues would exceed the es-
mated revenues by teI 4
S2250.000.
THE appropriations contained In
this bill, together with the appro-
prIations probably TO be carried in
other bills for the fiscal year 1921. and
chargeable to the revenues of the
District of Columbia. will approx
mate 500 100000. exclusive of deficien
cies. If this sum were appropriate &c
on the half-and-half basis the rev.
enues of the District of Columbia fo.
the fiscal year 1921 would fall short
Of meeting the proportion chargeab1,
TO them by approximately S35o.a00. i
the sum should be appropriated OF
the basis of the enacting clause of the
accompanying bill. the United State.
would pay the amount, which. unde,
the half-and d-half plan. would repre-
sent deficit in the District revenues
Rate of Taxation.
THE committee has incorporated in
the OIL Il paragraph recommending al
increase in the rate of taxation OF
real estate and tangible persona
property from l y per cent TO 2Ia pei
cent. 1t is obvious from the condi.
lion of the finances of the District ot
Columbia for the current fisca! y-al
the estimates requested to be Consid
cred for the fiscal year 1921. the prob
able deficit for the fiscal year 1921
under appropriations in this and othel
bills. the postponed projects from pre-
vious years. the growth of the cit,
during the war and the permanenc,
of a major portion of such growth
that the affairs of the city cannot h,
conducted with fairness to the com
munity and the taxpayers Of tn
United States without an increase i,
revenue.
The additional revenue resultin,
from a Go 2-3 per cent increase ii
taxes will amount approximately L
s5.40O.000 for the fiscal year 1921 Sucl
taxes are due in November of this year
and must be paid in May OF 1927 il
order to avoid penalties. The bulk o
the taxes will be paid in June. 1921
and therefore will not be available I
any great extent to meet appropria
1ions until the fiscal year. 1922. Tn
total revenues for the fiscal year 1922
If the increassd rate of taxation