Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-01-22
URGES CONGRESS
Be MORE LIBERAL
WITH THE D|STR|C!
Representative Andrews Fa-
vors HaIf-and-HaIf and a
Higher Tax Rate.

1nsistence that the federal govern
ment should not only continue TO
match dollar for dollar with the Dis
trict. but should increase the amount
of half nd half levy so that the Ma
tional Capital might be properly de-
veloped with adequate water supply.
schools. etc. is made by Representa-
tive William Il. Andrews of Nebraska.
printed in the Congressional Record
today.
Representative Andrews has been
resident of the National Capital for
more than twenty years. and during
most of that time was auditor in the
Treasury Department. where he had
exceptional opportunity of studying
the fiscal relations between the ma
tional and District governments. He
made this speech on the floor of the
House when the Mapes bill to abolish
the half-and- half system was under
discussion. He said:
Il consider il a privilege well as
the duty to oppose the passage of this
bill. For several years | have follow
ed the course of the propaganda rest
ing behind this proposition. This bill
is the direct product of certain ideas
that We're distilled in the mountain
dews of kentucky. just why they
have now got a home in the state of
Michigan ] am unable to explain
unless perchanee, that it is the home
of the great idealist, Menry Ford
Old Charges Recalled.
Mr.. Chairman. when this discussion
was commenced some eight or nine
years ago l noted that many allie
cations were made that marked dis-
honesty had been practiced against
the United States in the final settle
ments between the District of Column
bia and the federal government under
the law of 1878. L turned to the MES
of my Office in the Treasury and drew
up the accounts to whlcn tnose
charges related. | called for the clerk
that made the examinations. l went
through the story and reached the
conclusion that the charges were I'M
true Very soon after that the sec
rotary of the Treasury directed re
examinat ton of that question. any t th
decision of the chief law ofhcer OF the
department sustained my conclusion
in relation to it.
Now, | want to say that, SO Iar ds
the Treasury is concerned. so lar as
the expenses of the District may De
concerned, that | do not see any
grave danger in the surplus to when
the majority report refers. When
read thar report and noted the uneasl-
ness OF mind with which the cnair-
man penned those lines IL occurIeu
to me that he must have been tne
campaign manager of the national
campaign of 1854, charging that
tional menace Here we meet again
with surplus of s4.06S.000. a great
menace to the District. a great men
ace to the taxpayers OF the hatlon
why do we have that surplus OF W.
O63. 900? Simply because, and only
because. Congress has refused 10 ap
uropriate the required amount or
money to take that portion out along
with other moneys to pay the bllls
estimated for by the Commissioners
of the District of Columbia
Reason for Surplus.
Here is the answer: Beginning
with 1910. including 1920 and the
years intervening. on the District Dill
alone the Commissioners asked Tor
s2264O.0OO more than Congress ap-
propriated There is the reason. and
that is the only reason. Necessary
were refused from year
TO year. The public schools have suf-
fered seriously.
Now let us turn for moment 10
some of the by-products of this prop
uganda What are they? When TINS
propaganda commenced many OF the
people loaning money from The va
rious states to people of moderate
means in the District of Columbia
who were trying to build moderate
homes served notice that the loans
would be recalled at maturity. When
the loans cOulu not ne pdiu tHc idtcS
of interest were advanced, so that
clerks in the departments drawing
moderate salaries. clerks in the stores.
and in the shops, and the factories.
were compelled to pay Increased rates
of interest, from Az to and 5h to
8 per cent. 1t would have been higher
than that if the law had not made q
per cent the maximum. Increased
rates of rent followed necessarily.
There Mr. Chairman, is the explana-
ton of the paralysis in the real es-
tate market of the District of Column
bia That answers why there has
been no appreciable advance in the
real estate market on property sold
in the major part of the District of
Columbia.
'sNow. 1 have heard men directly re-
sponsible for this propaganda on the
floor of this House talk against prof
iteering when. as a matter of fact,
the propaganda initiated and pro-
mulgated by those very men have
taken from the pockets of people of
moderate means millions upon mil
lions of dollars in the District. l
know these things, because l was
right in the midst of the men and the
women who had to meet them. That
is the actual result of this vicious
/ consider it a privilege and a duty to
vote against this bill. We should have
something fixed and definite, as we
were supposed to have before this
propaganda began.
Original Plan for District.
Turn for a moment to the early
history of the nation and the found
ing of the capital here. Read the
words of George Washington. Alex