Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-05-16

of bookkeeping, but under every act
OF Congress as revenues OF the Dis
trict OF Columbia. Ever since the en-
actment in June. 1873. OF the ha!f-
and-half plan. in what is called BY the
Supreme Court Of the United States
the organic act, down to the present
day Congress has always treated
them as revenues Of the District of
Columbia.
Manifestly not dollar Of this money
ought to be appropriated except with
a Corresponding dollar from the ma
tional Treasury. Much of it was paid
by those who could i'll afford it. but
who gave it willingly under the half
and-half plan. expecting that 1t would
be doubled when appropriated. II mas
been awaiting appropriation, partly
because of war conditions. and every
dollar Of it with a corresponding dol
lar from the national Treasury Is
needed under the half-and-half plan
to bring up arrears and to provide
additional appropriations for absolute
necessities. They should not pc ap.
propriated from 1t alone in view OF
and half plan that it should be dupli-
Gated from the national Treasury
when appropriations are made.
The people Of the District Of Column
Ma gladly pay these national taxes.
just as we gladly render the national
III,
time Of war, without boast, with our
fine record Of $4,000 men. 46 per cent
of them voluntary enlistments, q
greater number than in a large mum :
Der Of the states. greater than In all
but five.
able to show you that we are paying
now a larger amount OF taxes than
the people in tho majority OF the
cities Of the United States. more than
in ITS out OF 227 having over 10000
population in 1918. and this. notwith-
the assessor the exempt property OF
the government amounts. according to
his assessment. to 1865, ABS. $50. with
out any account being taken OF the
personality owned by the government
in the District Of Columbia -
| 15,260.414. Now. OF course. I am
not basing. and Congress did not base
the half-and-ha1f plan upon the exact
respective holdings Of the govern
ment and OF the people of the District
Of Columbia, but 1t is highly impor-
been withdrawn from taxation. and
that additional amounts of the real
property Of the District are being
withdrawn from taxation constantly
as we all know by the takings OF the
the District. which District cannot be
enlarged. Other cities have been and
are being enlarged.
But this District cannot be enlarged.
and the takings Of the governme Mt
reduce constantly tho realty upon
which the taxation Is imposed.
There are. in round numbers. in the
District of Columbia $500 taxpayers.
and Of that number $4,000 pay 800 or
less. You see at once how great a
burden would be put upon the vast
majority Of the taxpayers who are
paying these small amounts by the
addition Of the Sc 2-3 per cent In
crease. It is the small householder
who would suffer under this proposed
change. That would not be any rea-
son for not increasing the taxation ii
the increase were necessary. but we
think we have shown that the in
crease is not necessary, and therefore
| that 1t ought not to be made. The
only way in which It can be made
necessary is by abolishing the half
and-half plan and by increasing the
| burden upon the people here grad
| ually until they shall be required to
pay the whole of it. beginning with
this great increase which is proposed
by the House in this bill.