The Washington times., 1920-01-05
5O-5OPLAN KILLED
IN HOUSE REPORT
District Committee Recon-
mends Abolition OF Present
Fiscal System.

Continued from First Page.)
oppose repeal OF the half-and-half u
plan as applied to finances OF the Dis
trict. Congressman Williams OF iili-
noIs and Zihiman Of Maryland VIII
draft the minority report Several
other members OF the House District
Committee are expected to sign IL.
woais stop Delays.
Mr.. Mapes, In the committee report,
points out that repeal OF the hait-an-
half plan would remedy a lesisla-
tive situation which has threatened u
present the passage of the snnual
District OF Columbia appropriations bill
for several Congresses and which pc
comes apparently a greater obstacle
ia each succeeding Congress-
"'rhe bill In itself Is simple, con-
tinuss the report. Indeed. IL la 80
reasonable, fair and just, and so inuch
in accord with sound economic busi-
ness common sense, that IL is dinlcuit
TO account for the persistent ana
strenuous opposition which u pre-
yokes In some quarters, except upon
the theory that Its opponents rear
that it's passage will some time DC
made use of as the opening wedge 10
require the taxpayers In the D'strlet
OF Columbia to pay a more just ana
equitable taxs compared 10 thst paio
by the taxpayers OF other cities
at simply provides that the eN-
penses OF the District OF Columpia
shall be paid from and after July L.
1920 out of.the revenues of the DIS
ttict OF Columbia TO the extent that
such revenues shall be sufficient
therefor and the remainder shall be
naid out of the Treasury OF the
United States
No Higher Taxes.
"lt does not increase the tax rate
or change in any way the tax system
now in effect in the District Of Co
Iumbla. II the bill should be enacted
into law the taxpayers in the Oistric.
OF Columbia would not be required
thereby to pay cent more in taxes
than they are now required TO pay.
The report sets out that the whole
purpose of the Mapes bill is TO make
possible the use OF the moneys now
collected by the District under the
fxed and very low rate of taxation
now provided by Lawn to pay the ex-
penses of the District government as
Gar as IL will go. the balance TO be
appropriated out OF the Federal
Treasury"
"It requires no extensive argu-
ment," says the Mapes report, Tto
convince the importial student or al
fairs that the citizens of no othe'
city in the United States, which ap'
proaches Washington in size or ad'
vantages, enjoy anywhere near as
law taxes as do those OF the District
OF Columbia"
Each year there is being piled up
in the Treasury "a surplus from
moneys raised by taxation In the Dis
trfct At the present time u has
reached S4.063, ,922.IS. The Mapes re-
port points out that under the pro
posed new system there would be no
surplus. and the citizens OF the Dis
trict would receive advantages from
moneys are paid in.
Real Estate Favored.
Real estate has had its assessment
raised per cent since 1915, the re
port says, but what is the sense of
asking that tho assessed valuation be
raised as long as the present very
low valuation will produce surplus
in favor of the District of Columbia
which cannot be touched because of
n law which Congress permits to re
main upon the statute books al
though the reason for II has long
since ceased TO exist?
1t is expecting too much of human
nature to think that the assessors
office. surrounded as IT is by local in
fiuences, will do so. In fact, from
The standpoint of the local interests
hf.h hn nf6rf,lp ~ ha 30 'rt ~
Columbia for the most part represent
existing law offers every inducement
60 the assessor on the one hand 70
keep down the assessed valuation OF
the property in the District of Colum
ola and to the Commissioners on the
other hand to pad their estimates.
why should Congress with full
knowledge of the facts permit such
an impossible situatioa to exist any
longer?
Protect District,
1.-THE reason for the so-called half
and-half legislation no longer exists
1t was passed to protect the city from
itself after a period of gross mis-
management and extravaganza. IL not
actual corruption, in the administra
ton of the city's finances.
1.-The population of the city at the
preceding decennial census OF 1S7t
was only 131 200. The city was great.
ly in debt and threatened with bank
ruptcy. The Federal Government
came to its aid in time of need and
would unquestionably do so agar
under like conditions. But the neet
does not now exist. The city is pros.
porous. IL has a population estimated
at over 100000. and its finances are
in splendid condition. In less thar
three years 1t will have no bonded in.
debtedpess.