Evening star., 1920-01-06
of rea, estate for taxation IL fair and

I've are perfectly aware tnas
many discrepancies may appear even
and instances of inequality may pc
found in the present assessment IN
Washington, but. taken as a wnoIe;
the assessment made against All
classes of property in the different 10
cations in the city are equitable.
The committee believes tina. in.
dependently of the question OF Wnat
should be the proper subjects OF tax
alton in the District of Columbia. the
payment of taxes on real estate from
the assessments as they are now con-
stituted is a fair and reasonable re,
sponse in such taxation for muntcipaI
benefits received by citizens OF ene
District
1.-The finding Of this joint committee
is an authoritative and complete REL
utation of the argument that ciuzens
Of the District of Columbia are not
paying just and reasonable tax com,
mensurate with the benefits received
paid by their fellow citizens in otner
cities
Extended Hearings Held.
"The House District committee held
extended hearings recently on the
subject SO thoroughly investigated
by the joint fiscal committee In 1919.
The only argument made before the
committee in support of the Dill now
proposed was based on the ground
greatly undertaxed and are not con-
tributing their equitable share to the
expenses of the District government.
The major portion of the hearings
was limited to the question of taxa
ton in the District and as to whether
paying taxes comparable to those
paid by citizens of other sections of
the country, especially in cities sim
liar to Washington in population, re-
sources, etc.
pared by S. M. Grogan, chief statis-
tician, statistics OF cities, bureau of
the census, was submitted to the COM
mittee by Representatives of the cit1-
zens Of the District in support OF
their contention that residents of the
District of Columbia are not under
taxed as compared with citizens of
other American cities. This statement
makes an analytical and compre-
hensive comparison of Washington
with other cities The statement is
so vo1uminous that it is not practica-
BILE to incorporate any considerable
on the bill. 1t appears in full in the
record of the hearings Of the COM
mittee.
1--WE have given the evidence sub
mitted to the committee careful study
and consideration, and have also care
great mass Of evidence on this ques-
tion heard by the joint fiscal commit
tee in 1915, and we have reached the
conclusion that the proposed legisla-
ton should not be enacted.
Injustice to Abandon.
I'VE believe it would be an act Of
great injustice to the citizens of the
District Of Columbia to abandon the
policy established by the act of 1873
of making a certain and fixed regular
contribution from the federal Treas
ury to the municipal expenses of the
District. If it is the duty of the ma
tionaf government to assist in capital
building and development, those who
are required to put up the remaining
amount are entitled to know the ex-
tent Of their duty and their liability
The trainers of the act of 1873 placed
a greater importance on providing for
definite and certain federal contribu-
ton than they did on what the ratio
of contribution should be. The indefi-
mite proportion plan had been in opera
tion down to 1873. 1t had proven a
capital development. The citizens of
the District never knew what they
could expect from the government by
way Of assistance in capital expendi-
lures. Some years Congress appro-
priated literally. some years niggardly,
other years not at all. This policy.
followed for seventy-eight years, ended
in the citizens of the District finding
themselves overtaxed. with a 'tremen-
dous Indebtedness. uncertain and fiuc-
tuating property values. and a capital
city laid out on a great plan, but who'll
ly undeveloped. insanitary, unsightly
and a disgrace to great and wealthy
people.
'"The unconditional repeal of the
half-and-half provision of the act of
1873 would reinstate the old system.
Every reason that appealed to Con-
gress in 1873 to definitely fix the re-
lations between the national govern
ment and the citizens of the District
rs to capital maintenance now ap-
peals to Congress to not undo the
wise solution of this problem then
reached. If the ratio Of federal and
District contribution then provided
for is now inequitable it should be
changed and a proper ratio estab-
lished. but the wise plan of fixed
and certain contribution from the ma
tional government should not be
abandoned.
Evidence Refutcs Claim.
THE evidence submitted to the
committee, evidence which we be-
lieve to be as accurate and reliable
as it is possible to obtain. refute the
claim that citizens Of the District of
Columbia are undertaXed. The prop
erty taxes paid by citizens Of Wash
ington are fairly comparable in every
way to the taxes paid by citizens Of
other cities similar to Washington
in resources and population.
For the fiscal year 1918 citizens
realty tax of s1655. OF the sixty
eight other cities in the United States
with over 100000 population twenty
six paid a higher per capita realty
tax, forty-two lower. For the same
year the total per capita property tax
in Washington was $20.6S. Thirty of
the sixty-eight cities paid a higher
and thirty-eight a lower per capka a
tax. For the same year fifty out Vi
the 227 cities in the United States
which have a population of over 30.-
erty tax than Washington. while 176
paid a lower.
"Washington's realty subject to tax
alton is only fraction of the city's
area, and this fraction will grow less
as the constantly growing needs of
the government require larger and
larger areas for public buildings and
other government uses. When 1t is
considered that the vast holdings of
the government are exempt from tax
alton and that a large part of the
most valuable realty in the District
is government property, and when it
is further considered that approx
imately one-quarter Of the city's pop
ulation is colored and pays a small
proportion of the taxes. and that
many thousands more Of it's inhabi-
tants are government employees. most
of whom pay a small tax and many
of whom pay none at all. 1T would
seem it's citizens are sufficiently taxed
when its per capita realty and gen.
eral property taxes exceed those Of a
majority Of American cities Of over
100000 population.