The Washington times., 1920-03-27
TM|N
DISTRICT BILL
Members Anxious to Defeat New
Fiscal System as Vote
Nears on Measure.

concluded In the House TINS AFTER
noon.
This means that the vote will come
later in the day on the Appropriation
Committees recommendation to in
crease the real estate and tangible
personal property taxes In the Dis
trict from l u to 2h per cent. Chances
for a material reduction in the In
crease appeared slight today In view
OF the general attitude Of members to
support the recommendations OF the
committee.
| Debate Tax Clauses
Debate on the District bill In the
House yesterday conferred chiefly on
the tax provisions, with members
favoring higher rate Of taxation In
the majority.
Friends OF the District who are
anxious TO lower the proposed tax
rate II they cannot succeed in de-
feating It altogether. expect to rally
| their forces today. They will be
headed by Congressman Williams OF
Illinois, Congressman Burdick OF
Rhode Island. Congressman Ramjou
Of Missouri. Congressman Woods of
Virginia, and others who signed the
minority report on the Mapes bill
abolishing the "half-and-half' fiscal
| relations between the District and
Coupled with the proposal to in
crease the real estate and personal
property taxes is concerted move
ment af6ot in the House to double
the water rates for the District as
a means of raising revenue. Con-
gresham Focht of Pennsylvania
moved that a 100 per cent increase.
in place Of the committees proposal
to increase the rate not less than rs
l
1t was subject, however. to a point
Of order as the bill was stillin the
Committee of the Whole. This will
not deter Mr.. Focht from renewing
his motion when the proper time
comes.
VIII Sustain Changes.
Congressman Davis Of Minnesota,
who is in charge OF the District bill,
declared such an increase would yield
100000 in revenues.
| Taking yesterdays debate as show
ing the attitude OF the House, 1t was
apparent on the face of things that
the House would sustain the increase
In taxation in the District.
| Friends of the District in Congress
look for the Senate to restore the
"half-and half provision, as in for
mer years. With the restoration of
the "half-and -half' it is believed
the Senate also will strike out the
proposed increase in taxation, or at
| least reduce il to a point satisfactory
| to the District Commissioners. 1t is
generally conceded that the House
will approve adjustment of the
half and half without much of
vote being rolled up against it.
In bringing up the District bill yes
terday, Congressman Davis pointed
as 1t is. teachers, fremen, and police
will be satisfied for the first time in
years. The bill contains generous in
creases in the pay of teachers, partic-
ularly, the firemen and police having
already been provided with increased
pay in a former bill.
| Debate On Tax alton.
Asked how Washington will COM
pare with other cities in the building
program for schools, Congressman
Davis replied that he thought 1.-The
city of Washington will be on par
with almost any city in the United
States"
Have you made provision for all
the children Of school age in the Dis
trict?" asked Congressman Lazaro.
"If we have not made provision
here" replied Mr.. Davis, "it is because
we have not the money. When
| we come along to a certain provision
in this bill, If any gentleman says
we have not made adequate provision
in here, I want him to sustain a little
piece OF legislation which Is incor-
porated in this bill, increasing the
taxes on the people of the District in
order to raise the money to do It,"
This brought about a general de-
bate on the taxation features OF the
! rt-h oh n
later today.
Congressman Davis and Congress-
man Sisson of Mississippi a member
of the subcommittee that framed the
bill, both defended the proposed
change. They were opposed chiefly
by Congressman Williams of Illinois
/ and Congressman Burdick Of Rhode
Island, both members of the District
Committee.
Throughout the debate Mr.. Davis
answered all queries concerning In
adequate provisions in the bill with
the curt questions: where Is the
money to come FROM
Congress must be fair in fixing
this scale of expenditure and also in
providing what part thereof shall be
contributed by the Government" he
declared.
| Cites Estimates.
| Congressman Davis declared that
big business men come to Washing
ton each year demanding appropria-
tons and when asked how the money
is to be obtained, invariably reply
lthat taxes must be increased.
Let me show you why you have
go- 20 raise the taxes" said Mr.. Davis.
"Their estimates" for the District
this year were s23,o33 ,357.S7. II that
was payable upon the half-and-half
plan. the District would have been re-
quired to pay s11.966,7I5.s3 and the
total limit of the revenues of the Dis
trict Is only 100000 and some odd.
In other words. there Is deficiency
right there of s2,0O0000, even with
the Government carrying out Its
| "half-and-hah agreement When
these business men were confronted
with that they invariably said: Raise
the taxes. Here you will find a great
shortage In the estimates of S23,0OO,-
OOO."
| Cop0raeapap nayia poipted