The Washington herald., 1920-03-26
Commissioners Say Tax
Rate Increase Is More
Than They Advised.

cent In the District appropriation
bill, which was presented In the
House yesterday. is larger than the
Increase recommended by the Dis
trict Commissioners, according to
Engineer Commissioner Kutz.
Commenting on the proposed in
crease in the salaries of District
Commissioners from 5000 to $4,000,
Col. Kutz said the commissioners
had not asked for raise.
Tho commission did not ask for
the tax rate of 2z per cent fixed
i'm the District appropriation BILL"
he said. The rate is larger than
was recommended. Whether such
an increase Is necessary to carry
out the school building and salary
program, and to take care Of the
increased cost Of administering the
District government, l am not pre-
pared to say.
westinke Opposes Increase.
w. B. westIake, president OF the
Federated Citizens Associations,
condemned the proposed tax rate.
and said that 1t would increase
rents.
Il am sure it will never be en-
acted into law. Such a proposal Is
logical outcome of the Mapes
plan. which / expect to sec re-
: jected," he said.
I Appropriations for school build
! ings do not amount to more than
an empty demonstration. A maxi
mum of $4,000 is fixed. The maxi
mum might as we'll be 1872 cents.
There will be no bidders unless the
| maximum bid Is raised.
Il heartily approve OF the in
crease in the salaries OF the Dis
trict Commissioners. II a man is
good enough to be a District Com
draw a salary OF $4,000, and ought
to have it."
Macfnrland Depiores Move.
Henry B. +. MacfarIand, chair
man of the joint citizens commit
tee on the fiscal relation between
the United States and the District
of Columbia, said:
THE &c 2-3 per cent increase in
/ the tax rate will be the natural
: result of the proposed abolition Of
| the 'half-andhalr plan. The in
Grease is unnecessary IL the half
and-half plan is continued. oppo-
| nents Of the plan want to put the
burden on the District taxpayers,
although Washington already pays
higher taxes than the majority of
American cities.
The House committee proposes
| to increase District tax revenues to
approximately S15.334,450, compared
to total appropriations estimated
by thu committee at about s2O,-
' 100000. This would make District
! taxpayers pay over three-tourths CT
: the appropriations. 1t is only a
! step from this TO saddling them
with the entire appropriations.
! Brownlow Studies Bill.
Meanwhile over 100000 of ua-
! appropriated District revenues are
| in the national treasury, which, IL
/ appropriated under the 1half-and-
J half plan. would give over sS,-
/ CCG, 900.
! Commissioner Louis Brownlow
said:
! The tax rate seems high. How
ever. the Commissioners had moth
: ing to do with that. I prefer to
withhold comment until I have had
chance to study the bill in de-
! tail. No practical man can doubt
that 1t will take money to meet the
| needs OF our schools and teachers" :"
| I'VE are sorry that we did not
! get what we asked for" said Miss
+ Alice Deal. president of the High
| School Teachers Union, in COM
menting on the salary increases for
teachers. We asked for a basic
salary Of $4,000 for high school
| teachers.
| Van Schaick Pleased.
However, we are glad to get a
base salary of s1,440, with the bo-
nus. That represents a substantial
| advance"
Commenting on the District bud
| get, DR.. John Van Schaick, presi-
dent of the School Board, said:
! II have not seen the text of the
bill, but have read the schedules
relating to the public schools. They
mark a great step forward. The
| outstanding feature is that provi-
sions are made to pa ytcahcers a liv-
Ing wage, to increase the number
I OF teachers, and to start a building
program which will never stop un-
til all school children are housed -
rmI IHrTN M TYI