Evening star., 1921-12-23
URGES VOTES IN
congress FOR D. c.
E. C. Brandenburg Says In
Justice to City Would Be
Checked by Representation.

Taking as criterion the amount OF
taxes paid the federal government by
some of the states citizens of the
District of Columbia are very much
uvcrtaXtd,' rather than under
taxed. as charged in Congress during
debate on the $3.50 plan of taxation,
it was declared yesterday by Edwin
4. Brandenburg, former president of
the Board of Trade and chairman of
the brief committee of the citizens
joint committee on national repre-
sentation. in an address to members
Of the Washington Real Estate Board
on the advantages to be derived from
the franchise for the District
If the District had been represen-
ted on the floors of Congress by cleo
ted senator's and representatives at
the time the charge was made. Mr..
Brandenburg said, data would have
been presented to refute the state
ment all gius that Washington does
not pay a fair amount of taxes. Ihey
would have showed by comparison
whether the District of Columbia is
GndertaXed or not. the speaker said
Backs Claims With Figures
"So~re persons seem to think that
we pay no taxes either local or
federal. residing here in luxury at
the expense of the government. Mr.
BrandenburG said. AS matter of
fact. here are few figures which
should help to dispeI this illusion:
We paid for the year ending June
20, 1916. for internal revenue, customs
and OTHER federal taxes. $1.506. .699.27
This amount was greater than that
paid by any one of twenty states.
n
than the amount of taxes paid the
federal government by any one OF
nineteen states. including Iowa and
Georgia. In 1918 we paid $12,S62.-
iI4.0S.
I'm 1919 we paid s1S645,O53. This
was greater amount than the conf
bined aggregate of federal taxes paid
by North Dakota. New Mexico. Ne
vada, Wyoming and Nermont-these
states sending total of eighteen
representatives of their interests to
Congress.
"For this year the District citizens
paid out twice as much money for
federal taxes ak any one of fourteen
states, and four times as much as
eight states"
An UnsOund Idea.
The idea that the District of CO.
lumbia is government reservation.
set apart purely for government de-
partments and instrumentalities is
unsound. Mr.. Erandcnburg stated. AS
early as 1884 Chief Justice Marsha H.
,jle said. i'll passing on the right to
sue in the United states courts. held
that. while the District is not state
in tie limited sense used. according
to the definition OF writers on gen
eraI law. II is a distinct political so
Ciety aud a state.
"Wa are classed as state for
purposes Of direct taxation. but not
for franchise" the speaker pointed
out
The view of Washington as pre-
scented by George Washington was
.>,.cSss,i in his prediction that the
city would become the greatest COM
i.....visiI emporium nt thu country
LII EraII,icnburs asserted. Manufac
1ur:nc: plants of light mature, en-
c,rtra ccd hy reasonable int"rpJeta-
l;clI and regulation OF TIL" smoke
ls.w are essential. he remarked
EVERY person Interested in civic
l~tttrmcnt and development sees the
Disadvantage of citizens here being
deprived of the vote the speaker
continued. You have Il bill to regu-
jatt, or deal with local affairs. Who
is there to whom you may go as Il
matter of right to demand that the
required legislation be presented? Can