The Washington herald., 1922-05-14
SEES SlBURBANS
PROFTTINC BY new ]
DISTRICT TAX BILL
Rep. Zihlman Predicts
Movement From Here
To Nearby Towns.
CITY TO PAY BILLS
Declares Federal Government
Shifting d. c. Burdens
Entirely on Citizens.
CITY TO PAY BILLS

A self supporting District con-
PEELED eventually to defray its own
expenses without financial assist
ance from the Federal government
is seen under the provisions Of tks
tax amendment TO the District sp-
propriations bill by Representative
Frederick n. Zihlman. of Maryland.
He predicts that while the in
crease OF one-third in the taxes
paid will be detrimental TO the
growth and development in WASH
lngton II will do more than any
thing else to aid the growth of
neiEhboring counties in Maryland
and Virginia.
Thousands Of prospective puf-
chasers seek the outlying distrlcts
with their low tax rate. and con.
seauently there will be a develop
ment IN those sections OF Montgoni-
cry and Prince Georges counties
which are adjacent to the District"
he explained yesterday.
Plan improvements.
The authorities from those two
counties are actively at work now
in installing modern sewaEs
system and Congress has provided
that the adjacent territory NAV bs
supplied with water from the rnu.
1ieipal system. providing that This
service does not jeopardize the eN.
isting water supply of the District
While this is impossible at ths
present tine. because the District /,
using the maximum safe Capacity
of the conduit. especially during tn.
summer months. will be possible
10 grant this service when the new
conduit. now about to be con.
structed, Us finished
The residents Of suburban terri
tory will. therefore, have the same
facilities as now obtain in the cir,
and this amendment will be tn
means of bringing about a rapc
development of outlying adjacent
territory where assessment vaIJe,
are not more than two-thirds and
where the tax rate is considerably
less, than now obtains in the DIS.
trict. which advantage will be en-.
hanced il the proposal of the con-
ferees becomes law.
1t is, therefore. again evident
that IL is an in wind that blows no.
body good, and while ! have f.lt
that the Imposing of this Nddi-
lttonal burden on the taxpayers of
the District without giving then
an opportunity 10 be heard was un-
fair, unjust and discriminatory. IL
Will be a substantial boon 10 IN,
outlying rural districts. and viii
materially aid their growth
Those who are responsible FOR
the proposed amendment to ths
District appropriation act in ref
erence TO the fiscal relations he
tween the District government anc
the Federal government may con.
tend that il is not intended TO in.
crease the taxes Of the propertN
owners of the District. but the fat
remains that by this il is intended
to raise the assessible basis upor
which taxes are levied from two.
thirds to full value. and there car
be no other purpose in this in.
crease than adding to the percent
age that the District must con
tribute to the expenses Of their
local government and decreasing
the amount the Federal govern
ment contributes thereto.
1t is true that the District Com.
missioners are. under this amend.
ment. given authority to fix the taN
rate. but il is also clear that Con
greSs can by legislation order
them to increase the rate. and II
this is. done and the present tGN
rate is maintained or is later made
to apply either by the Commission
ers or by Congress. there will he
sufficient money raised to pay all
I expenses of the District without
any contribution from the Federal
government. unless there is a sub
stantial increase in the expenses Of
I the District
1T is. therefore. very clear tc
students Of District affairs that this
+ is what the conference have in mind
when they substituted full valua I
tion for two-thirds valuation 10
assessment purposes. Zihlman I'd
sisted