Evening star., 1922-05-01

to the laws as laid down by the Con
greSs in providing the necSssdiS
funds to maintain its mandated pro
portion of the expense of carrying on
the District government. Inc len ~,
under which the taxes are coliecteo
are terms decided by the Consfe
with full and complete knowleuse VI
the facts which justified the present
system To abrogate that system
without notice 20 taxpayers ano ~
lieu thereof establish system WIFI
will be a real hardship IS TO our vic"
unnecessary and unfair.
I'VE. the citizens and taxpayers ol
Washington represented III iilis S
semblage in mass meeting, enter ~
most vigorous protest against NV
proposed change in the hscai
tions. as submitted by the cohleretSS :
ON the appropriation bill for the hscai
wear 1928; that before any ehanSe VI
system in the collection OF taASs'
either as to time or the rates cow COW
ing both real and personal, tansipie
and intangible property rs naaue' this
Congress give to the citizens Oh this
city an opportunity to be heard eithei
before the subcommittee or general
committees handling this lihpoi 'an ~
function prior to the acceptance Wy
Congress of the report as supmiIS.'
by the conferees on the penang
trict of Columbia appropriation oiii'
The voice of the citizenry of WASH
inrton. amplified by that of the busi,
ness and real estate men, was ralseu
AGAINST the proposals OF the conleIees
ON the District appropriation olit AZ
the mass meeting yesterday aItei
noon. Virtually every civic ana ous,s a
ness organization In the city was
represented. a
After leading citizens and elected
heads of civic organizauons nao
pointed out the injust:css or the aa-
ditional tax burden provided 1or IN
the appropriation measure, resoiu-
ton was adopted unanimously al
recting Charles, A. Baker, president
of the ederation OF CT izet.s $50
Citations, to place Immediately oe11bs De ore
people of the District OF COLUMBIA
AGAINST the conference amendment to
the appropriation bill" The resolu-
ton was introduced by Judge Wllilam
mittee on law and legislation of the
federation. who also assailed the
scheme Of taxation:
Others who attacked the plan were:
Thomas ]. Donovan. president OF the
Central Citizens Association. VINO
called the mass meeting; A. p. Sey-
rnour. secretary of the Washington
Chamber of Commerce: Thomas Brad
Icy, president of the Board OF Trade ;
Mrs Mary Johnson OF the f'ederatioIi Inha
Logan and President Baker OF the
Federation of Citizens Associations.
Mnin Facts Emphasized.
These speakers brought out the fol-
lowing facts concerning the proposed
tax increase:
That the tax increase is not eeces-
sary.
That, according to the rules which
control conferences, the conferees
had no right to recommend such leg
islation.
That the proposed increase on real
estate will prove blow to home
building.
That the effects of the increase
would extend to every man. woman
and child in the city, and would nit
hardest those who are struggling for
the bare necessities of life.
Taxation without representatlon
was tyranny to the men who brought
into being our scheme of govern
the meeting. THE same ideals
should govern today in the minds of
all true citizens who cherish the IN
stitutions of our great government, n.
I'm the development of the present
scheme under which the government
of the District of Columbia operates
it has been the practice until recent
years to give wide and extended
hearing by the committees of Con,
way the affairs of the city. and to
give any or all citizens. organized or
unorganized. the opportunity of plac-
ing their thoughts before Congress.
Protest Fully Justified.
1.-THE action of the conferees on the
pending appropriation bill for the
District by the insertion of general
legislation so menacing In It's pur-
pose to the citizens of this city fully
justified us in meeting here today for
the purpose of conveying to Congress
our minds on this subject and our
hostility in general to the. growing
practice of slipping through the va
rious stages Of legislation.
Mr.. Seymour. speaking as the ON.
cial representative of the Chamber
of Commerce, explained the action
taken by the law and legislation
committee of that body Saturday
night in protesting against the in,
that the conference amendment, un-
der the rules of both Senate and
House, is subject to point of order,
and urged the citizens to use WAT
ever influence they possess to have a
point of order made on the floor OF
the House.
There are a lot of good things in
the District bill, and commendation
was heard from all Sides until we
learned through the press of the new
tax plan which half dozen men.
without reference to the peopl', and
the law for the District said MIR.
Seymour He also declared that it
is the opinion of the law and legis-
lation committee OF. the chamber that
enactment of the tax amendment
would discourage building and in
crease rents, and urged the citizens to
present a united front in opposing
the new tax plan.
1915 Report Is Read.
Mr.. Seymour read a report compiled
in 1915 by joint congressional COM
mittee which he declared proved there
is no Justice in the present plan for
increased taxes. The report recon-
mended that the people of the Dis
trict be taxed on a scale comparable
to tax schedules in cities Of similar
size and population.
appealing to Congress with no an
tagonism in their hearts. but merely
seeking justice. He paid tribute TO
the legislators who are friendly to
the District and who devote their
time and energies for the welfare OF
it's residents.
People of the District must unite
for action il they are to succeed in
blocking passage of the proposed leg
islation. Mr.. Bradley pointed out.
THE people of the District are not
tax dodgers" he declared. I'VE are
willing to pay fair taxes, but we do
not want the impression to go abroad
that we are protesting against fair
taxation. But we do object to being
deprived of the privilege of placing
our case before an impartial commit
tee and we do object to this proposed
plan which we believe unfair in every
way"