The Washington times., 1924-06-05
The Houses Injustice to the
District of Columbia
By BILL PRICE.

The House Of Representatives has taken unjust
position in District Of Columbia affairs than it is doing
In the conference between the bodies the Craon
bill
The injustice it backing fathered and sponsored by
comparatively few members of the House Committee Ap
preparations The bulk of the members of are
acquainted with the details of the matter and simply
backing the views of the House conferees without realizing
that the Cramton amendment would most dangerous
City, sasn TOT S '0n'noso "sl'af' Of the Nations Capital
The injustice Of the Cramton scheme is that it wholly
arbitrary the part Of its author and few Of his
the House committee which framed the District bill
not based established facts regarding taxation here or
anywhere else and is BESIDES absolute violation of the
agreement which these same men entered into that the existing
0O-4O law should continue for five years.
The Senate conerees opposing the Cramton idea the
broad and fair principle that is not founded upon careful
nVestgauon as to whether is equitable arrangement
as between the District and Federal Governments These
senate conerees continue the 6040 law for
more year and in the meantime put to work commission to
be created by entirely Senators and
congressman necessary but preferably Of known experts
tax matters This commission is to report it's findings
sides.
The House conferees headed by Congressman DAVIS Of
minnesota refuse to accept this fair proposition They
determined that the lump proposition shall prevail no
matter what the facts may be- This sort of thing would
be allowed in court in the United States Consequently
II Is without the semblance Of fairness or justice.
offset the injury they may be doing to the National
Capital in their attitude these Congressman expect to 60
their districts and set up the cry that wealthy people Of the
District are that they paying smaller
than anywhere else in the United States They know that
there will be nobody answer them or to explain
what taxes or assessments levied the people city
about the only thing that may Congressman DAVIS
Dack into the House. The people of his district very
leaving him at home two years ago. he 90 among them
however and point out that he brought about higher taxes on
he rich here saving money to the Federal Government he
may possibly himself from sliding into the political
oblivion that is yawnng for him.
Yet Mr. Davis and other Congressman who will try to sat
this up as about their only legislative achievement in Con-
gress cannot for minute subsanate their claims BY IN
disputed facts They bunco voters by pointing out that
TINS year the tax rate here is low but there hundred
things back of that they will explain that would
throw much different light the subject.
Mr. Davis himself deliberately aided putting that tax
rate at low figure by refusing appropriate in the last
ca year the total tax collections in the District throwing
INTO the present fiscal large surplus which cut down the
tax rate to the lowest point known.
There can be but fair settlement question
1or experts selected by Congress investigate the tax
rate In other American Cities to take consideration the
here OF all property its full value to consider
n many special and paid here that are not
PAID esewhere to average the whole thing and decide WHAT
Is FAIR RATE. ~
This the Nations Capital If it is to be the pride Of the
wnole country and OF American citizens everywhere it must
nave 1ar Federal financial support matter what the tax
rate may be- The House cotee that manipulated this ;nc
OaPa 1o years They are likely to keep up in the future
even this cys tax rate raised to the highest of ali
American cities ~ e - o."
bunAng American voters back in the Congressional dis
tlc Will succeed for WHILE but there no istalnr The
acG nat patriotic Americans the world want
V 70 De capital betlttng this great and know that
ILLS cannot be done without fair Federal parciuaton in
furnishing the money necessary to make it such.