Evening star., 1925-01-04
FISCAL RELATIONS
COMMISSION URGED
Citizens Federation Re-
quests Congress to Appoint
Body for Fair Study.


the United States and the District OF
Columbia of the expense Of main
tanning the National Capital was
urged upon Congress by the Fedora
tion of Citizens Associations, meet
ing In the District Building last night
Appealing TO the sense of justice
and fairness OF the American Con-
gress," the federation declared, I'VE
ask the appointment of an othcial
commission, consisting of an equal
number OF members Of the Congress
and bona fide residents and taxpayers
OF the District of Columbia, to make
proper inquiries and report to Con-
gress and the people of the District
OF Columbia a permanent plan TOT
the equitable apportionment between
the Federal Government and the Dis
triCt Of Columbia of the expenses OIL
maintaining, expanding and beautl-
fying the nations capital.
Refrain From Dispute.
IN presenting this petition to the
Congress we studiously refrain from
indulging in arguments relative to
the rights of the peoples Of the DIS
trict of Columbia. We rest our case
on an appeal for exact justice, be-
lieving that the members of the Sem
ATE ana the mouse OI IScpi SS'
fair minded Americans, will be zeal
Gus TO see that It is accorded
The preamble of the restitution con-
tanned many facts TO show the wide
spread interest which the Federal
Government has in the District Of
Columbia. The preamble concluded
with the statement that definite
ratio of contribution should be ad-
hered to in District appropriations.
Presented by Torbert.
The report was presented by Will
liam S. Torbert, chairman OF the conf
mittee on fiscal relations, and was
signed by Jesse c. Suter and Frank
Sprigg Perry.
The delegates present not only
voted unanimously for its adoption,
but applauded the reading of the
docume ent. On motion OF W. G. Hen
derson, 1t was voted to have the
resolutions printed and circulated
among the members of Congress and
the forty-five neighborhood associa-
tions making up the federation.
Text of Report.
The report read in part as follows:
THE District of Columbia contains
44400 acres, of which 5000 acres are
submerged, 5000 embraced in streets
and roads, 5000 used by the Federal
Government. 700 used by the Govern
ment of the District of Columbia,
1900 used by tax-free religious, edu-
cational and charitable institutions
and by foreign governments and 23,-
600 constituting private holdings. 1t
Will thus be seen that of the total
acreage of 44,4o0, 2l.2o0 acres are
taX-free. In area 50 per cent of the
land within the District bears the
real estate tax burden for the whole.
THE Bureau of ths Budget fixes
Il
the Federal Government at approx
mately S375,000,o00. District officials
estimate the value at s400, 900.
The estimated value of taX-free realty
used by religious, educational and
charitable bodies and by foreign gov
ernments is placed at $4,000, 900, con-
sidered a very conservative estimate.
and that employed for municipal pur-
poses at S30,000,000. Private holdings
of real estate property are of the
assessed value of S767, 7,o56.555. The
grand total of the value Of real estate
is, therefore, s1,247.o56,555, of which
$3.50, 100000, or about 40 per cent, is
exempt from taxation.
Increase of Holdings.
IN considering the extent of tax
exempt realty, both in respect of area
and value, it is well to consider the
constantly increasing acquisitions by
the Federal Government through gift,
purchase, dedication. condemnation,
etc"
The report of the committee went
on to state that the Federal Govern
ment uses without cost to il 40 per
cent of the water consumed in the
District of Columbia, that much of
the time of the criminal branches of
the District Supreme Court is con-
sumed in the trial of purely Federal
cases, and that the education of nom
resident children adds 100000 a year
to the cost of the public schools.
Land of Low Value.
The committee further stated that
OF the taxable real estate in the Dis
trict. 5000 acres consist of lowlands
of small value, while most of the
Government holdings and other ex-
empted property is of large value
The various States, the committee
declared, are recipients of various
forms Of Federal aid for roads, edu-
cation and other activities. carrying
large Appropriations of funds from
the Treasury, contributed in part by
the people of the District of Column
hia. In the application OF these ap-
preparations the District does not
share.
Asks Fairer Basis.
portion of the committees report
intended as memorial to Congress
reads as follows:
The people of the District of Co
1umbia, through the Federation of
Citizens Associations, petition the
Congress TO grant them. as a matter
of simple justice. the observance of
the principle of definite proportion
ate contribution by the Federal Gov
ernment and District of Columbia in
appropriations for the maintenance,
Slpkeep and development of the Fed
'eral territory.
I'm making this request, and urg-
9ng the granting thereof the people
tof the District of Columbia believe
they are asking only that which is
lpantfestly just. fair and equitable.
1t is not contended, nor even suE-
sested, that residents of the Federal
territory are entitled to special
privileges or to any greater degree
of consideration than that which
would be accorded to any other body
of citizens of the United States
similarly situated. 1t Is contended,
however, that no body of people maxi
ing up the population of an exclusive
ly residential area should be expect
ed TO carry the extra ordinary burdens
incident TO the maintenance and de-
Velopment of an area which. because
or It's political significance and ex-
tenSlve governmental interests. pre-
sents elements of fiscal nature not
incident to ordinary areas of devel-
opment
1t is submitted that a fair and lust
'~2rprotionate obligation of the Federal
Government and District Of Columbia
is ascertainable In 1873 a Joint select
committee Of the Congress, after a