Evening star., 1925-01-16
holdings of real property will be about
sS20, 900, 900.

holdings of real property will be about
$3.50 .000. 900.
In considering the extent of tax
exempt realty, both in respect to
area and value, 1t Is well to consider
the constantly increasing acquisition
by the Federal Government, through
gift, purchase, dedication, condemna-
ton, etc. For instance, we cite the
Glover gift, the acquisition of land
for enlargement of the National Bo-
tanic Gardens, the purchase Of the
klingle Valley tract, dedication of
streets and alleys in newly recorded
subdivisions. acquisitions for small
parks. etc. In the year 1924. 33 pc
titions for the condemnation of land
for various purposes were filed in the
Supreme Court of the District.
Personal property. both tangible
and intangible, of private owners Is
taxed: that of the Government and of
religious, educational and charitable
bodies and of the foreign govern
ments is exempted.
"The Federal Government uses,
without cost to it, 40 per cent of the
water consumed in the District,
Courts of Dual Character.
"The courts of the District have the
dual character of Federal and State.
A vast amount of the time of the
criminal branches of the Supreme
Court of the District is consumed In
the trial of purely Federal cases,
striking instance being the recent So
called Morse trial, which consumed
the entire attention of one of the
criminal branches for three and one
half months. The business of the
Court of Appeals Is approximately so
whole number of cases heard and de-
cided by that court being patent and
trademark cases on appeals from
the Commissioner of Patents.
THE education of nonresident chill
dren exempted by Congress from pay
ment of tuition adds about 100000
annually to the cost of our schools.
"Of the taxable real estate in the DIS
trict, 5000 acres consists of low lands
of small value, while most Of the Gov
ernment holdings and other exempted
property is of large value.
ID. C. Funds Aid States.
"The States are recipient Of various
forms of Federal aid, for roads, educa-
ton, etc, carrying large appropriations
of funds from the Treasury of the
United States, contributed. in part, by
the people of the District of Columbia.
In tn6 appllCdllOH VI lhcSC APPA oRA 60
tions the District does not share.
Appealing to the sense of justice
and fairness of the American Cons
gress. we ask the appointment OF an
official commission, consisting OF an
equal number of members OF the
Congress and bona fide residents and
taxpayers of the District of Column
bia, to make proper inquiries and re-
port to Congress and the people of
the District of Columbia perma-
nent plan for the equitable appor-
tionment between the Federal Gov
ernment and the District of Columbia
of the expenses of maintaining, ex-
panding and beautifying the Nations
Capital.
I'm presenting this petition to the
Congress, we studiously refrain from
indulging in argument relative to
the rights of the people 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 and of the House of Representa-
tives, fair-minded Americans, will be
jealous to see that 1t is accorded.
The letter says that the foregoing
statement was adopted by the Fed
Grafton of Citizens Associations by
an unanimous vote at Its regular
meeting on Saturday January 3.