Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-13

In making a united demand of Con-
gress for your just rights"
Senator Capper stated that he had
found no objection on the part of
the country as a whole to the PROPOSE
ton that the Federal Government AIDE
quately support the National Capital.
The desire of the Nation. he said. was
that Washington he developed truly
as the most beautiful city in the world
and that the people OF the country are
willing that Congress should appropri.
ate adequately for the deve opment OF
such a Capital City.
Farmers Not Complaining.
1.-THE farmers OF the Middle Wes'
feel that they. too. are overtaxed, but
/ never yet have heard one of them
complain against adequate appropria
tons toward the cost of the National
Capital" he said.
Taking up other local matters,
Senator Capper stated that he was
gratified to note Improvement in the
public schools of Washington In the
past year or two, but added that there
still was room for much improvement
Il also am very much interested in
the proposed merger of the street rail.
ways of Washington" he continued
and IL is highly important the Board
OF Trade make every effort for accom-
plishment OF this merger, which should
he along lines that would be to the in
terest of the public as we'll as the rail-
way concerns
Sen. Capper concluded his brief ad-
dress by praising the municipal finance
committee OF the trade body for it's
work i'm making the national tax sur
vey, declaring that in this project the
committee had rendered very great
service" to Washington.
ID. G. Position Upheld.
In making public the details Of the
tax survey Mr.. Evans declared that
the tabulation of the mass of evidence
obtained in this tax study had more
than substantiated the position of
Washington's taxpayers that they now
are bearing comparatively high tax
burden and one that is out of proper
ton to the economic status of this
city. The survey, he said. had proved
the following contentious OF Washing
ton: THAT the Federal Government
is not paying its just share toward
the maintaining and the developing OF
the Nations Capital under the present
Ii1lnD-SuH pan. Indl tiIc PCppiC w
the District of Columbia are carrying
an undue tax burden when properly
compared with cities OF similar size;
that there is an unusually high burden
placed on the local taxpayers by rea-
son of service demanded by the Federal
Government"
Pointing to the Injustice of expect
ing Washington to bear as high tax
burden as cities with great industrial
developments, the committee report
declared: I'VE are limited here in our
wealth production and the major por'
ton of our working population is COM
posed of Federal employees, whose in
come is not only VIGOROUSLY low, but
whose ability TO bear the tremendous
increase tax burden is necessarily low
i'm comparison with the opportunities
for commercial and industrial advance
ment in other cities.
Limited In Area.
Further, the District of Columbia
is limited in area. and, unlike other
cities cannot expand. A great portion
of it's suburban development is now
taking place in Maryland and Vir-
Cinia, which taxes go to those states.
Soon all new development will be out
side of Washington.
I'VE are now operating under a
So, 900, 900 lump-sum appropriation In
spite of the law now existing in the
Senate calling for 60-40 ratio.
Despite many assertions in Con-
gress and elsewhere. as TO the gener-
osity OF the Federal Government to-
ward the maintenance of Washington,
the following statistics will indicate
thof tho 60 000 A0O hmm sim is now
less than a 1925 ratio, and will, II
maintained in the face of the increas,
ing cost of administering the city
undoubtedly resolve itself into ar
almost negligible burden assumed by
the Federal Government. as compared
with that which will be borne by us.
Division OF Tax Burden.
"a list of the proportlonate amount
as borne by the local. taxpayer and
the Federal Government, since 1920