Evening star., 1927-10-09
Capital Sidelights

There are many interesting little
stories about the Washington tax bills
with increased assessment and slightly
decreased tax rate, which would be
amusing II they were not about pain
full experiences. For example, two
men work in the same office. One
went to the tax assessors office about
the increase in his BILL and it was
found that a mistake of $50 had been
made and he got new bill with this
amount deducted.
The other man had tax bills on two
adjacent lots, which showed an in
crease of more than so per cent in the
valuation of one and exactly 500 per
cent in the valuation on the other. He
also visited the assessors office and
found a mistake had been made--but
the mistake was that his assessment
had not been high enough last year
and he was presented with a bill for
the deficiency. although he had q re-
ceipt in full for the previous years
taxes. The deficiency bill was S43.2O.
His assessment had been increased
from 60 cents to 81 per square foot on
his inside lot and to $1.15 on his
corner lot.
Next he found out that the assess
ment on the land in the square be.
tween Fourth and Fifth, X and l.
streets, which is being urged as the
mid-city site for the new Farmers
Market, runs less than 81 per square
foothills on improved business prop.
erty in the very center of population,
as against $1.15 assessment on his
own vacant lot in a residential section
that is considered to be deteriorating
But he decided to swallow his in.
dignation and pay the bill. When he
got to the tax collectors office he
found that instead of $43.20 deficiency
last year he had to pay $84. They had
slipped in also second deficiency bill
for $40SO for the second year back
to correct a mistake for two years
running made in the assessors office
This same man finds that during
the eight years he has owned his
home the assessment has been almost
doubled-and yet there are members
Of Congress who complain that Wash.
ington home owners are "pampered"
by easy taxes.
AS feature Of the bicentennial Of
George Washington's birth, in 1882
it is proposed to attract lovers of ideal
government the world over to this
most beautiful Of Capital cities for
the organization of a world fedora
ton of cities.
Preliminary to this 1t is proposed
that a similar gathering be held at
Boston's tercentenary in 1880. Hun.
dreds Of invitations to cities through.
out the world inviting them to send
delegations have been sent out. One
of the first to accept was Soviet Rus
sia, but when the Associated Press
announced this Mayor Nichols of
Boston promptly denied that either
he or the city had sent such an invita-.
ton.
Inquiry revealed that William A.
Ryan. a window washer, was the
genius behind the proposed world
federation of cities in the interest Of
world peace, with the slogan ITO
Washington in 1882" and that he per-
sonally had sent out the invitations.
So there's one big assemblage that
washington probably will not see.
Every once in a while the congress.
sional secretarial force suffers a dis.
tinct loss. For there are men and
women employed as secretaries and
clerks to members Of Congress who
have created" roles, as they say Of
noted actors. When they pass along
either into the business life or the
Great Beyond-they leave a vacancy
that speaks eloquently of the devoted
service they have rendered the Fed
eral Government.
An outstanding illustration Of this
is the departure this week of one of
the most popular and helpful under.
studies to Congressmen-Geo l..
Clark, who has been IL years in serv.
Ice and was right-hand man to four
prominent Michigan membership
late Representatives Pat H. Kelley
and Arthur B. Williams, and two
present members, Grant NJ. Hudson
and Joseph /. Hooper.
From newsboy to banker" Is the
inspiring human-interest. present-day
story from real life of this still rela.
lively young man who is going to
handle the branch banking establish
ment in Lansing of a prominent New
York Stock Exchange concern with
headquarters in Detroit. His associ.
ates in the House Office Building gave
him great send-off this week.
The boy Congressman, Representa-
tive Clarence j. Mcleod of Michigan
first elected when he was only 25
years of age and the youngest man
ever to occupy a seat in the House,
assistant Republican whip and an ac.
tive member Of the House District
committee which has primary jurisdic-
ton over all legislation affecting the
National Capitals planning to quit
the House. He will retire on March 4,
1929, according to present intentions,
to seek the nomination for the Senate
as the wet" candidate.
Pitted against him in the contest
will be another member of the incon1.
ing House, Representative Grant NJ
Hudson, who will be the dry candi.
date with the Anti-Saloon League
support.
We have in training young mem.
ber of Congress from Illinois, who has
had unusual State legislative expert
ence, and who now has his nose to the
grindstone to become one of the best
informed men in Congress on all de-
tails of the local administrator Of the
National Capital. One of our leading
citizens. Representative Martin B.
Madden Of Illinois, chairman of the
House appropriations committee, who
recently erected here pa1atial home.
has placed his colleague, Representa-.
tive William p. Holiday, on the SUBJ
committee on District appropriations.
with particular instructions to learn
all he can about the District, SO as to
be able to pass with the utmost in.
telligence and fairness on the District
budget and to further such improve.
ments as are for the best interests of
the Capital. Mr.. Holiday has been
devoting a considerable part of his
vacation from Congress to a. detailed
study and personal inspection of the
entire local governmental establish.
ment. The District officials and civic
leaders welcome such intelligent CO.
operation.
ma Canal, are squeezing the interior
more tightly.