Evening star., 1928-02-25
Not in Lieu Of Taxes.

In the House discussion Of the Dis
trict appropriation bill it was intimated
repeatedly that the half-and-half or
other definite proportionate payment
plar OF financing the District was based
solely upon the relative amount Of real
estate owned by the Government as
compared with that held in private
ownership.
In this connection the valuation
placed a few months ago by Assessor
Richards on Government property IL
the District is cited as justification Of
this contention that the citizens of the
District regard the Federal contribu-
tions to Capital maintenance as in lieu
Of taxes. AS matter of fact the as
ssksor in this series of estimates was
s>krely setting forth the extraordinary
tad excessive amount Of property in
A District which is exempt from taxa
ton. 10 illustrate the fact that the
whole burden of local taxation falls
upon a much smaller range of prop
erty than in other cities.
The true nature of this Nations obi
cation of proportionate contribution
toward the maintenance and develop
ment of the Capital is not solely or
primarily untaxed ownership of District
real estate, though a substantial and
continuous obligation does arise in con-
rection with such ownership. The
strongest obligations resting upon the
Nation are equitable in their nature and
are based primarily on the circum-
stances Of the Capitals creation and the
treatment Of the Capital by the Nation
ever since the birth of the Nations city
This special obligation is one that Is
over and above that which is imposed
solely by the fact that the city is a
Capital
The General Government. by the fact
OF planning magnificent Capital. COW
ering large area and characterized by
broad streets, avenues and reservations
to an extent unsuitable for a selt-sup-
porting commercial city. and by found
ing this Capital IN a place compare
lively un!Ylnabited. as well as by the
terms OF the bargain with the owners of
the soil. and by the declaration of its
representatives at the founding of the
city and afterward, showed an inten-
ticn TO build up national city, at the
Nations expense, on a grand scale, ire
specsive Of the future population of the
District. The Capital was to be pri-
MARTY a center Of Federal action and
the occupation Of the ground by set
tiers was merely incidental to this great
purpose
The Capital was 10 be a meeting
place for the Use, convenience ard en-
tertainnent OF the people OF the 4nl,:e
Union and the expense OF its support
and adornment vas not TO be limited
by the scan.y resources of what perma-
nent population it might acquire.
The original owners Of Washington
donated fire-sevenths o. the city's soil
and yielded the right OF seif-goyern-
Yaeni 70 the Nation OF the understand
ing and implied agreement ,ha, tie
Nation Was 70 build up here a naagniti-
cent Capital at its oxn expense, Yeirn-
Dlrsing itself from the proceeds o. The
sale Of donated lots. pretentious city
was planned and lots were sold 10y tn.
Government On the strength of tnis
understanding. For three-fourths Of a
century The Nation violated or neglect
ed the obligations which 1t had thus In
CURED. In 1873 the Government,
which had in the beginning iapliedly
undertaken To meet all the expenses o.
Capital making and then shifted that
burden ia the main upon private citi.
zerss. decided that justice required 1, 10
pay one-han of the Districts expenses.
There Ii 10 justification whatever IN
the history u the creation Of the Capt.
Ia and n the taroy but equitable estab-
Iisfl'nent oi the definite proportion prin-
cip.e Of Capital maintenance for the
asser,on Or claim or intin1a,.on that
tie Fecerai contribution u the Dis
triet's COS, o! municipal operation aud
Development Is solely In lieu of taxes
uppn Government property,