Evening star., 1928-03-13

ations committee put into temporary OPP
Grafton the Ss.ooo.000 lump-sum con-
| tribution.
Since 1915 when investigation Of the
| fiscal relations was made, Mr.. Zihlman
said, there has been tremendous in
crease In the cost of the municipal gov
ernment here. approximately $50 per
cent. There is need for additional ap-
propriatlons. and he cited the list OF
urgently needed improvements. previ-
ously submitted by the Board OF Trade
at hearings before the House appiropri-
ations committee and included also IN
the hearing today.
Little Taxable Land.
The paying Of taxes is measured by
the ability OF the taxpayers to pay, Mr.
zihlman stressed. pointing out that the
territorial boundary OF the District Is
limited by law He told the subcommit.
tee that of the $4,000 acres or land
here the streets take up 5000 acres ana
the parks 5000 acres. leaving available
for taxation only about 10000 acres. OF
which the Government Is constantly
taking up more land, pointing out that
last year 400 acres were Withdrawn Tor
parks He cited also that the law has
been passed for the Federal Govern
ment to take all Of the triangle south
of PENNSYLVANIA avenue. and that fur
ther development OF the Botanic Gar
dens and the authorization OF a wide
avenue from Union Station to Peace
Monument are some Of the other de-
velopments that are removing large
areas.
Aiv Zjhlman pointed out that two
thirds of the property here Is owned
by Government employees, who cannot
afford to pay heavy taxes. and it was
never contemplated that the burden of
building the Capital should be put on
the residents. He also reminded his
colleagues that the residents have no
voice in government, and that Con-
gress has always been jealous Of its
rights under the Constitution of eXclu-
sive jurisdiction over the Capital.
Ask Fair Study.
He asked whether it is faircr for
Congress to make an honest study OF
conditions and pay It's Just proportion,
or to continue welded to the idea OF
a lump sum conceived In the mind OF
one member and put into temporary
law through the appropriations COM
mittee,"
Mr.. Zihlman said that individually
members Of Congress say they arc in
favor of generous contributions by the
Federal Government to carry out the
plan of building the Capital beautiful.
He insisted that he and the residents
of the District are not proposing 10
continue the $3.50 or 60-40 proportion.
but are only asking TO have fair study
made to see what Is a just proportion
and to determine the permanent policy
rather than allow the constantly grow
ing burden to be placed upon the local
residents. who are treated more or
less as abused stepchildren." Mr.. Zihl-
man said.
Representative Beers. chairman OF
the subcommittee conducting the hear
ing said that the only objection he had
heard TO the resolution was on the
grounds OF expense for the commission,
and MIR Zihlman made 1t clear that no
appropriation was authorized and no
provision made for paying anybody.
Mr. Zihlman also called attention as
had previously been stated by Mr.. Cot !
trell, that in other cities a large per-
centage OF the taxes goes to paying !
interest on funded Indebtedness and for |
of such Indebtedness. AS |
the District has no such indebtedness |
1t is not fair Mr.. Zihiman said. to !
make direct comparison on taxes pe- |
tween the District and other cities /
which are not on cash pay-as-you-go |
basis He insisted that the actual needs |
of a great Capital cannot be Justly i'm
posed upon the residents here, two
thirds OF whom are Government en- |
ployes.
Not Tax Dodgers.
Former Representative Stengel. speak +.
ing as chairman of the fiscal relations
committee OF the FederationS OF Citi-
Gems, asked that an honest study be
made Of the situation In the District,
saying that there Is conviction among
the citizens that an unfair advantage
has been taken OF them by Congress
President Yadcn OF the Federation OF
Citizens said that all that Is now asked
Is TO have fair study made and that
the citizens are not inststent upon any
particular form OF commission. He
emphasized that the people OF the Dis
trict are not tax dodgers. are not ask
ing special favors from Congress. but
sousre deal and nothing more.
E. c. Graham. president nf the Board
OF Trade. said he spoke for 3.i00 busi- |
ness and professional men representing |
the large taxpayers. He argued for |
fixed proportion as basis for fiscal |
relations so that both Congress and the /;
taxpayer might each know Just how |
much proposed improvements will cost |
each partner In building up the Capital |
He said that the Board Of Trade will /
maintain permanent bureau for COL |
lecting and keeping up TO date data |
regarding fiscal relations. |
DR.. George @. Havenncr put into the |
record the report of the Citizens Ad- |
visory Council made several weeks ago
which favors commission To study |
The real facts and determine a pcrma-
nent policy on fiscal relations