Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-03
.6(E4O FISCAL PLAN
URGED FOR D. c. BY
TAXES COMMITTEE
Lengthy Report Is Submitted
to Commissioners by
Special Body.
RATIO IN CITY EXPENSE
CALLED SAFEST POLICY
Unusual Conditions Here Impose
Burden on Revenue Payers,
Experts Assert.

Adoption Of The GO-46 basis Of
h2cal relations between the Federal
and District Governments as ratio
OF dividing the expenses Of rrunicipaI
government is urged by the Districts
special committee on taxation. which
reported today 10 the Commissioners.
Inc committee was appointed last
ran by the Commissioners TO repre-
sent the District a the international
tax conference, held in Toronto IN
octoDer. and 10 make a comprehen-
siVe study OF tax systems in other
cities OK the United States.
The committees recommendation
and its reasons therefore are com.
tanned IN a lengthy document IN
which Is appended a graphic Illus
trauon. showing relation Of the as
sessed values TO estimated true val
ues or real estate in the District
since 1879 The report is signed b.
Inomas Walker Page chairman OF
the committee; Edward r. CoIladay.
vice chairman: Robert V. Fleming.
rank j. Coleman. Joshua Evans. ir
William L. Beaie and William p.
Richards.
Seen a Safe Policy.
The 6e-40 proportion, the committee
pointed out. would make sure OF
safe and fixed policy. SO that extraor.
dInary conditions OF expenditure
would not bear too heavily on Dis
trict taxpayers. This proportion. the
said. is not 10 be arrived
at by any fixed ratio Of local and Gov
ernment ownership, but in a showing
OF past performance by which the
needs Of the District have not been
met by sufficient appropriations. fol.
lowed by a shifting Of the burden OF
Government expenses upon the prop
erty and persons of the District. and
further by the fact that when consid-
cred with the tax burdens OF other
cities OF comparable size il will be
found that the taxes required TO be
paid by District citizens under any
plan less equitable viii be unfair.
The broad grounds upon which the
proportion must be based are that the
Capital requires expenditures for IA
tionaf purposes distinct from local
purposes. with the result that the
total Is far in excess Of cities OF Ike
size and population" declared the re-
port.
Imposes Burden.
When measured hy past experience.
IL will be found that any ratio of this
total yearly expense above So per
cent. imposes upon the District a tax
in excess OF what is deemed fair in
sevying revenues OF other communi-
ties"
Six specific reasons were given BY
the committee for its recommended ton
Tor eo-+o policy. They follow:
That future expenditures necessary
FOR the growth OF the city and the up
keep OF the Government OF the District
should be shared by the United States
In liberal manner.
That fixed ratio OF expenses BE-
tween the District and the general
is highly desirable and
such ratio should not be less favor.
able TO the District than 900
Ihat all revenues compared with
hose of other cities are not only larSe.
Aui they nave grown TO be excessive
burdens in several directions
That the Capitals DEVELOPMENT aud
nsar should not ne confined 10 certain
sections of narrow limits. but should
NJ extended with completeness over
The entire District.
The exemptions Ns various classes
" property, since ;he AREA cg the pis,
rict Is limited. including the holdings
V io@ United States, are great and
growing. and this SroWth points te
ne need cg consIenSatinS revenue
rom the United States,
Dependent on L. :.
The CHIEF means ~ livelihood eE 4
majority Ot the population is SeI>Sna
mt On compensation of the United
States Government. and IL viii aatu,
ally follow that an excess in taxation
sill have depressing sSsect on these
'mrieyes. whe are serced - ceaty,oats
q the nlatn;enance ~ she CSpisal~
The report empaaSized that the
,rrwth oS the District tyVm tScS ~
9%e WAS made possible through the
fsavly expenditures Naae on the basis
" the See5a prlac,piv
IL DIVES not Seem lssSSthse that the
eSults n eeSu;jyNtnS the cl1N NN
'taatinS trees Improving parks, read.
WAYS aud sidewalks, xeAdjnx eSxh,
ways. eic.. Il added you'd have e>en
'r0ught about EXCEPT shCNtJsh tAs
workings cg the &0 ~ nrin<u,le
Nhen Tire rvGsNgg NJ the Nsas xxea
hittee WAS made I'm 1915, me veaaas
<platntNt, appropClaticns ge{Slsa as>>at
tS,eoe>ape, the DISTRICT YaNi,ts ae<>sst
a,seo,eea, NSlaN. hNweVsr wlth az.
move than sS4, zee .eaa, tbs
erast dertavea the NS~Grtrs n iNtNet
our uaaeS as saet<'h. While the l'attei
states il crntrtentiax hssx So psg cent
note than u ata In isia (ns<iev shs
o4e ratio, the District sVevaSS~s &ae
rpct. added, about Sta,NeA eca a wear
- the Mart vh4ESe4 tA ttS rvANAmsSNx
'hue ttem issA ~ 1879, yae aNeFAke
: aver saIeee ,aee, eg Nsavlv tNtrA A.
re8t
Deprived II kansls,
The rvSuU has esen A>N>S og atAgsSS.
tor nvsde>t am vS,NssneagS
nd ratslng the taN rates in gSs(lr N<SAsS
f,an $i,Se te 81 NJ per hNnysl~d, whts~
I the same time, v'taaslssS the eASi~
( assessment tfNnA twn,ghtgStS uE gsAsl
alae ta tnn NatSe fate.
"k0r the YEAR isSS thew will Ne
Atsea ea rvNAl estate atNous xlA, ~, aSse.
nj un,ter the s.ssCAlsea psgs<AStsl eE<.s.
rty taN, cNe1' $s,eeA, Dee ," said The FSs
art, 'Ns veursS, IN addition IL these
mounts are special assessments Ii,
e'Sses ant water rents II viii ee
Auhd in r<agalSaVtson Vita egAxr
mounts ate esgNe whea takea tsxsaN
he soutS~s tAAsNAsSst
"MuSh v0NtuStNa arss~S ia the pub
= ntna tN tAtsNy~ ~ nutv thai Ash
sseS Are ReutgaAAed eN kAw ASSSsS
vents fhe IestsVNeS Ia ataeg cities
\ rehAtd 50 ta>saA TSsl estate ~ tN
eVn tAe tAse law SNA wa the E@stS
4gh, tAtS ratsthS 80 SxnlS ta the AZ
slttetnV ntS ef AN where f1lM asSASS