Evening star., 1928-04-15
NO D. C.SJATE TAX
SINCE We ENJOY NO
STATE BENEFITS
In Comparing Tax Burdens
With Washington State Tax
Should EuuitabIy Be
Deducted.
NO INCREASE OF
PRESENT S1.70 TAX RATE
Editorial Correspondence Of The star
BY THEODORE w. MOVES. .

In comparing tax rates. aggregate
taxes and per cspitas, it Is to be borne
in mind that the total taxes in other
cities than Washington include State,
county, school district and city taxes.
Washington figures show only city
being the same. Washington contends
that in comparing with her the State
tar should not be taken into account;
that as she enjoys no State rights.
privileges. bounties and benefits she
should not he figured to pay justly as
part of her normal tax burden what
ether cities pay in consideration Of the
enjoyment Of these state rights. priv
ilegeS. bountieS and ether benefits. See
arguments before joint fiscal commit
Zee in 1918, House District committee
I'm 1919, and Senate appropriations
committee in 1s20l
OF course. the main consideration for
the payment OF State taxes is the en-
toyrnent of the political power and
prestige involved In participation In
the National Government on equal
terms with other Americans. To be
transformed through statehood from
the status OF political aliens TO that Of
fun-fiedged Americans, with all the
powers, rights and privileges apper-
tanning TO that status, confers a benefit
upon the individual of value not TO
be calculated in dollars and cents: and
deprivation Of this benefit involves a
loss which is also incalculahle.
Every one, therefore. win recognize
the Justice of wasi1ington's protest
against being taxed to correspond to
what other cities pay TO maintain
State government. since the District
under the Constitution and the laws
enacted by Congress is not permitted
the right. privilege and benefit of en-
ioying and maintaining a State govern
ment But very few persons in the
whole United States appreciate the
scope Of the material benefits In boun-
ties and subsidies which attach to state
wholly deprived Our citizens joint
committee brief In 1918 recited the
millions which in the past had been
distributed by the Nation among the
States. omitting the District of Column
bia. But these subsidies by the Nation
to the States are not confined to the
past. but continue in vastly enlarged
proportions In the present
suhventions or subsidies paid BY Ma
ton TO States in 1924. none Of which
vas paid to the District Of Columbia.
are anslyzed and discussed in Editorial
Research Reports. December Is. 1924.
Amount Of Federal Subsidies.
''Ths total payments made by the
Federal Government TO or on behalf Of
the States curing the fiscal year 1924
vas approximately tI4S.000.00 This
sum represented about per cent Of
the total expenditures during the last
fiscal year by the National Govern
nent" fsee Editorial Research Report,
1924 page 572D
Under these acts approximately
s52l.772.i75 In Federal aid has been
granted 10 the States down to the
end Of the fiscal year 1924, whereas in
1914 the total Of Federal subsidies paid
to the States annually amounted to less
than $500, ooo."
Paid To and by q. s
II viii BE- interesting 10 compare what
Washington PAYS into and receives from