Evening star., 1929-04-21
Tax Money Here Not Wasted.

Senator Caraway Of Arkansas has
been quoted in the public print as say
ing that one-third Of the money paid
In taxes here Is wasted.
If Senator Caraway has been mis-
quoted, he should publicly call attention
to that fact, and the columns Of The
Star are open to him for such pur-
pose. If Senator Caraway actually made
that statement, as quoted, he should in
fairness to the taxpayers and to Con-
gress show how and where the taxes are
"wasted."
Congress has been shown, time and
again, that we have here In the Nations
Capital not only one Of the most beauti-
full cities in the world, albeit an unfairly
large percentage Of the cost Of maintain
ing and embellishing Is paid by the
home-owners Of this small District, but
also one Of the most economically ad-
ninistered municipalities. entirely out Of
debt. on a strictly cash basis and free
from graft. Let any municipality
throughout the length and breadth Of
the entire United States show cleaner
record.
Chairman Simmons Of the subcom-
nittee that handles the District appro-
priation bill. although differing from
us widely on the amount that the
Federal Government should pay toward
support Of the Capital City, knows bet
ter than his colleagues how true Is the
statement that the District taxpayers
come nearer to getting one hundred
cents worth of service for every dollar
paid In taxes than do taxpayers in any
other place. Chairman Simmons. by his
careful scrutiny of all items of appropri-
alton for the District, is helping to
maintain this enviable record for the
City Of Washington. He is as jealous as
are the leading citizens and taxpayers
of this well earned record for economy
and efficiency in expenditure Of District
funds.
Congressional investigations-the lat
est by the Gibson subcommittee and
the United States Bureau Of Efiiciency
confirm this record. If Senator Cara
way has any evidence to the contrary,
not only the Washington taxpayers but
also his own colleagues in Congress are
interested to know what 1t is. ,
Each year there is drawn chart
showing Just how the dollar paid in
taxes is divided-about one-third
for education, approximately one-sev-
enth for protection Of life and prop
erty, nearly one-eighth for charities and
corrections, one-tenth for highways,
one-tenth for health and sanitation, etc.
Nowhere In the country is municipal
administration under more careful, even
hypercritical scrutiny. 1t is under the
exclusive jurisdiction Of Congress, and
the vast majority Of congressman have
learned to be suspicious of waste Of
funds or graft in municipal admins
tration. When they have really studied
the situation here, they are amazed to
find such one hundred per cent proper
use Of tax moneys.
The Gibson subcommittee has made
recommendations which have effected
considerable saving in public funds; but
these recommendations, for the most
part, called for new laws to change the
expressed directions Of Congress itself.
Time itself brings opportunities for
greater economies through adoption Of
more eficient business practice, and
from time to time relatively slight
change in the business administration
and adjustments must be made-as re-.
Gently at the suggestion Of the Gibson
subcommittee and the Bureau Of En-
cheney.
But there has not been any waste
Of District funds, and any intimation
of graft" is absolutely unjust.