Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-02

Representative Simmons then enters
into lengthy discussion of the prob
lem of determining exemptions and
concludes by saying that by using the
Bureau Of Efficiency report and arriving
at the average of exemptions for other
comparable cities, have shown that a
fair reduction is the $283, 99l 800 of ex-
empt property would be 5000, 900,
bringing the figure down to $249, 900 900
instead of the $685.. 000, 900.
THAT figure of $35, 1000 should be
applied, not on the $84,951 1893 of Dis
trict-owned property and United States
property dedicated to District purposes,
not on the $80000,000 Of privately
owned property, but to the $4,000. 2l7
Of federally owned park property. BY
doing this the United States would as
sumo taxes on approximately 80 per
cent of the parks which 1t owns and
which have made 1t unnecessary Tor the
municipality to 60 in as deeply for park
acquisition as some other cities have
been compelled to do, and largely by
bond issues. The taxes on this 30 per
cent would, as have heretofore pointed
out amount to $595,000.
1.-THE Senator suggests reduction in
the total exemptions Of sos, 1871 900,
which, applying the $1.7O tax rate.
would charge the United States with
$I,767,85720. I suggest following the
Bureau of Efficiency report fgures ana
reduce the exemptions by $35 100000,
which, applying the $l.70 tax rate,
would charge the United States with
taxes Of $595, 900. The difference be-
tween the two sets of figures Is $685.
991. 500 of exemptions and 81, 172 .857.20
in taxes to the United States. know
of no better place for him to ind the
answer to his fourth question.
IT am pleased at the Senator's finding
that the District taxpayer Is not being
taxed more heavily than other cities OF
this size. The tables of the Bureau OF
Eficiency report show that they are
taxed under cities of their size"
Excess Park, Acquisition.
Next Mr.. Simmons discusses how
much of the cost of excess park &C
ollisition and maintenance should be
met by the Federal Government.
Referring again to the Bureau OF
Efficiency report on the fiscal re-
lations he says that this report
shows that Washington has per
capita cost of $238 for recreation" as
against an average OF $l.65 for the
comparable cities, or 70 cents per capita
above the average. This Is the item
in which the parks are carried. Five
hundred and fifty thousands persons, at
70 cents each. equals $401. 500 that this
excess costs above the average.
I'VE have, then, from the. Bureau OF
Efficiency report the following answer
to the Senator's question:
Ordinary tax load. ......... SO, 989 ,082
Loss by excessive exemptions. $4,000
Excess park maintenance. 40l 500
IOtal .................. f,Soo'oo@
"This leaves, by the 100000 pay.
ment by the Federal Government. ST.
014,418 over and above all items which
the Senator included In his statement,
with the exception Of park purchases,
which is a variable sum. from year to
year. No figures are available as to
who paid the cost of park lands already
acquired. The bill this year carries
100000 for park purchases. Upon
the basis of these figures" concludes
Mr.. Simmons, the United States is
not only paying a fair tax on its prop
erty, the excess cost OF exemptions, and
excess park maintenance above the
average, but over and above that Is
paying 100000 for parks in the CITY,"