Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-03

one-third greater than New Orleans,
34.757; almost 0ne-fOurth more than
St. Louis, 36.966; almost One-Sixth more
than indianapolis, 38.267; distinctly
more than Minneapolis, 42.195, and
nearly as much as Cleveland, 45.625,
and Milwaukee, 46.525. Is not Wash
ingt0n's per capita city tax burden for
current maintenance and future de-
velopment great. than the city should
be called upon to bear, when in spite
Of its vast excess of tax-exempt prop
erty it exceeds by nearly so per cent
that Of the great and rich city Of
Baltimore and exceeds by nearly rs per
cent that of the even larger and richer
city Of st. Louis?
1t appears also that with Uncle Sam
participating equitably as municipal
taxpayer in Washington's per capita
city tax for current maintenance and
development this tax burden Of the
Washingtonian is nearly double that of
the BaltimOrean, 6S per cent more than
that Of the New Orleansitc and So per
cent more than that Of the st. L0uiSan.
On the hypothesis that Uncle Sam
participates as a municipal taxpayer in
meeting the city tax burden for capital
maintenance, and contributes equitably
in addition as personifying the Nation,
It has been indicated that his annual
contribution Of S9,00O,000 toward Cap
ital upbuilding should be increased by
minimum of a million dollars. When
tax burdens are compared on the basis
Of the same hypothesis is it not equally
clear that the WaShingtonian's city tax
burden for current maintenance is too
great when IL nearly doubles that Of the
neighboring BaltimOrean?
Comparisons Of All City Taxes.
The last two columns of today's table
broaden the comparisons from general
property taxes to all kinds of taxes;
limit them to city taxes Qncluding
county and all other taxes except
State); and eliminate city interest pay
ments to enable fair comparisons to
be made between the cost Of current
different cities.
Washington (a) without Uncle Sam
participating as municipal taxpayer)
records a per capita Of $43.190.
Washington (b) with Uncle Sam par
ticipating as municipal taxpayer)
records per capita of $55983. The
per capitas of other cities are:
Cleveland, $46.582: st. Louis, $36.483;
Baltimore, $31.736; Boston, $78.810;
Pittsburgh, $54.658: Buffalo, $51.653;
Milwaukee, $49.852; Newark, $48, 294 /;
Minneapolis, $40.589; New Orleans,
32.257; Cincinnati, $53.162; Indian
apolis, $40.021; Rochester, $45.232;
Jersey City, $44.891.
With Uncle Sam theoretically par
ticipating as city taxpayer upon certain
of his real and personal property,
Washington (b) records a per capita
($55. $3.50 which exceeds. that Of every
one of the fourteen cities except Boston.
It's per capita is rs per cent more than
that of Baltimore.
If Uncle Sam and the Government
holdings are excluded entirely from the
calculation and the figuring is confined
to the fraction Of Washington now ac-
tually taxed, washington ca ($43.19O)
| records a per capita which exceeds
those of Baltimore, $31736; New
Orleans, $32.257; st. Louis, $36.483;
Indianapolis, $40.O21, and Minneapolis,
$40.589, and closely approximates Jersey
| City, $44.891; Rochester, $45.232, and
Cleveland, $46.582. Its per capita
representing the average individuals
| tax-burden, is So per cent more than
that of Baltimore, 80 per cent more
| than that of New Orleans and IL pe1
cent more than that Of st. Louis.
Thus the same showing Is made in a
comparison Of total city tax-burdens a
in a comparison of general property
taxes. Is not Washington'S per capita
city tax-burden for current main.
tenance too high when it exceeds sub
stantially in this respect great and rich
commercial cities like Baltimore. New
Orleans, st. Louis, Minneapolis and
indianapolis, and presses close to Cleve-
land, Rochester and Jersey City: