Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-10
Continued From First Page.)

4 y
streets, one finds the proportion to be
still 1877 per cent, or very consider
able amount over that Of the average
city of this size.
Nov let us take these figures In a
little bit different way. The city of
Buffalo has a population of $4,000.
The city of Washington has a popula-
ton estimated at SIS 1000, so that they
are very closely related in size of
population. In the city of Buffalo the
total amount of exempt real property
Is $178,000, 900, in round numbers. In
the city of Washington the total
amount of exempt property is $685.
100000. If We do not consider the
amount used by the National Govern
ment itself, the amount still remains
at $3.50, 100000, or nearly $4,000, 900
more exempt property in Washington
than in the city of Buffalo.
"A similar comparison may be made
with the city of Newark, which is a
little bit smaller than Washington,
where the amount of exempt property
is only $104, 000, 900. 1t is for these rea-
sons, Mr.. President, that the commit
tee believes 1t proper that the Federal
IIIdhG q gilt LII lieu
of any taxation which may not be
legally liable, but which, I entirely
agree with the Senator from North
Carolina, is morally liable--a gift to
the city of Washington of an amount
of money corresponding to the differ
ence between what the citizens of any
city in the United States of similar
size have to pay and what the citizens
OF Washington have to pay"
U. s. Tax Would Be s7,44O,9ss.
Senator Bingham went on to show by
the Efficiency Bureau report that If the
Federal Government paid taxes on its
property here its tax bill would be
| 81 ,440,939.
"As a matter of fact" he continued,
"in the bill as 1t came from the House,
there is a. lump-sum contribution of
So 100000. This leaves an amount of
81 ,559,061 to be applied against other
charges, not legal but moral or ethical,
which may be made against the Federal
Government. The two principal items
which may be considered in this con-
nection are the loss of tax revenue on
account of excess ordinary real property
exemptions, and. second, the cost Of eX-
cess park acquisitions and maintenance.
1.-THE first of these items the account
of excess ordinary real property exemp-
tons, have briefly referred to; and 1t
| may be seen that over city of similar
size, the city of Washington has an ex-
| cess of something over $110,000,00
worth of exempt property apart from
that owned and used by the United
| States Government, more than exists in
similar cities.
ut seems reasonable to the commit
nfn Ch 40
against this exemption which woulc
| amount. at the rate of II mills, to some
| thing like 81 100000, which more thar
uses I'D the difference in the lump sun
| contribution between the 1000, 900 anC
| the S7,440,000 held to be liable al
municipal taxes. Surprising that cancels
| the one against the other, we ther
| have the other item, the cost of excess
park acquisition and maintenance"
Park Areas Are Cited.
Senator Bingham then declared thu
park area in Washington is twice al
large as in comparable cities, and tina
these parks are, in way, nationa
parks. He proceeded to show that wher
allowance is made for the excess parl
expenditures required for the Natlona
Capital the committees action In rails
ing the Federal share of the appropri
alton bill to $10,000,000 was full.
justified.
Senator King later took the position
that whatever prosperity exists in Wash
ington is due to the presence here o
the Federal Government activities.
Senator Bingham replied that argu
ment would be potent one to be mad
by a large corporation in a city seek
ing to be relieved of its taxes on tn
theory that the city would not exist
the corporation were not in operation
! there.
: Senator Tydings, Democrat, OF Mary
land. made a plea on the floor in behal
of his amendment, which was rejecte
in committee, seeking an appropriated
; of 100000 in the District bill to con
Sty71Qk Eoada for Aap aexteQ RQc