Evening star., 1930-12-13

rnent Of the whole problem is topsy
turvy. The problem is taken up at
the wrong end.
. Calls Plan Huge Joke.
''The first thing that should be done
Is to determine what the municipality
needs and then fix the tax levy. But
here in Washington, we have made a
huge joke out of the situation.
Congress says the tax rate must be
$1.70 and from that levy. we get a
certain sum. To that the Federal
Government adds an arbitrary sum and
then its saysi Here's your allowance,
as we say to a child. heres your penny;
don't spend it all in one store
I'VE should first determine the ex-
penses to be incurred for schools, water
service, streets, social needs, etc, and
then flx the tax rate to raise tho nece3-
Sary funds But we've never dcne that
here in the District
Held Ridiculous.
Chairman Mapes called Mr.. Grifin's
attention to the fact that the tax rate
Is fixed by the Commissioners after
Congress passes the annual appropria-
ton bill, although the bill itself says
that the levy shall not be less than a
certain amount.
''Well, at any rate,' replied Mr.. Grif-
IN, "the system In Washington is so
different that it is absolutely ridiculous" /"
Mr. Griffin and Mr. Mapes entered
into a considerable argument as to
whether it was Congress or the Com
nlissioners who fixed the Districts tax
rate, Mr.. Griffin insisting to the end
that 1t was Congress.
Minimum Explained.
Representative Holiday interrupted
A. -
a S1.70 minimum for the tax rate in
the appropriation bill was that the Dis
trict at the time had considerable
cash surplus in the Treasury. Had the
surplus been used the rate could have
dropped to $1.50, he said, and the Ap-
preparations Committee was anxious
that such cut should not be made
These remarks were prefsced by Mr.
Holidays statement that he was talk
ing out of school, but that he wanted
70 explain the reason for the limit to
Mr.. Grimm.
Mr.. Griffin said that th.re are 3,I78
open privies in the District, condition
which would not be allowed in any
other civilized city. Sewers are still
dribbling their NTH into Rock Greek,
he said.
Would any civilized city stand for
these things?" Mr.. Griffin asked
He said that the Commissioners were
afraid to ask for enough money to end
these conditions because they were
terrified by Congress and that Con-
gress had abdicated its legislative pre-
rogatiye and was terrified by the Bureau
Of the Budget.
He suggested that the amount to be
paid by the Federal Government in
clude an amount equivalent to what
private individual or q corporation
would pay in taxes If it owned the
property owned by the Federal Govern
[nent In Washington and exempt from
Taxation.
Mr.. Grimm said that one of the great
misfortunes of the District Is that its
tax rate has been too low, although he
did not believe it was ridicuiously so.
Men in Congress" he said, "are
likely to compare the tax rates in their
own communities with the tax levy in
the District, and are likely to say, These
people are getting on easy here When
you study the situation, youn find out
that the people in the District are only
getting that for which they pay. And
even then, the s1.70 tax rate is not so
ridiculously low"
Says Report Complete.
L. A. Carruthers, chairman of the
Fiscal Relations Committee of the Fed
Grafton Of Citizens Associations and
chief Of the division Of financial statis-
tics CT States and cities of the Census
Bureau, appeared before the committee
TO supplement the recent testimony of
DR.. George c. Havenner, president Of
the federation.
Mr. Carruthers said he felt that the
Bureau Of Efficiency report presented
70 the committee contained a very
comprehensive and complete picture Of
the fiscal relations situation.
He also described the methods used
by the Census Bureau in gathering
data for its statistical reports and
pointed out that much Of this infor-
nation was used by the Bureau Of
Efficiency and DR.. Hayenner. This In
formation, he said, was honestly and
impartially collected and was given out
without making any deductions or con-
illusions.
Cites Federal Aid.
Mr.. Carruthers pointed out that the
cost of operating the District govern
Nnent Is higher than in other munich
Ralities because Washington is the
ation's Capital and that the States
hare IN many Federal appropriations
hat do not benefit the District In
his connection he mentioned specifical-
Federal road aid and the Smith
Eughes vocational bill
Representative Holiday of Michigan
bid Mr.. Carruthers that he did not
Believe these Federal appropriations
Benefited the incorporated cities in the
states. He said he knew that in Mich
gan cities having population Of more
nan 5000 did not benefit by the Federal
road aid fund and that the benefit
provided by the Smith Hughes act went
only to high schools In his State main
taining an agricultural department
In response TO series of questions
" Chairman Mapes. Mr.. Carruthers
aid he Is q taxpayer in the District
end has lived here for 30 years. He
eaid he came TO the District from Ohio,
but did not own any property in that
etate.
Believes Rate Here High.
Chairman Mapes then asked Mr.
Garruthers how he thought the actual
tax burden in the District compared
With the tax burden IN other cities OF
comparable size.
THAT would be based largely on my
personal observation" replied Mr.. Car.
Futhers. i've always been of the hon.
est belief that the home owners in
Washington are paying higher tax or
Homes Of equal value than those in other
communities"
Chairman Mapes, however, said thai
members of his committee are con.
sanity being told by people from othel
sections Of the country that the assess.
Nnents on homes and the amount Of
money paid to the tax collectors in theil
own home towns are higher than paie
IN the District.
Lord Derby Chooses Epitaph.
LONDON, December IS OD.-Lorc
Derby has an idea for his epitaph, q
wit: He opened bazaars and laid foun.
81 GsrAa be- eat a~.r