Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-18
Choice of Form of Death.

One of the announced purposes of the
House Fiscal Inquiry Committee is tt
ascertain sources of additional revenue
for the District. The result of addi-
tional revenue is attained either by IN
creasing an existing tax Gas by doubling
the gasoline taxi, or by imposing a new
tax (as the inheritance taxi, or by in
creasing the national lump-sum SUBJ
vention.
The District contends that the last
mentioned source of revenue is the only
one to which resort can at this time
equitably be had
The insistence that it is reasonable to
impose every known form of tax upon
the District in every case at the max
imum rate is the result of its having
an alien taxing body, which represents
directly several hundred municipalities;
in fact, every municipality in the United
States except washington itself. Each
of these municipalities selects from a
list of forms of taxation those which
will raise the ascertained amount of
necessary revenue with the minimum
Of inconvenience and distress to the
taxpayers and distributes the tax bur-
den in such proportions as it pleases
among the selected sources of revenue.
No municipality taxes itself with all
possible forms of taxation, or distributes
its tax burden in precisely the same
proportions among the preferred forms
Of taxation.
But the tendency seems almost ir-
resistible for the Representative of each
home municipality to insist that every
tax which his own constituents bear is
of necessity reasonable and fair in char
acter and amount and should be i'm
posed upon the taxpayers of the Ma
tional City. If these insistences are all
successful the District will, as result,
be blistered with every known form of
municipal taxation, with q maximum
rate in respect to each form.
The District contends vigorously that
the present forms Of taxation impose
upon it a sufficiently heavy tax burden,
which should not be made heavier,
either by the increase of an old tax or
the addition of q new. The District
demonstrates that the subvention by the
Nation for the maintenance and de-
velopment of the Nations City Is dis
tinctly inadequate in amount to meet
the Nations increasing obligation. And
the District reasonably urges that the
national subvention be rendered fully
adequate before increase of any form
Of local taxation is even considered.
Some Of the questions put to District
witnesses before the Fiscal Inquiry
Committee suggest that it is arbitrarily
assumed that the local taxpayers bur-
den must be increased and that their
only privilege in the matter is to voice
a preference (Which may be disre-
garded) as to how they shall be over
taxed.
In the ancient days of myth and
fable when man could talk with the
lower animals the master Of the barn
yard called the barnyard fowls into con-
ference.
my children" he said to them, 1--WE
approach a merry Christmas, when in
accord with the spirit of the season
you are all to enjoy the highest pleas
ure of unselhshly giving joy to others.
Each of you, rendered by the cook deli
ciously attractive to the eye and the
palate, will adorn a place of honor at
the head Of Christmas table. I have
called you together that you may exer-
else the democratic privilege of saying
freely, without compulsion or duress
how you would prefer to be cooked
whether roasted or broiled, fried OF
stewed or baked or even fricasseed."
But" cried the frightened barnyard
fowls with one voice, I'VE do not want
to be cooked at all IN any shape OF
form!"
MY children" replied the master OF
the bsrnyard, you wander from the
subject"
The harassed Washington taxpayers
threatened with unjust additional tai
burdens Of many millions Ito make, fol
example. the municipal buildings con-
farm in grandeur and cost to the won
derful new housing of the national de-
partments), are only exssperated by thu
suggestion that they may in this con-
nection perhaps enjoy the high priv
ilege Of indicating the form Of add
tional tax with which they prefer Il
be roasted.
The District taxpayers, like the barn
yard fowls in the fable, cry out: "W'
do not need or want a new or increased
tax Of any kind"
Will the Master of the unrepresentet
District frowningly respond: you wan
der from the subject?