Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-25
Expert Research for Fiscal Inquiry.

The proposal considered by the special
Fiscal Inquiry Committee Of the House
to engage the services of some expert
in taxation who will conduct even
further researches into the reasonable
ness and adequateness of Washington
tax burden is indicative of the commit
tees desire to get the facts and all the
facts before making any decision re-
garding their Interpretation. If the ex-
pert is to check the Bureau of Eff1cien-
cy's work in this regard the question
arises as to who will check the checker.
But it is believed that the committee is
more anxious to follow the very desir-
able method of having the same ground
covered by two separate and distinct
agencies, in order to compare the re-
suits, than it is to discredit the findings
Of the Bureau of Efficiency.
The investigation contemplated by
the committee, provided, of course, that
the investigating agency is qualified and
is left unrestricted as to the facts that
must be considered, would be helpful to
tons issue must be settled on the basis
of facts. Once the facts are fully and
fairly obtained and presented, Wash
ington has no reason to fear the out
come.
Some of the members of the commit
tee found fault with the Bureau of En-
ficiency for its inclusion of the mythical
~taxables" of the Federal Government.
for purposes of comparison only, in
computing various per capitas for
Washington. The lengthy questioning
by the committee members of Mr..
Murphy Of the Bureau of Efficiency,
and. later, Of Auditor Donovan, failed
70 shake either of these experts in
their repeated statements that only
BY conceding such a basis could
fair per capita comparisons be made.
It Is hardly fair, however, to the bureau
TO label the committees attitude in
this connection as criticism. There may
have been a difference of opinion, but
as the bureau took great pains to pre-
sent the per capita comparisons with
and without the inclusion Of Federal
Ataxables," the committee was entitled
20 draw its own conclusions from either
one. With or without the Federal
holdings, Washington's per capitas are
entirely adequate.
The per capita basis Of comparison is
the only one practical, and there can be
no real comparison without considera-
ton Of the vast tax-exempt property in
Washington that, in the cities with
which Washington is compared, would
be taxed. The only method by which
the Federal Governments fictitious tax
Rbles may be disregarded is by disre-
garding entirely the tax-exempt prop
erty in this city, for the upkeep Of part
Of which the inhabitants are taxed. So
to disregard it would be not only unfair
but absurd.
There may be other bases Of COM
parison, however, that will appeal to
the committee as showing the actual
amount in taxes paid by the residents
Of Washington without any considera-
ton given to the presence here of the
Federal Government. Some expert in
the economics of taxation may be able
to work out a system that will show
what Mr.. A. the average citizen OF
Washington, pays in dollars and cents
for taxes in comparison to what Mr.. b
the average citizen of Baltimore, pays
In neither case will the presence of the
Federal (zoyeT-1raant in WASHINGTON he
considered. That seems to be what the
committee is after. The results will be
very interesting.