Evening star., 1931-12-15
A6ditionaI Views of Mr.. Frear

These additional views express COM
plete agreement with tie facts found by
the cor mittee concerning proper taxes
to be raise5 by the District Of Columbia.
rejection Cf arguments offered of per
capita taxes and Federal property off,
sets presented by the Governments
Efficiency Bureau expert and apprecia-
ton of the splendid and exhaustive
work performed BY Mr.. Lord, the CON-
nittee tax expert. Some familiarity
with city. county and State tax methods,
the latter as State auditor fCr several
years, leads me to express confidence
that no better analysis of present tax
methocs in the District and in COM
parable cities could have been offered
by any one.
To the committees conclusion Of
amount the Federal Government should
pay toward the Districts support as an
annual subsidy, I can find no evidence
that warrants the amount recommended
or any other amount excepting for tenn
pCrary emergency until the District is
enabled to raise additional revenues
found by the committee a proper Dis
trict contribution to the Districts sup
port if measured by comparable cities
Briefly. the committee fines that %
comparable cities and the several States
in 1880 averaged the following addi-
tional tax and license income that these
cities are now paying, many of them far
beyond the average stated. I believe
like revenues should also be raised by
the District Of Columbia for its own
support:
Increased gas tax. ...... $1,000 900
Increased motor vehicle tax. 1000, 600
Increased intangibles, in
come and estate tax. 100000
Increased public utility tax. $4,000
Increased railway tax (tun-
nels, bridges ............ 175,ooo
Increased real and personal
tax .................... 5000 900
Total increase found equit-
aUIe ........... Sl3,9 220
The committee only asks for the fol-
lowing additional tax and license reve-
nueS to be raised:
Increased gas tax to 4 cents. 81 soc, 900
Increased motor vehicle tax. 100000
Increased estate tax. 10000
Increased income taX........ 100000
Total .s4,lOO, 900
The above estate tax by deduction
through Federal tax refund Is no net
increased burden to taxpayers.
Lower Sum Hard to Understand,
Thereafter the c0mrittees report
recommends that Congress appropriate
an annual contribution no. to exceed
$6500,000. In view of the fact that the
annual District contribution for wears
has been S9000,000, and that for the
present fiscal year it was increased to
$9,500,000, it is hard to understand on
what theory the proposed Federal con-
trlbutlon OF S6,5o0,Oo0 is recommended
to Congress. That amount, added to the
revenue specifically recommended to be
raised of S4.100000, would give the Dis
trict $10,600O00, or 81 1,1OO,0 900 in excess
of the amount now paid without any
reason offered therefor II the District
raised the revenue found to be received
by % comparable cities, it will receive
annually approximately $4,000, 900 ad-
oltional or $4,500,0G0 more than Is now
received from all sources.
Remembering, as set forth specifically
by the committee findings, that no ma
tional capital in the world, with one ex-
ceptlon, Argentina's, and no State capi-
tai IN this country recognizes any duty
or obligation to contribute any amount
toward the local city government, ex-
ceptlng for minor specific services, it is
impossible to reconcile the committee
findings of fact with the conclusion
that Congress should make an annual
appropriation Of $500 0O0 or any other
amount, for the District support, sub
Ject to any temporary needed aid and
until the District can have time to put
Its own tax machinery in order.
Without just and proper settlement
OF the differences between a portion
OF the 1000 residents of Washington