Evening star., 1931-12-15

ices that are taken care OF outside by
county, State and school taxes
The true index to tax burdens fs tha
actual tax levied and paid into the pub
lie treasury by the owner or owners OF
, pl operty In the various cities having
re atively the same actual value. In the
opinion OF this committee 1t makes no
difference by what name the tax NAV
be called--a State tax, a school tax a
city tax or o county tax-it is the actual
money paid over the counter Of the pub
lie treasury that counts, and that is the
only true measure of comparative tax
burdens
Nor does this committee agree with
the contention that the interest on
public debts Of other cities should be
eliminated. Other cities have been
forced into debt for different reasons
principally because their tax burden
has been so great that they could not
afford to add to it for the cost of need
ed permanent public improvements.
The District Of Columbia is in a favor
ed position in this respect, made Dos
slble to large extent at least because
OF the financial assistance received by
II from the Federal Treasury. AS an
illustration, the water system Of the Dis
trlct vas originally paid for by the Fed
eral Government 1t is obvious that II
the cost OF permanent public improve
nents In other cities had been includ-
ed annually IN their budgets. the rate
OF taxation in those cities would have
been much higher and therefore the
comparison with the rate prevailing in
the District Of Columbia would show a
correspondingly wider difference than
is now shown
The committee has no sympathy
with the attitude Of hostile criticism OF
the improvement and development OF
the District and everything that is
done by Congress to that end. that isl
sometimes expressed. The District oil
Columbia is probably the most beauti-|
ful and magnificent Capital in tha|
Enjoy Many Benefits.
The people of the District Of Coll
umzla enjoy benefits and privileges thai
are not enjoyed by the people in anS
other city. In no other city in tha
country do the people enjoy so man2
advantages by way of beautiful parka
library facilities, etc. as are enioyek
by the people in the District Of Col
umbia. not to mention the innumerabls
and immeasurable advantages and
privileges incident to being a resident
of the Capital City They are created
and maintained to a considerable ex-
tent at the expense Of the people of
the United States and not at the ex-
pense OF the people of the District Of
Columbia alone and constitute no part
OF the District budget.
The committee does not desire to
place any undue burden of taxation
upon the people Of the District. On
the contrary, because Of the peculiar
government set-up Of the District, it
mace on the size OF liberality toward
the District The connirtee
comedies that the government of the
District OF Columbia for the most part
IS efficiently and economically admin
istered, without undue waste or ex-
traVagance and desires TO give the
District the benefit of such admins
Lration
1t is the aim Of the committee to give
the House sufficient statistical informa-
tlon and data TO enable every member.
not only now but in the future. TO
reach his own conclusion, from the
information given, as to what the con-
trlbution of the Federal Government
toward the expenses Of the District
Government should be The committee
considers this feature of its report of
prime Importance.
The committee does not haeitate IN
say that In its judgment the tax rate
the tax burden, in the District is not
as high, Is not as burdensome. as H. is
IN comparable cities, nor as it is in
nearly every community. urban or
rural, in the United States. Anyone
VINO thinks that it is either IoOIlng
himself or blind TO the actual facts.
He can not realize how the average
citizen is almost literally sweating
blood in order to pay his taxes and
many are utterly unable TO do so.
The committee does hesitate, how
ever, 10 make any recommendation. the
erect OF which might lead to a tax
rate IN the District equal TO the aver
age. even OF those in other cities OF
comparable size and advantages be-
cause it is impressed with the fact thar
such rate On general property is too
hlgh, that 1t is overburdensome and
often prohib:tive. The committee be-
HeyeS that the general property taY
should be relieved by other taxes. such
as are herein recommended. wherever
IL is practicable TO do so. At the same
time the committee can not help but
feel that the tax rate in the District
might well be raised TO more nearly
approach the average of other cities
without any injustice to the District.
or without giving the District any
reasonable cause to complain.
Rate Largely Up to District.
The present law provides that The
tax rate in the District shall be not
less than Sl.7O per hundred of the
assessed valuation of real estate and
tanUlhlp
stated, II the rate had been $40 par
thousand valuation. for example which
is considerably below the average rate
IN the comparable cities it would have
produced revenue. based on the 1880
'aIuatlon OF property, of S25. 793.3e7.
as against $2l ,924,3S7 that was levied
on such property in 1880.
IL is not the province Of this COM
mlttee, however. to recommend a rate:
1t is rather to recommend what amount
IN It's judgment the Federal Govern
ment should contribute annually tow
ard the development and maintenance
OF the municipality. The rate will de-
pend upon the budget. the cost of the
District government II is largely in
the hands Of the District to determine
the rate II will be for the District, in
asking for appropriations, largely to
erty tax will be increased or not and
that is as it should be.
The committee feels that for the
present, at least. the Federal Govern
ment should continue to contribute
something toward the expenses of the
District, the Capital City of the Nation:
that to do so is perhaps wise public
policy and in accordance with the
public sentiment of the country. but,
with the constantly increasing values
of privately owned property within the
District. it becomes progressively more
easy for the District to meet the ex-
penses Of the District government as
the years go by. without undue burden
or any increase In the general property
tax. The time may come when the
District should in all conscience meet
the total normal budget of the District
government.
TIE District budget for the fiscal year
1888, beginning July l, 1882, and end