Evening star., 1932-02-05

ming into debt in order 10 undertake
extensive programs of public improve
mentS."
In the table herewith presented these
per capita interest payments are set
forth in column T. and when they are
subtracted from the total per capita
property tax leVies Column - the re-
sulting per capitas compare as follows:
Washington, with Federal property left
out, has a greater per capita than OF
the IA cities. while Washington, lnclud-
ing the property used by the Federal
Government, has a greater per capita
than IL of the "A cities Column gives
these per capitaS for each city,.
explains that the revenue receipts listed
under the heading of taxes takes in all
the taxes collected IN the respective
cities, whether by city, State or other
civil division. For all the cities except
Washington these taxes were shown by
the bureau in two sections, namely, city
and State, and the city section included
county and district taxes.
Although Washington has no State
or county organization" the bureau re-
port stated, "it was considered neces-
sary to include State and county taxes
for the other cities in order TO arrive
at their total tax burden.
Equitable Deductions.
Earlier in this review of District tax
alton attention has been directed to
Washington's plea that, in equity, it
should not be asked to match the item
of State tax when it enjoys none of the
privileges or benefits or statehood.
Therefore, if the per capita State tax in
this present analysis Column 2 OF the
accompanying table, is deducted from
the per capita property tax levy less
interest payments it is shown that the
per capita of Washington is greater
than 6 Of the IA cities and is exceeded
by 8, even when the large Federal prop
erty holdings here are left out OF the
picture.
When the value of the property actu-
ally used in the conduct of the Govern
ments business is included, Washing
tons per capita is greater than all but
one Of the IA cities. (TheSe figures are
in column of the table herewith
In this column Washington, even
with the Federal property left out, has
a per capita of 48.797, which is shown
to be more than so per cent greater
than Baltimore S figure of 30964; more
than third above New Orleans, 34353,
more than a fourth above ST. Louis,
1886 and nearly one-sixth greater
than indianapolis, AZ 523
In the last two columns of the table
the comparisons are broadened from
general property to all kinds of taxes
limited to city taxes Gncluding county
and all other taxes except State and
eliminating city interest payments.
The taxed fraction of Washington
without the United States participating
as a taxpayer, has a per capita Of
S57265, which is greater than of the
IA cities on this basis of comparison
Including Uncle Sam as a taxpayer
upon certain of his real and personal
property, Washingtons per capita figure
is $72 $50 exceeding the per capita of
every city in the comparison except
Boston.
Even when the United States is not
included as taxpayer here, Washing
tons per capita of 57265 is greater
than that Of Cleveland with 81 888: ST
Louis. 43483: Baltimore. 1906; Mil
waukee 52.136; Minneapolis ABB;
New Orleans, 33364 indianapolis,
42.069; Rochester, 56 $40, and Jersey
City, 52866. Washington's per capita
is not far below Pittsburgh $685.
Buffalo C59287, Newark (57858) and
Cincinnati (59850).