Evening star., 1934-12-26
Blanton Ignores Basic Points
In ID. C.. Tax affairs analysis
Statements Made in House Members
letter Susceptible of Misinterpretation
Without Full Knowledge of Facts.

Representative Blanton of Texas, in
a Christmas greeting letter sent to
members of the press, made number
Of statements concerning the District
which are susceptible of misinterpre-
tation by members Of the House and
others not intimately familiar with
municipal affairs.
For the sake Of accuracy and cor
rect understanding. some of his re-
marks with amplidcation are printed
as follows:
First, Mr.. Blanton called atten-
ton to the recent secret hearings on
the 1886 budget, and said that when
the record is made public it would
show that the Commissioners admit
ted:
THAT most of the paved streets,
bridges, schools, Fairgrounds. parks,
water system, hospitals, courts, jail,
asylums for detectives and other prof.
ects were acquired and constructed
when the United States paid half of
their cost.
THAT during the last 20 years the
United States has spent over 5000, 0,000,-
900 in Washington on its permanent
buildings-a great city asset-attract-
ing large crowds here daily, visitors
spending s5O,0O0,OO0 in Washington
in 1884"
Other Points Overlooked.
Some things which Mr.. Blanton
failed to mention in this connection
are that the District happens to be the
seat of Government of the United
States, exclusively governed by the
Congress of the United States; it is
the only community in the United
States where the people are taxed
without being given the American
right of representation; that the Ma
tional Government laid out and
planned the city of Washington on
yond the resources of any municipality
of its size to support; that if the
Government real estate holdings in
the District, now on the tax-exempt
list, paid municipal taxes, that amount
alone would far exceed the present
Federal contribution; and that the
obligation to contribute reasonably to
municipal expenses as the untaxed
owner of city real estate hundreds of
millions in value is only one of the
factors which continue to demand
that in equity the Nation shall con-
tribute literally to the maintenance
and advancement of the National
Capital, and that the Governments
building program here was not under
taken to help Washington, but to meet
the needs of the National Government.
While the Federal contribution was
fixed at SO per cent of the total ex-
penses with certain exceptions) Of the
Capital between 1879 and 1922, the
people of Washington, contributed as
much to their Federal taxes as the
citizens of other American communi-
ties. Mr.. Blanton also failed to men
tion that in 1928 the $3.50 system Of
sharing expenses was changed to 60
40, and that, although this system of
appropriation was written into unre-
pealed law, Congress has evaded that
law annually since 1924.
And Mr.. Blanton adds: That the tax
rate is still Sl.50 per $l00 on real eS-
tate and personal property and one
half of l per cent on intangibles, with
hundreds of millions in locked boxes
never taxed; all libraries and $1,000
worth of furniture are exempt from
taxes to each family.
ITO aid citizens the assessed values
have been lowered S50,000,000 this
year and S80,000,O00 last year; gaso-
line tax is 2 cents, auto license tags
cost ST for all cars, drivers permits
81; no income tax. no inheritance tax,
no monthly sewer charge. All trees
and their care free; trash, ashes and
garbage removed free; cost of water
ST per family; all school books, sup
plies and clinics free"
Buchanan Answer Cited.
In the Spring of 1882 when the Dis
trict appropriation bill for 1884 was
under discussion in the House, Mr..
Blanton's reference then to the tax
rate of S170 brought the following
statement from Chairman Buchanan
of the House Appropriations Com
mittee:
"As my colleague has said, the tax
rate is S170 on the full valuation of
real estate In my home State and
in yours, when property is assessed
for taxation purposes it Is assessed at
about so per cent of its fair value
and taxes are paid on that amount
Here the property is assessed at full
value and the tax rate of S1.70 is paid
on the full value. This is an eXhor-
bitant and unreasonable tax on real
estate in the District. There are
thousands of poor people attempting
to buy homes in the District and for
them to be required to pay $340 per
500 in taxes on valuation of these
homes the way property would be as
sessed in other States of the Union is
too much.
Let me call attention further to
the fact that there is $4,000 in de-
linquent taxes on real estate due the
District. On what character of real
estate? The little homes poor people
are trying to buy and pay for.
Wherever possible We should encourage
people to buy and pay for homes so
they can have a castle of their own.
Then they will naturally be proud Of
their country.
THE tax rate in the District of Co.