Evening star., 1936-05-20
"Admitting" the Facts.

Parker, author of the Board Of Trades
comparative tax study, Mr. Blanton took
the witness over ground that by now
has become familiar to the members
of the House and the readers of the
Congressional Record.
Reporting on his examination of the
witness, Mr.. Blanton says Mr.. Parker
admitted" various and sundry asser-
tions concerning Washington taxpayers.
The Star has on more than one
occasion taken up in order admissions"
and assertions of this sort and added
the facts which refute the errors of
statements and supply the missing half
of Mr.. Blanton's truths.
Suppose some examination is now
made of facts concerning Washington
to which Mr.. Blanton does not allude
in his searching examination of wit
nesses, warned to give 'yes or no"
answers to his barrage of questions.
1t will be admitted that no one can
name another city in the whole United
States besides Washington that is the
Capital of the United States.
1t will be admitted that no one can
name another city in the whole United
States besides Washington where the
local taxpayer, furnishing over eighty
five per cent of annual budgets exceed
ing s40.000000 year. is at the same
oil vii oiY in, ho
Government which levies his taxes and
spends his tax revenues.
1t will be admitted that no one can
name another city in the whole United
States besides Washington that is
governed exclusively by Congress
composed of representatives of every
State, district, city. town and hamlet
of the country except Washington.
It will be admitted that no one can
name another city in the whole United
States besides Washington where the
National Government owns tax-exempt
real estate and Improvements to the
estimated value of $55O,OOO,OOO, which
property must be policed, protected,
furnished with water, streets, sidewalks
and other facilities to make such prop
exty usable by more than 115,O00 Fed
eral employees; that no one can name
another city in the whole United States
besides Washington where the total
value of tax-exempt property exceeds
Sill ,179, ,881-or forty-six per cent of
the total valuation of taxable property;
where the taxable area is being con-
stantly diminished by the purchase OF
additional land for non-taxable Fed
eral property; where the boundaries
of the city are fixed by the Constitu-
ton and cannot be extended to take in
additional taxable territory; where
heavy, tax-producing industries are pro-
hibited by the desire of Congress to
make the city the worlds most beautiful
capital.
1t will be admitted that in recogni-
ton of the obligation of the National
Government to contribute to the support
and development of its National Capital
Congress- after careful examination OF
the facts and equities in connection with
this obligation, enacted and by amend
ment of the organic act has reafirmed
the principle of appropriating Federal
funds in direct ratio to the funds
raised through local taxation for sup
port and development of the Nations
Capital: that without repeating this law
the Congress has annually evaded its
provisions by temporary, annual de-
partures, substituting therefor lump
sum that has decreased while the burden
of local taxation has increased, accord
ing to latest available census figures.
by a larger percentage than that of
any of the forty-four largest cities in
the United States.
It will be admitted that no one can
name another city in the whole United
States besides washington where local
taxpayers are committed to certain
extraordinary expenditures, for the
maintenance and development of local
and semi national undertakings, oc-
casioned by the fact that Washington
is the Capital of the Nation, the seat OF
the National Government.
And it will be admitted that in spite
of the lack of certain special taxes by
which the self determining residents Of
some other cities prefer to earmark
their total tax dollar, Washington's total
tax burden per capita is shown by
United States census 1gures-the most
accurate available-to be among the
highest in the United States; that its
assessments per capita are the highest
in the United States, with the possible
exception Of New York City; that in
addition to their heavy local taxes the
people Of Washington pay in internal
revenue more than twice the amount
Of the current lump sum, more than
each Of twenty three of the States, more
than nine States combined, and that
their internal revenue contributions per
capita are greater than those Of thirty
eight Of the States.