Evening star., 1936-05-16
S'Discrediting'' a Witness.

A u w AtASSSs
Mr.. Blanton's characteristic reply to
the factual report on District taxes, pre-
pared by L. H. Parker, the congressional
tax consultant, is an effort to discredit
Mr.. Parker. His method is the usual
barrage of irrelevant, categorical ques-
tions, with no more bearing on the facts
shown in the Parker report than the man
in the moon. This will not discredit Mr..
Parker or his report. Mr.. Parker's repu-.
tation is well established. The United
States census figures, supporting the
Parker report, are not to be successfully
challenged.
All the District asks of its legislators
In this matter Of relative taxation is q
fair examination Of the facts. MIR. Blan-
ton shows little interest in facts.
He exploits the $3.50 local tax rate as
indicative of a low tax burden, although
the tax rate is meaningless as measure
of the tax burden without consideration
of the assessment rate. As for the tax
rate itself, two years ago Mr.. Blanton
was pleading with the House to reduce
it arbitrarily to $1.20 ito permit the poor
home owners of the District to save
something to pay for their homes"
He makes the unqualified assertion that
assessments here are "far below" real
value. Washington's per capita assessed
valuation of general property is shown
by census figures in the Parker report
to be the highest in the United States.
The assessment OF real property in the
District is seven per cent higher than
that of Baltimore, although Baltimore is
larger in population, fifty-nine per cent
larger in taxable land area and possesses
valuable industries prohibited in the
District.
He makes Mr.. Parker admit" that
Washington people pay no estate taxes,
no inheritance taxes, no gift taxes, no
income taxes, no sales taxes. Washing
ton people pay the same estate, gift,
income and sales taxes that the people
of the United States, subject to Federal
taxation, pay. They do not receive, in
the case of death taxes paid the Federal
Government, the benefits. enjoyed in the
States, of the eighty per cent credit re-
turned in the form of local revenues.
They pay more in internal revenue taxes
than each of twenty three of the States
.U935 fgures) and the s12,638,144 they
pay in such taxes is greater than the
combined payments Of nine States.
He seeks to spread the impression that
because local tax dollars are not ear
marked" for functional expenditure
In accordance with the practice in
some of the cities of the country, the
heavily taxed Washingtonian pays moth
ing for sidewalk or street repair, care
and planting of trees, sewer service, ash,
garbage and trash collection, etc., when,
as matter of fact, the Washingtonian
is paying more than eighty-five cents out
of every dollar spent in maintenance Of
such services.
He puts into the mouth of his witness
the preposterous statement that wash
ington people paid no part" Of the money
spent on the Memorial Bridge and the
usual list of other Federal undertakings.
as if washington people" were happily
exempt from the Federal taxation that
supports these projects.
He puts out as truth the allegation that
the Commissioners arbitrarily reduced"
the assessed valuation of property in
Washington, when there was no "arbi-
trary" reduction in such valuation, &C.
cording to the tax assessor, and when a
large part of the reduction in total as
SeSSment value in recent years was
brought about by Withdrawals from the
tax list of property purchased by the
Government.
And the day after voting, against the
leadership OF his party, in favor Of pas
sage of the three-billion dollar infiation-
ary Lemke bill, he poses as the protector
Of taxpayers in the States against per
capita levy amounting. on the average, to
something less than two and half cents
a year in support of the American Capt.
tai through the lump sum.
MI. Parker and his fact-finding report
on relative tax burdens are not dis
credited.