Evening star., 1937-06-19
disappearing Facts.

Members of the House seemed greatly
confused over how the tax rate In Wash
ington is set each year and during debate
on the tax bill some Of them injected the
question of the validity of action by the
Commissioners in setting the tax rate
at the beginning Of each fiscal year,
without specific direction OF Congress.
The matter is important merely because
it reflects the utter lack OF interest or
understanding by many members Of the
House concerning the government Of
the District for which, under the Con-
stitution, they are responsible.
Mr.. OConnor, for instance. the chair
man Of the House Rules Committee and
one Of the House leaders, told the House
that the Commissioners have never in
creased the tax rate here, but many times
have lowered it "and then come to the
Federal Government for a contribution
to make up the difference"
The tax rate, OF course, is fixed by the
Commissioners at the beginning Of each
fiscal year In order to produce the neces-
sary portion Of money appropriated by
Congress. Since 1924 it was raised by
the Commissioners, not by Congress,
from 3120 to 81 40; from $40 to 81 10
and from $40 to 81 80. 1t was lowered,
from $1.8o to $1.7o, to avoid raising in
taxes more than Congress would spend.
In 1888, passing the appropriation bill
for 1884, former Representative Blanton
tried to lower the tax rate by legislative
rider. He was defeated on = point OF
order, but the late Representative Bu-
chanan joined him in warming the Com
missioners that the rate must be lowered
to $l.5O-the current rate Otherwise,
the people Of the District would be pay
ing several million dollars = year more
in taxes than Congress would spend.
Not 4 nickel can be spent here that is
not appropriated by Congress.
Mr.. O'Connor continued:
Well, you can 60 to any window in this
Capitol Building and look in any direc-
ton, and you cannot see one piece OF
ground or one building to which the
people OF the District have contributed
one penny. You can get in any automo-
bile at this Capitol and ride from here
to the Shoreham Hotel, distance OF six
miles, and you will never pass over a
piece OF land, you will never go through
park, you will never see a building, to
which the people of the District of &C.
lumbia have contributed one cent.
Well, II that is the sort OF information
on the District that comes from one of
the leaders Of the House, what can any,
body expect from the new members who
are serving their first terms? When that
is the sort OF stun fed to members to
emphasize the need of piling up local
taxes ON Washington people, can they
be blamed for voting to soak the people
OF the District with every variety Of tax
under the sun?
Nobody rose in the House to contra
dict Mr.. OConnor. Nobody told the
House of how District parks are bought
and maintained; how the people of the
District, in addition to their local taxes,
pay their Federal taxes for the National
buildings in Warrington, just rs the
people OF the States pay-far more than
many Of the States pay. When another
House leader, Mr.. Smell, rose to do his
Bit he spoke Of the Jacobs report. which
cost the Government some nifty thou
sand-odd dollars" Which government
He did not explain that It was the Dis
trict Government, the people Of the
District, who threw that nifty thousand
dollars down rat hole at the command
Of ConSrsss.
Good government is only possible
when those in chose hands the power Of
government ret1 have at heart the In.