Evening star., 1939-08-02
Capper Gives Senate
Data for Granting
D. T.. Representation
Calls for Removal Of
Political lmpoteney
At Next Session

As Congress headed toward early
adjournment, it had before 1t today
a plea from Senator Capper OF
Kansas to take action at the next
session on national representation
for the residents of Washington.
Speaking in the Senate late yes
terdav, the Kansan, veteran men,
ber of the District Committee, gave
a comprehensive review OF the cltys
need for political and fiscal equity.
He is the co-author Of one Of the
pending resolutions for constitu-
tional amendment that would en-
power Congress to grant the Dis
trict representation in House and
Senate, participation in presidential
elections and the right to sue and
be sued in the courts of the United
States on the same basis as all other
citizens.
The Senator expressed the belief
that the political impotency OF
Washingtonlans is the main reason
why the District and its problems
are misunderstood and neglected.
The Senator touched also on pro-
posed reorganization of the District
government. which has been put OIL
until January.
Denied Vote on Charter.
"While radical changes are pro-
posed in the setup of the local gov
ernment," he said, there is no pro-
posal to give the people participa-
ton in the national councils nor IN
the local government. Neither is
there any proposal to give the peo-
ple an opportunity to vote on the
proposed new charter, as would be
permitted in any other munich
pality."
Likewise, he referred to the
earnest effort made during this
session by the Senate, under the
leadership of Senator Overton OF
Louisiana, to re-establish through
the Overton formula, definite per-
centage basis of Federal obligation
toward the expenses of the National
Capital. Senator Capper expressed
a belief that Senator Overton was
defeated in his praiseworthy efforts
through prejudice based on mis-
understanding and lack of knowl-
edge of the true status Of the Dis
trict of Columbia Continuing, the
Kansas Senator declared:
The wrong ideas regarding the
Capital City are as numerous as
they are erroneous. To some this is
a tax-free paradise to which the
retired wealthy and the economic
royalists' flee to avoid taxation. In
some minds the notion prevails
that Washington, D. c., is sup
ported by the Nation with money
wrung from the meager earnings OF
Americans and flung as beggarS'
aims to a mendicant people
ITO some the population of the
District of Columbia consists OF a
horde of Federal jobholders who
continue to hold their citizenship
and vote in the States from which
they came.
Many men come to Congress with
such erroneous notions regarding
this National Capital community
and some continue to hold such i'm
pressions. Many are too engrossed
in the job of representing their con-
stituentS who sent them here to
give any time or thought to learn
ing the truth regarding this seat OF
the Government of the United States
over which Congress by provision OF
the Constitution exercises exclusive
legislation in all cases whatsoever.
Taxed without Voice.
But the District of Columbia is
not a tax-free paradise. The people
here pay both national and local
taxes in the same manner as IN
other communities. However, un-
like other communities, they have
no voice in the enactment of the tax
laws under which they are taxed nor
any say as to the expenditure of
the money collected from such taxes.
These voteless and unrepresented
Americans pay annually in national
taxes an amount greater than each
one of more than half of the States
and more than the combined COL
lections from nine States. Such pay
ments help make up the fund from
which the complex Federal Govern
ment with its far-fung ramifica-
L.
I'm local taxes the people of this
District pay an amount comparable
with the payments in other American
cities similar in size and standards
of municipal service.
Instead of being supported by the
Federal Government, the National
Capital community paid through
local taxes during the last fiscal
year G939) about 80 per cent of its
cost. The Federal Government made
payment of s5,0O0.00O toward the
expenses Of the year This was a
very modest amount when one re-
members the fact that the Federal
realty holdings, that of foreign gov
ernments and of national organiza-
tions and other property exempted
from taxation aggregate total of
well over so per cent of the entire
taxable area"
Raised Lump Sum to 5000, 900.
Although Senator Overton had to
sacrifice his percentage formula,
based on the land area of the city
required for national purposes, he
did succeed in having the lump sum
raised to $6,00O,000 for the current
year, with provision in the new
revenue act making definite author
ization for this amount annually.
Senator Capper said he feared the
people of the country underestimate
the importance of the District from
a population standpoint, citing the
latest estimate of the Census Bu-
reau, OF July l, 1887, figuring the
District population at $4,000.
The Senator quoted excerpts from
population studies and other data
published by Theodore w. Noyes,
editor OF The Star, on the last ma