Evening star., 1949-03-22
Tax Equity Pleaded For
To the Editor Of The Star:

why should our Washington. with higher
| per capita wealth than most cities, always
be in the red" and looking desperately for
more revenue sources?
One answer to that Is so glaringly obvious
that even Congress should not be blind to it
much longer: We are the only city in the
world where 100000 G/9 of the citizens)
| pay income taxeS-and the other 100000
! citizens enjoy a free ride!
am D. c. citizen voting absentee in
State, who probably could avoid paving
taxes here; but would be ashamed to be
such chiseler and parasite There are
thousands like me-but there are other hun
dreds OF thousands who need law to make
them pay their own just dues.
II l paid no taxes here, could not look
-. &. school teacher in the face; but I
want good teachers for my children, and
know you have to pay for quality.
Ii paid no taxes here, would feel guilty
every time saw D. c. policeman or fire
man; they protect our property. our chill
dren, our very lives, and should they risk
their lives for me while I let someone else
pay the bill? Not I. How about you, neigh
Dor?
II should be in an accident, I'd hope to
land in a good hospital, with competent
nurses and doctors, and enough of them to
DO the job right. I pay my share toward
this; but eight other citizens who pay moth
Ing are riding on my back. OF course, our
overWorked, underpaid public servants and
pubic services are breaking down.
Well. what excuse is given for this out
rageous state of affairs? Congress, they say,
Will not tax D. C. residents from other
states: 1t might mean they'd have to tax
themselves, their constituents here. This
pitiful excuse is the only one I've ever heard
given: everybody accepts it hopelessly. If
Congress Is indeed so small-minded (which
l cannot really believe) let them at least
pass an equitable tax con those living here
seven months or more) and then exempt
themselves Far better to exempt TOO than
100000! AS for constituents, lots of them.
including me. think we should be taxed,
And surely other D. c. constituents are not
either so numerous or so powerful as to be
feared by any Congressman intent on doing
his duty?
There are many freshmen" Congressmen
recently elected on platform of justice and
1alr deal for the common man: why don't
these freshmen start out by righting this
ancient wrong? If you have any interest
at all IN the welfare of our million citizens,
in our schools. hospitals, fire and police pro-
lection. Government workers, etc., where
could you find better source of revenue
Tor our crying needs? D. c. MOTHER,
To the Editor Of The star
The perennial battle in Congress over
the District Budget again is in progress.
However. If the Congress would obey the
law passed by Congress many years ago
there would be no problem and nothing to
argue about
refer to the law enacted in 1878 that
the Federal Government should bear half
the cost of maintaining the District Gov
oe ~
made the laws, rules and regulations for
the District
In recent years the Federal Government
has followed policy of donating to the
District as the individual citizen donates
TO the RED Cross or the Community Chest
although the individual citizen is not OBJ
ligated by law to donate anything to these
worthy organizatons
The entire Government is operated on
pure theory; it would not recognize a fact
II 1t walked up and bit 1t.
Witness the handling Of Government
personnel management problems.
GOOSE-TOWN GROWLER.
To the Editor Of The Star:
l happen to be in the category of govern
ment workers from whom Benson Zweig in
The Star says. "the sales tax will be largely
extracted But let's be practical.
The defeat of the two per cent sales tax
Is nothing for anybody to crow about In the
fhst place, 1t practically bars payment of
deferred raises to city employees. Since this
tax was not on food for home consumption,
it would have fallen less heavily on poor
people.
Many States have it. When took trip
to the West Coast, paid plenty of it. When
Western people visit W.. let them reciprocate
BY this method practically half the tax
would be paid. When visit my native State
CPennsylvanial, I pay a 20 per cent tax on
bottle OF coke" and you know who drinks
the most cokes-not the rich. When go
to Silver Spring for a Sunday dinner at the
restaurant pay two per cent tax.
Now the alternative is to raise the real
estate tax Is per cent. For the average fam
lily that will mean probably $25. Do you
know who will pay that tax? The occupant,
whether he be owner or renter. That $25
would pay the tax on 81 $50 worth of goods,
which the average family would not spend,
exclusive of food. Furthermore, in connec-
ton with this tax would be city income
tax designed to tax all government workers
regardless of State residence claimed.
still hope there will be some way to enact
this sales tax for the sake of US poor people.
WILLIAM T. WILI.HIDE.
Congressional Immunity Expanded
To the Editor of The Star.
Equal justice under the law is the claim,
but decisions of the police and courts seem
to be at times far from that ideal
Two items in The Star of March II page
BID present a glaring contrast. A man
who was stopped by an officer for two, ,traf-
fic violations-a speed of AZ miles in a Is
mile zone and no rear light-was generously
let off free. Another man who stole books
valued at $50 was sentenced to one year
in jail
The first man had as a passenger in his
car a member of Congress. The Constitu-
ton says that Congressman shall in all
cases except treason, felony, and breach OF
the peace be privileged from arrest For
tunately, Congressman do not take advan-
tage of that privilege often to violate traffic
ordinances; and the law does not 60 so
far to grant that immunity to q plain