Evening Star Newspaper, May 23, 1932, Page 3

R. Pearson Hobson performed a daring deed at Santiago as out- standing in na- val history as the fine flavor and high quality of Orienta is outstanding in ‘the history of coffee roasting. BROWNING & BAINES “Famous for Flavor” PANAMAS Cleaned, Blocked, Bleached BACHRACH 733 Eleventh St. N.W. 3530 Connecticut Ave. N.W. RUSH PRINTING EXPERT SERVICE BYRON S. ADAMS Rea! Estate Service Since 1906 RENTAL PROPERTY 11 LEADERS URGE BALANCED BUDGET Al Smith and Others Appeal to Congress for Non- Partisan Action. By the Associated Press. NEW YORK, May 23.—An appeal to both parties in Congress to “lay aside | every form of partisanship” and unite to balance ‘the Federal budget was made public yesterday, over the signatures of | 11 men of national prominence, includ- | ing former Gov. Alfred E. Smith, titular head of the Democratic party. The letter, a 113-word document, also is signed by: Nicholas Murray Butler, Cov. Ritchie of Maryland, Gov. Cross of Connecticut, Gov. Ely of Massachusetts, Alenson B. Houghton of New York, former Ambas- sador to Great Britain; former Gov. Lowden of Illincis; William H. Crocker of San Francisco, a member of the Re- publican National Committee; Charles Nagel, St. Louis, Mo., Republican, secre- tary of Commerce and Labor in the| Taft administration; Roland S. Morris, Philadelphia, war-time Ambassador to! Japan; John Grier Hibben, retiring president of Princeton University. ‘The letter follows: “Gentlemen: The undersigned view with so much concern the possible ef- fect upon oum social and political insti- tutions of the grave economic and finan- cial problems which confront the Amer- ican people that, on behalf of vast num- bers of our fellow citizens, we appeal through you to the members of the Senate and of the House of Representa- tives to lay aside every form of partisan- ship and of possible partisan advantage and quickly to unite to adopt a balanced Federal budget for the coming fiscal year, as well as to enact a plan of taxa- tion which shall be economically sound, fair to every group and calling, and without discrimination or privilege or class or sectional advantage of any Kind Copies were mailed so that they ar- rived Saturday night to Senator James (Note: Committee on Fiscal Relations.) This table appears as Table X111 TABLE Population, area and total tax NO. 2. levies of three cities compared. in the volume of tax tables submitted to the Semate Subcommittee on District appropriations by the Citizens’ Joint Population (Table IX, Col. 2). Area (land only) acres. . 5). Realty assessment (Table IX, Col. 3). Total property assess- ment (Table IX, Real estate tax levy (Table IX, Col. 7. Total tax levy (Table IX, Cpl. 9). (Table IX, Col. 11). (Table X, ‘assessments and (Table X, Col. 4). assessments Total tax levy less in- All revenues less subven- tions, grants, donations, Total taxes and special eifts Col. 8. 1 Washington . Minneapolis New Orleans .. 39,680 35,354 125,600 3 4 5 $1,182,463,345 $1,834,858,008 282,501,935 459,323,008 383,071,420 532,504,881 @ | Total interest payments 1 $26,878,785 25,160,566 20,971,298 6 $20,101,877 21,187,645 15,086,506 455 3,060,713 3,969,400 © | terest payments, Col. 7 10 $30,525,827 25,716,922 18,665,733 11 $34,289,904 29,018,628 23,015,514 $26,878,730 22,099,853 17,001,898 In this table Washington is compared in total figures as to population, land areas, realty assessment, total tax levy, total interest payments, total tax le g“': and use‘:smenua with the’t.cltlel nearest raté” comparisons and per capita comparisons. Note the significant point, in this table, apolis and New Orleans, Washington's realty assessment and total property assessment levy is greater with or without the deduction property assessment, real estate tax levy, total vy less interest payments, total taxes and special assessments and total revenues, less subventions, grants, donations, in population—Minneapolis and New Orleans. Such comparisons avoid objections both to the use of that while Washington's population only slightly exceeds that if Minne- are each greater than those of the two other cities combined; its total tax of interest payments; its total tax collections and assessments far in excess of the two other cities; its total revenue collections, less subventions, grants, donations, gifts, assessments, etc., far in excess of that of Minneapolis or New Orleans. “adjusted tax Weighing the Local Tax Burden Washington’s Levies and Functional Expenditures Are Compared With Cities Nearest in Population to Show Excess of Cost and Higher Revenue Demands. This is the second of a series of ar- ticles discussing the tables submitted to the Senate subcommittee on Dis- trict appropriations by the Citizens® Joint Committee on Fiscal Relations Between the United States and the District. These tables showed Wash- ington’s relatively high tax burden among cities of the United States. for Minneapolis; $8.11 for New Orleans:; $15.05 for Indianapolis d 1248 1w’ Richmond. Washington's per capita of $18.77 exceeds by $4.90 the average per capita expenditure of $13.87 for the other cities. Washington's expenditures under the | heading of “Recreation™ are in exce:- | of those of any eity compared, and th 5 same is true in expenditures under th., All other protection to person and property combined heacing of “Sanitation” an* TABLE (Note: | New Orleans, 1930. (Items more than This table appears as Table XII in the volume of tax tables sub- | mitted to the Senate Subcommittee on District appropriations by the Joint | I Citizens’ Committee on Fiscal Relations.) Total governmental-cost payments for Washington, D. C.; Minneapolis and | NO. 1. those of Washington are underscored.) T ‘Washington, D.C, Minneapolis. New Orleans. Estimated population as of middle of fiscal year. EEETPRT 485,700 466,300 460,500 | Operation maintenance pay- | ments—1930. 1. 3. 4. All general departments. Difference General government . Difference Protection to person and property. ... Difference ... Police department . Difference .. - Fire department . Difference .. | Difference . Conservation of health $20,078,620 $12,849,399 10,489,284 17,718,505 1,537,282 1,560,990 96,423 72,715 29179835 3,677,527 3,063,410 2,303,818 1,261,389 1,639,276 1,937,000 1,559,113 1,324,170 1,403,349 783,566 704 207 | 332,376 034,902 342 844 40,318 1,633,705 5,981,345 3,198,389 2,107,736 675,220 ROME-ARGENTIN AIRLINE: PROPOSED Project for Weekly Two-Way Service Presented by Gen. Balbo to Flyers. By the Assoclated Press. ROME, May 23.—A project to estab- lish weekly two-way air service between Rome and Buenos Aires was presented by Gen. Italo Balbo, Italian air min- ister, at the convention of trans- oceanic fiyers of all nations today. The scheme resulted from studies on Balbo's group flight to South America in January, 1931. would pay for itself.” The 7,185 miles from Rome to Buenos Aires would be covered in 3% days. ‘Two routes were suggested: 1. Rome to Tripoli by hydroplane; Tripoli to Bolama, Portuguese Guinea, across the desert by land plane; Bolama to Parahyba, Brazil, by hydroplane, and Parahyba to Buenos Aires, land plane. 2. Rome to Tunis, hydroplane; Tunis to Bolama, land plane; along the coast|i— from Bolama and then to Parahyba, hydroplane, and Parahyba to Buenos Aires, land plane. ‘The ships would fly night and day, and 11 planes would be used. Gen. Balbo was elected president of the trans-oceanic flyers. Will Rogers EANTA MONICA, Calif.—The other day I wrote a little “gag” akout the main thing that handi- capped r e peal v ¢ prebibition He sald “the nnei A-3" (DRUG STORES WERE CLOSED) 70% of all ACUTE INDIGESTION strikes late at NIGHT (when stores are closed). Be safe—be ready Bell-ans. _Six Bellans, Hot water, Relief, 25¢ and 75¢ at all drug stores PAULPEARLMAN'S 10c BOOK SALE NOW ON 1711 GST.N.W. Smart Glasses . . . Smart, modern glagoe. aad 452,816 1,036,462 283,256 583,646 169,560 812,061 1,293,371 36: 3 1,974,264 1,037,400 1,203,319 2,140,183 1,156,837 399.164 | 3,204,377 3,962,050 8,710,389 3,808,472 726,078 5,627 8,191,241 924,798 519.148 198.720 898,703 877.302 1,034,687 608,650 815,364 367.814 736,017 397,473 79,347 29.659 20,893,984 3,060,713 5,432,264 much to one's appearance . . . Let our registered optometrist fit you properly and becom- ingly. Consultations and ex- aminations do not obligate you at all. Registered Optometrist in Attendance. was the Wreus people are for it. I still claim it’s true, Prohi- bition is not a party issue. It's not a wet and dry issve. You will find it is country against city. Your city's | lV.\el ange the | country is against it more because | ’, it's the city dictating to them what .A. J(a .fi Jnc. to d-. And if you don't think it's |F ¥, you wait till you count || Country folks know the || g won't work, but they are not going to let “town folks” tell ‘em so. That's why I say the wrong people are for it, to get it through. MEMORIAL WREATHS $3.50 Stately, expressive pieces, made of lasting flaweu Ifld 1=BVCS. E. Watson, Republican, majority leader, and Senator Joseph T. Robinson, Demo- crat, minority leader in the Senate, and to Representative Charles R. Crisp, Democrat, acting chairman of the Wa; and Means Committee, and Representa- tive Bertrand H. Snell, Republican, | minority leader in the House. REPLY TO APPEAL. MANAGEMENT Personal Attention in Relations Between the United | . These larger expenditures under the | Difference ? | different functions of government for S A T Orcan- | current maintenance in Washington in- | Safitation - mittee on District Appropriations dem- | dicate broadly the excess of expendi- | gy oy ™ : ¢ | tures required of this city for national onstrated Washington's high standing | ture e e rcunite cipeam- | - Difference in total tax burcen among the sixty- n four cities of the United States exceed- | tures in the average, self-supporting, Difference commercial city. | Education ing 125000 in population. When the comll»’a‘r%f;r‘lu :crr:dl:';égsll?ni;ljnc!;“;:)f “Weighing the Local Tax Burden.” ‘s thfIrer(-nce nearby : = i - | Schools ... land: Richmond, the capital of adjacent e Ahere B A e | | Differencs Non-Partisan Study. e et sty of Lonsiana: |15 the National Capital and_excesive Libraries The revenue bill is already receiy- | Minneapolis, largest cfty of Minnesota |expenditures. it is natural, and there| —Difference ing non-partisan consideration in an| (Minneapolis and New Orleans being | 8%¢ CXAMPIE (0 €O "R tir, COF | Recreation . effort to balance the budget, it was |the closest cities in population to Wash- :"n_'fl ':I‘ hiintenanice it heccomnuily Difference insisted by Senate leaders in charge |ington): St. Louis, larger than Wash- Municipal maittenane are, PRCCBALE | Miscellaneous of the measure, followihg an appeal by | ington, largest city in Missouri, and In- | Haenitl " Americas commmmuiiy But Difference Alfred E. Smith and others for such | dianapolis, smaller than Washington, "‘: Ie aniGandl cvifeie hnt sndh non-partisan action. | largest city in Indiana—the comparison "’Im’m' i: the absolute ‘wnd net Senator Watson of Indiana, the Re- |is more sharply outlined. As explained | expenditures, in the wbsiute Ant Aot publican leader, in a letter said: “There |in the preceding article of this series, | the relative sonse, are By 20 Tee) have been no signs of partisanship in it should be sufficient to demonstrate |SXPERNE, & CRS, JBF IR hiC Congress at any time this session on |that Washington's tax burden is high 0l "o inrough excessive ex- the economic program.” in relation to those in these cities. It | B1€ 0 htsrslgr bg et st He recalled that the moratorium, Re- |should be sufficient to show that the r-!"mn:l"’—r‘;;‘t&; % the Municipal construction Finance Corporation, the |local taxpayer in Washington is ade- s “_hl‘". i "RM““”‘ Se Gxces- Glass-Steagall credit bill and now the | quately taxed when his local taxes are (emter, WACh e SXPIACE 8 € lid revenue bill have been considered on|heavier than the local taxes of the | o S e e Aol e | a non-partisan basis, “to the credit | property owner in Baltimore, Richmond, local in nature, becabse prochiceliy BT of_Congress.” e Ol Minneapolis, St. Lous and | 3G (BT of “the Tocal taxpayers— ! ississi , Dem- | Indial W ccratie oot Jeader o the tax Wi, satd? | Through additional tables, discussed | but because of an tnability fo spread At no stage has there been any parti- | in this article, the Citizens' Joint Com- | available reventie fo Cover The tHeny sanship either in the House or in the | ittee- elaborated the comparison be- | FIORSEy (R0 Vg for ‘even normal Senate on the vital budget balancing tween '!hehsf. Clt"“nglym‘r“c: g e to | improvement. = And this deficit is | convertible value is received and which increases liabilities without increasing | legislation. This legislation will be | alysis of their expe! S Ao ament, | threatened on a budget that has been | ssets. These are current maintenance expenses of the municipality. In the | enacted and without any spirit of mur}lclpal (ugv:u?uls of olsub‘es ‘bre- | carefully trimmed by the Commissioners spirit of this definition cost of public service enterprises should be omittad, since partisanship. Table XI of the volume and still more carefully trimmed by the L ety e | pared by the Citizens’ Joint Committee Bureau of the Budget. DOAKLODGE TRAINMEN: is not reproduced here because of its Congress has spent more on the cur- in public service enterprises of improvements already enjoyed. {GIVE SERVICE BUTTONS ABLES submitted by the Joint |com! It I Cilizens' Committce on Fiscal | In, “Conservaton of Health 2,105,432 3,177,583 4,361,214 9,436,467 SHANNON & LUCHS 1435 K St. N.W, 9,116,039 320,428 A. 2345 || Leaders Say Revenue Bill Is Getting | 1,776,005 1,643,337 40 years at 935 F Street Public service enterprises. Difference Water supply systems Difference All other .... Difference Total operation and maintenance Interest payments Outlays 1,183,178 1,133,490 49,688 31,751,082 55 13,068,830 15,024,627 3.969.400 14,183,806 Al $44819,067 $29,386.961 $33.17 833 This table compares “municipal expenses’ and that term as here used includes the cost, other than interest, from which no permanent or subsequently | May be shipped any- where. ;1:25 "'?Zrbycffl?fiflifi lgfiilgcfaflxzhxg | rent maintenance of the National Ca comparable items appear below the line in the table above.) N R S tal in respect to the most important — ? ; (appearing in the volume of tables as L | mparient 4 No XI), one gains an idea of its form | items than self-developing. sell-FoVern- | have to do with the extent of the ac-| It one really sought the standard of and content. This Table 1 applies, in | ing S | tual tax burden. adequate and fair taxation—taxation condensed form, the same comparison to | Yet, Congress has not been extrava- | Minneapolis and Washington, close | that permitted worthwhile public im- | three cities that is applied to the seven | gant in these large expenditures. Every | tcgether in population, are likewise | provements, healthy maintenance of mentioned above and which is Shown in | cent of the money spent has been | shown to be close together in land area, | necessary public institutions. such &s | Decled—and mece QAnatysis of the| while the area of New Orleans exceeds schools and libraries, adequate carrying & 2 “ommissioners’ estimal rom year to | the combined area of Washington and |on of such necessary functions of gov- Comparing Municipal Expenses. year, and study of the rough financial | Minneapolis, and exceeds either one of | ernment as the provision of good high- How do “municipal !;Pflk‘?:ld ‘;} | program prepared for future ’“:;' d'"- them more than three times. But|w recreational areas, water service, Washington compare With muni hp‘t close the truth, both as to needs for | study the fourth column for one of the | etc.—the proper course would to | expenses in the six cities with which it | current maintenance and needs for most significant differences betwe:n |search out the city where these things | TNC. 1407 H St. N.W. Nat’l 4905 Nat’l 4813 “See Etz and See Better” él President Whitney of Railroad Brotherhoed Guest of Honor Nothing can be more the Joint Committee’s Table XI. aging to your appearance than crow's-feet —proper In such a ETZ Optometrists 1217 G St. NW. % glasses will stop crow’s-feet. l | % at Meeting. Buttons for 25 years’ continuous membership in Bill Doak Lodge, 584, Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen, were presented to John J. Cunning- ham and Fred S. Morris Saturday by A F. Whitney, ganization. Mr. Whitney was guest of honor at a meeting of Bill Doak Lodge and the Ladies’ Auxiliary, Mount Vernon Lodge. 398, at the Northeast Temple. James Farquharson, legislative rep- resentative, spoke on labor conditions. president of the or- compared? 'lshe wo?d is here used, includes the ccst, | year as this, permanent development is bther than interest, ffom which 10 Per- | erippled to spread the money over cur- convertible | rent maintenance, and even mainten- | value is received and which increases apce suffers because of the shortage. liabilities These are the current maintenance e: penses of the municipality. h spirit of this definition, cost of public rvice enterprises ?:om these exl:)enm. since the expenses are more than offset by the earnings of public on glty indebtedness should be omitted, manent or “Municipal expense,” as subsequently without increasing asse! should be omitted service enterprises. pelled by financi; led by other motives, to deny-the Capi- Interest | permanent development. Repeatedly has Congress felt com- reasons, or has been tal maintenance and development items, the necessity of which and the desira- | bility of which were generally conceded. In recent years the failure by Congress to live up to the provisions of substan- | tive law has drastically curtailed the these cities. There it is shown that Washington's realty assessment, on which taxes are levied, is more than twice as great as the assessed valua- tions cf these two cities combined. In total property assessment it is more than twice that of the two other cities combined. In real estate tax levy Min- neapolis exceeds Washington by about a million dollars, but in total tax levy ‘Washington exceeds Minneapolis by nearly $2,000,000. New Orleans, in both | levies, is far below either Washington or Minneapolis. are well done, where there is an ab- | sence of graft. and where the people | are not groaning under an abusive sys- tem of exorbitant taxation, but are en- | joying the fruits of wise and efficient | expenditure. The standard there found | would be mocified by population and | generally applied. One city, not twenty-two or sixty- four, would be enough for comparison. The Citizens’ Joint Commitiee, in its tabular comparisons, has made 1o pre- tense of scarching for the model, fair, tax burden. RUTTERMILK » SUMMER DAYS Other speakers included Representa- tives William L. Larrabee of Indiana, Russell Ellzey of Mississippi, Glenn Griswold of Indiana and L. H. Hight- man, W. D. Jackson, E. G. Burke and Wellington E. Skinner. PLAN HOME-COMING Special Dispatch to The Star. RICHMOND, Va, May 23.—Virgin- ians from all over the Naticn are in- B vited to come back home this year. ‘The Virginia Home-coming Commis- sion, which met in Richmond a few days ago, has started an active cam- paign to arouse the State to a realiza- tion of how Virginia can benefit from such a movement. Fred C. Abbott, chairman of the commission, announced dness represents v = | pecanee such 1nden et rure, | smeast of revente amailabie ta accom- The Debt Factor Shown. varying greatly as bel"m";é‘!g’o‘,"‘:’: | city. It'is mot in extravagance on the | One Teason for the size of the total | ang Der capitas, with sixts-three of the extent that makes compal X | Capital that Congress may be accused | tax levy in both Minneapolis and New | largest cities in the United States—all burdens, including interest PAYMENLS. |of error, but in following a policy of Orleans is found in column 8 of the table, | those exceeding 125,000 in population. B R ificant comparisbns, so far | HEWie and’ uascanomical c'::;"" """ | The combined interest payments of | Washington Is Not Undertaxed. Comparison With Two Citles. | these cities amounts to more than| 14 pag shown that Washington can- not be charged with escaping fair tax- as current maintenance goes, are be- tween tctal and per capita expenditures | ope of the most significant compari- | $7,000,000 annually. No wonder that for expenses of general departments. | sons of all is found in the two tables their tax leves are swelled to meet this | ation when its property is so thoroughly nses. which are reproduced on this page, and | interest, and yet the total tax levy in | accesced that in total it 1 Excess of Per Capita Expe! | bered tables 1 and | Washin, i than either of | 255 otal it exceecs larger i chyen much ex. | Sr comvenisuce Bt es 1 and | Washington Is greater than either of | jndustrial cities, and in per capita it In comp"mn,bi“‘”" O ot |2 (They appear in the volume of | these two cities, including their inter- | eyceeds all of them. penses in theh S%W';h:"‘ige“;;m . | tables as Nos. XII and XIIL) | est_payments on indebtedness, which | *IFG0 5 U wo chington 1s not above, it is shown that the (o0l *0- |, Here thece tables, by dealing only in | represents investment in public service | ypgertaxed when its real estate tax penses of general departments of 891 (oial tax levies or total expenditures, | enterprises yielding a return of outlays | jevy exceeds 32 of the 63 cities with | vernment in Washington in WEX® | exclude every controversial element of | in public works being paid for with | Lrionit is compared. | guesswork or estimate, and escape any | borrowed money to be enjoyed while It has shown that Washington is not | $30,567,004, an amount less by $2,572- 621 than the same figure for 8t. LOULS; | qrificism for the use of per_capitas. | sinking fund and interest payments are |, dortaxed when its {otal tax levs per Spesadiover HLS yes capita is greater than 36 of the 63 less by $1.991,225 than the same fIgure | my,cqo cities—Minneapolis and New Or- for Baltimore, but greater by $10.000- |1eans ore the nearest cities to Wash- | It is contended by the Joint Citizens’ | cife ® Lty €ERF o8 compared. | It has compared Washington's tax | 1 levies, in various forms, and in totals UNITED X STATES TORAG OMPANY AL DATRY NATION PRODUCTS HEVY CHASE’S | Cream Buttermilk has the full-bodied, tangy flavor so satisfy- | ing to those who enjoy | this zestful and health- today that “home-coming time to Vir- ginia” will be from June 1 to December When you’re away this Summer entrust your precious posses- sions to our care. 24- hour automatic fire alarm system! Y 418 10th Street % SPECIAL NOTICES. THIS IS TO NOTIFY ANY AND ALL CRED- itors that T will not be responsible for any dsbts contracted in the future by any one gxcept mysell. HARRY B. DORAN, 1805 se. st VACATIONISTS _THE DAVIDSON TRANS- FER & STORAGE CO.. long-distance mov- ing specialists ~have daily motor express eorvice handling tranks. baggege. baby car- riages. etc. tc all Jersey Shore points Call National 0960. DAILY TRIPS, FULL AND PART LOADS: Faltimcre, Philadelphia. New York. Boston, Ricomond_and all way _points: service. Phone Nat'l 1460 “TATIONAL DELIVERY ASSOC.. INC. 7 New York Ave _ Local Moving Also. WANTED_—LOADS FROM PROVIDENCE. R. I. . May 21 TO NEW_YORK S May 16-19 BOSTON. . . ..ol ..JUNE 1T FEOM CHARLOTTSVILLE. VA And all_points North ana West ALLIED VAN LINES. We also ship bv ST SMITH'S EEL LIFT V. TRANSFER & STORAGE CO.. Phone North 3342-3343 1313 You 8t NW ‘North_3342-3343 DOMESTIC—9x132, $3.00 5250 RUGS SHAMPOO—E€x10, LUWIN CO. i 3 . North 9160. 3% YACHTING TRIPS. Government Inspected. 65-Pt. Motor Yacht, IMA F. KA Capacity. 49 Persons. George §.'Kane, 7th S:. Wharves, Nat. 4053, Cld_matiress renovated and made FIT FOR A KING You cannot imagine the comfort in_store for you if we make it up With our new tuftless .nner spring construction. Beautiful covers. Phone for prices. / BEDELL'S FACTORY National 3621 610 E St. N.W. Keep Ydur Name Before the Public with attractive orinted matter bearing the ha'l mark of quality from this Million_Doliar Plant, ‘The National Cagitaulmp.x;:ss Weh AVE. 3rd and N N Four unexcelled | 31, 1932. District’s Heroes in the World War Compiled by Sergt. L. E. Jaeckel. S recorded in the official citation, Edwin E. Schwien, captain, 7th Infantry, 3rd Division, Ameri- can Expeditionary Force, was awarded the Distinguished Serv- ice Cross for extraordinary heroism in action with the enemy during the at- tack on Hill 241, between Cierges and Romagne, France, October 4, 1918. On e the morning of October 4, Capt. Schwien led the first wave of his company in an at- tack on Hill 241, north of Cierges. Eerly in the attack the entire company advanced in the face of terrific shell and machine-gun Y fire. Owing to the severity of the fire, the attack was held up on the south side of the hill. Capt. Schwien then personally led a small reconnaissance party over the enemy slope, during the performance of which he was severely wounded, but when carried back to our front lines and while lying prostrate on the ground, being unable to walk, he con- tinued to command his company and so directed the disposition of his com- mand that another counter-attack was prevented. Having organized his posi- tion, he was carried to the first-aid station. His brilliant leadership under fire, and his devction to duty were an inspiration to those who served under him. Residence at appointment, Wash- ington, D. C. i a YOW 8 major of Infantry and is & Aut) ;» Paris, France. \mnvright, 1938 0 than for Minneapolis; by more %m $17,000,000 for New Orleans, by more than $16,000,000 for Indianapolis and hy mare than $24,000,000 for Rich- ‘mond. per capita, $62.94, of general depart- ment expense of all the six cities—| St. Louis, $40.43; Baltimore, $40.37; Minneapolis, $43.06; $27.90; pl%diunnpolls, $39.63; Richmond, $32.68. The average per capita ex- pense for general depdrtments in these cities is $41.72, a figure that Washing- ton’s per capita exceeds by $2l.22.‘. ‘Washington's expenditures for “Pro- tection to Life and Property” are ex- ceeded only by Baltimore and St. Louis, and exceed the average expenditure | under this classification by $1.300,318. Washington's per capita expense for protaction to life and property, $12.32, exceeds that of any other city com- pared. In St. Louis it is $9.81; Balti- more, $9.51; Minneapolis, $6.26; New Orleans, $7.99; Indianapolis, $8,92, and Richmond, $6.68. Washington's per capita expenditure of $12.32 is to be compared with the average per capita expenditure in the other cities of $9.13. High Cost of D. C. Highways. The total expense of Washington highways exceeds that of all cities ex- cept Baltimore, which in 1930 spent $609,437 more than Washington. But ‘Washington's highway expenditure of $6.34 per capita is far in excess of that of any other city—the per capita com- parisons being $2.91 for St. Louis; $4.70 for Baltimcre; $4.23 for Minneapolis; $2.25 for New Orleans; $3.10 for Indian- apolis and $3.15 for Richmond. The average per capita expenditure for the citles is $3.92, which Washington ex- ceeds by $2.62. ‘Washington's total expenditures un- der “Charities, Hospitals and Correc- tions” is the highest among the cities with which it is compared. Its per capita of $8.98 is more than twice as great at the next highest, $3.66 for St. Louis. The other per capita expendi- tures are shown to be $2.50 for Balti- more; $2.48 for Minneapolis; 87 cents for New Orleanst $2.31 for Indianapolis and $1.52 for Richmond. The average for these cities is $3.36, which is ex- ceeded by $5.62 in Washington’s $8.98. High Per Capita School Expense. T T ington’s expenditures on schools, per capita expenditure Washington's $18.77 is higher than that of any other city red, the others being $14.06 for '1 88 947 ~= impra: — =37 |ington in population. | in population (census estimate for mid- Washington has the highest | New _ Orleans, | | sible only to Congress. The difference dle cf fiscal year) is only 19,400 in the case of Minneapolis, and 25,200 in the | case of New Orleans. A comparison between municipal ex- penditures and tax burdens in Minne- apolis and Washington alone cught to | throw the strongest light on the ade- quacy of the local tax burden. Washington, like Minneapolis, is effi- ciently and carefully governed, the ex- penditure of its every penny is closely scrutinized by Federal officials respon- If expenditures and tax levies in Washington compare favorably with those in Minneapolis, it should set at rest the contention that ‘Washington is undertaxed. The table No. 1 on this page shows that Washington’s expenditures under the different classifications of govern- ‘ment exceed those of the two cities with which it is compared in all comparable factors having to do with current main- | tenance with two exceptions, these being | “Conservation of Health,” where it is exceeded by Minneapolis (although when “Conservation of Health” and “Sanitation” are combined, Washing- ton’s total exceeds that of the other cities), and “Libraries,” where it is ex- ceeded by progressive Minneapolis. High Expenditures Necessary. In the case of police and fire protec- tion, and highways—those items which reflect so strongly the excess expendi- tures necessary here because this is the National Capital—Washington's exven- ditures are far in excess of those of the two other cities. ‘Washington’s expenditures under the head of “All General Departments” ex- ceed the comparable item for Minne- apolis by $10,489,284 and the compar- able item for New Orleans by $17,718,- 505. Is this not a remarkable illustration of the higher expenditures neces- sary in Washington, because Washing- ton happens to be the Capital of the United States—the Nation’s own city? When it is found that Washington must spend $10,489,284 more for general gov- ernment than is necessary in Minne- apolis, and $17,718,505 more than is necessary in New Orleans—the greatest difference in population between them being 27,000—there has been a striking demonstration of ernmént in Washington, and of financ- ing that government, that is peculiar to meny,uone. e = ‘Table 2, reproduced on 2=0ls ouly with the sctual fgures that For | a the problem of gov- | gre Committee, however, that interest pay- ments do not constitute a comparable factor when the comparison is between the tax burdens for current city main- tenance, and when the interest pay- ments are logically deducted in this comparison, it is found (Col. 8) how great is the excess of total tax levy in Washington over that for the two other cities. When special assessments are included as part of the total tax levy— and special assessments, of course, rep- resent a form of taxation and should be included—Washington's tax total, with interest payments for the other cities included, is in excess of that for Minneapolis by nearly $5,000,000 and for New Orleans by more than $11,000,000. In the last column, all revenues, less subventions, grants, donations, gifts and assessments, are compared and Wash- ington's total of $34,289,904 may be considered in relation to the total for Minneapolis ($28,018,628), and for New Orleans ($23,015,514). Low Taxation the Desideratum. One of the paradoxical elements in a controversy that places Washington in the position of proving its case that it is not undertaxed is the fact that high taxation assumes some of the aspects of a generally sought desideratum—in other words, Washington is subject to criticism unless its tax burden can be demonstrated as being among the high- est. Low municipal taxation, not high mu- nicipal taxation, is the result generally rouaht throughout the Nation and the low taxed city takes justifiable pride in its status as such. This paradox works to confuse the comparisons. It is to the advantage of those who allege that Washington is undertaxed to select cities that are highly taxed and then to aftempt to show—and by a method that can be attacked as to its accuracy as it Washington “suffe - “l:‘the parison in that its local taxes are not as high as the highest. On the other hand, to combat this tendency it might be conceived as justifiable to t the lowest taxed groups of cities and with them to ~om- pare Washington, in order to maes the i “favorable” for = ton would be to picture Washington as under a burden of taxation. fiflmgfn Bynmue_‘; Bocz wihing €0 7est N5 case oa the Tacks, It has shown that when the com- parison of municipal tax levies per | capita is made on the basis of current | city maintenance as it should be, Wash- | ington's per capita is higher than 54 of the 63 cities with which it is com- pared. It has shown that when the com- parison is narrowed to those cities which location, population and repu- tation come representative munici- palities, lending themselves to such a comrlnson with Washington, this city’s total tax burden, expressed in per capitas and compared on the basis of current city maintenance, exceeds all of them by a large margin. Such a showing, of course, would be impossible if Washington was undertaxzd. It has broadened the comparison and made available for study a table that sets up side by side the expenditures in Washington and in the six other cities under the various functional classifications of municipal government, and has shown the execessive expendi- tures that are necessary in Washington —excesses that are showr both in terms of total and per capitas—be- &:\:fie ‘Washington is the Nation’s Cap- It has narrowed the comparison to show the marked difference between the expenditures for current city main- tenance that are necessary in Wash- and that are necessary in the two cl&l:; nearest to Washington in t has narrowed the comparison to it detailed study of total tax levies ni these three cities closely approxi- ‘Washington’s total tax levies are far greater in amount than its small excess of population would Jjustify under any conditions—exczpting the condition which exists, and which ilql:'khfin this the Capital City of the The case for Washington might be rested on the conclusive showing that when Washington's taxes exce=d those of the two cities that are nesrest in size, Washington is adequately taxed. But there are other considerations that should be given to the compari- sons. Washington's real burden of tax- ation cannot properly or equitably be hed in comparison with the tax burdens of independent, self-sup) cities of the Nation until there has been adequate study of the speci | to e e e These will be e ¥iLl be discussed in the mext % 3204-08 N Street N.W. ful beverage. Under its wholesome influence, hot days be- come less trying, jaded appetites perk up and the whole system is re- freshed. Have us deliver a quartregularly. Orask your dealer if he sells “Wise Brothers.” 'Phone WEST 0183