The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-05-31
tcoMMUNIcATED.J
The Question answered why the Taxes
cannot be reduced.

writer signing himself " Second Ward" and
evidently member Of the previous Council, de-
nounces the present administration of city affairs
He complains OF the increase Of the members of the
two boards TO 81 per day. and that the taxes have
not been reduced to sixty cents The writer of the
article may be in such easy circumstances TO
der compensation in his case unnecessary. If a
per diem of 81 (the present amount) or any COM
pensation is proper why should it not be large
enough TO repay the workingman who. heing
selected by his citizens to serve Them is com.
PEELED to abandon his work to attend the meetings
OF the Council! There are many worthy mem
beers of the present Council to whom 1t is pecu-
mary loss of s ! per day.
The tendencies and reasons Of the writer are to
be found in the following extract from his own ar
tcle, bearing with it its own answer
1.-TWO dollars for an hour two Of an evening
once a week, being much more likely to excite the
cupidity of the demagogue and the loafer-classes
with universal suffrage-than the proper class of
citizens, those who could really feel the effects of
their own acts, who alone ought to be entrusted
with the high function of Legislation for this grow
ing community"
Are these the sentiments of an Americana Let
us come, however, to the point which deeply affec
the interests Of the whole community. TPhy can
not the tares be reduced? II is well known that the
aggregate amount of the assessment for the present
year will not erceed the taxes Of the former years
The difficulties in the way of the assessors of
curing full return of stocks and other new
OF revenue, have prevented for the present that in.
crease In the revenue which expected. The
returns OF the assessors prove the fact. The
improvement Of the canal, and the necessary i'm
provements in the different wards for the openir e
and repair of streets, have absorbed the ordinary
| revenues OF the corporation. When we shall begin
TO realize from the new sources of taxation a re-
duction will, undoubtedly, take place in the valua-
ton OF real estate, also in the rate of TAXATION
for which the members of the city councils are as
anxious as their fellow citizens; and whenever the
reduction takes place, to whom docs the honor be-
long! Justly to those members of the City Council
who have advocated the charter, which seeks
TO equalize and reduce the burdens of tarafon Ind
tohy bilrdened? Because of the lottery debt
Ia the present generation responsible for il does
1t belong to the past ages of cityi It is this
debt-the fruit Of gross, not TO a harsher word
mismanagement-that parayzes our energies, con-
sumes the substance Of rich and poor, and hangs
like an incubus upon our city; that exacts almost
of our present revenue to meet the interest
upon it. What Improvements, what reforms or
benefits have other antique administrations, only
recoccted by their injuries conferred upon u.s. that
the present Councils to be denounced? Are
they to be found in the pauper system of public
schools the denial of the right of suffrage in an
| empty treasury and an oppressive debit
The truth is, that this debt is the only legacy
have had from other days, and the gift has almost
bankrupt us. Will the writer signed Second
Ward" give US the history Of this debt?
May 81 ONLY by IT'S BuRDEss.