Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-07-14

1.-TWO Oh THREE THINGS
We have during the week received a num-
Der OF communications commendatory of an
article in the Star under the above head, and
also the subjoined communication condemna.
tory OF the same:
Mr.. Editor: Judging from the tenor of your
1.-TWO or Three Things" I infer that the
esprit" of our Councils is not fully under
stood
First. AS to 'making an appropriation for
the relief of the sufferers by the recent terrible
IRE At Portland, Maine" it was the opinion of
n majority of the Board, expressed by the very
member offering the bill, that we had no right
under the charter to appropriate money for
that purpose U).
secondly. In regard to the so called improve
ment on square 4S2 il is a mistake 10 say,
:. the same privilege has been repeatedly gran
ted to other parties ~ No such privilege has
ever been granted 70 extend an unimproyed
square in this manner: giving to the proprIe-
tor a portion of the public thoroughfare of
sos square feet which At a valuation of fifty
cents, amounts TO S2,544. There is a proper
disposition IN the Board to accommodate any
one In the high position of u. ). Senator, but
Tor important reasons they were compelled to
vote against this proposition, (2).
You state our rate of taxation to be ssiess
than one-thIrd what Is levied In enterprisino
po-aheod cities" We now pay direct tax Of
seventy five cents on every hundred dollars,
the utmost limit allowed under the charter
and an additional tax of thirty five cents, un-
der the speCIous provision of special tax, and
when we add the large sums paid annually by
our citizens. for paving and other purposes,
(which IN other cities come out of the general
fund, IL will be found that we are at least Gen.
terprising" enough to put the rae of taxation
as high IS the ''go-ahead' cities. %
Very respectfully, SAM'L T. DRCRY,
Member Of the Common Council.
WAsHISGToN, July 10, 1s66.
a. Its much to be regretted that at a time
when every hamlet in the country of a hun
dred inhabitants is Fastening to offer its mite in
ard of the sufferers by enc of the most ap pail
ing calamities that ever befell a community,
that the capital city of the nation is discovered
TO have charter so rigid as to debar it from
rendering penny or even word Of sympa-
thy. Habit been project to enable the Coun-
ellis to see Baltimore by gas-hght, or witness a
squirting contest by Philadelphia firemen, or
TO send q handsomely engraved sett of compli.
mentaTy Council resolutions to Tom, Dick or
Harry, in Philadelphia. New York or Boston,
possibly we should have found the charter elias
tic enough to stand the strain. And il the bill
was TO be killed, was il necessary to expose
ourselves before the country, as knocking it IN
the head with the heartless fippancy dis
played in the substitute that did the business 7
(2.) The privilege was granted, and very prop
eriy, to Mr.. J. X. Elvans, Mr.. r. b. Clarke,
and others, whose names do not now occur to
Us; and in most cases before the improvements
were completed. If the hide bound, illiberaI
policy of our correspondent is to prevail, our
vacant squares anc lots are likely to remain
ssunimproyed' for some considerable time To
come. As we have said, the present building
regulation, which forbids the property-owner
TO enclose q handsome grass plot, but allows
him to cut q ditch in the shape Of an area, on
-.
surdi.ies imaginable. And in view of the fac,
that Senator Sprague could cover the whole
s'5,Oe3 feet" by such . ditch without leave OF
license from the city councils. does it not leah
through the hair of s. T. D., NJ. @. g., tina,
there rs Just q shadow of q shade Of degree
OF fol lol de-rol in talking about s.giving" tha
amount Of property to htal
(3) Our correspondent is badly posted. It Il
notorious that taxes in Washington city arr
not one-third what they are in most othe,
cities; and other cities have not only their hos
OF special taxes, but are also burdened with
onerous State taxes. 1t is noto1ous that ouI
standard apology for city sHabbiness has been
the inadequate rate Of taxation fixed by the
charter. Ii Is constantly said-"what can
tax Of IS cents On the hundred dollars accom-
plish towards the immense work of improv We
ment needed in Washington 7'' Baltimorean,
pay tax Of $3.50 upon the hundred and tn,
result as seen in the enhanced value of thei,
property, and in their having city they ar,
proud 20 show to visitors.
With the burthen Of war taxes now upon u
1t would not be advisable for MS to undertak
1T this time TO raise an income by taxation u
correspond with that Of other cities, but let u
at least not squander our moderate resource
by allowing an inordinate per centage To-
prompt payment Of taxes. The result is tina
wealthy tax payers who have money at com
mand 10 pay promptly, reap the benefit OF tn
big premium, and the Corporation suffers L
toe extent OF not less than $50, 900 year. Fiy
Per cent. premium, or even less, will bring II
money In as fast as desirable; and for all prac
ticable purposes II is much preferable that tn
taxes should come in equally over seyers
months time than that they should be rushe
In pell NELL during the month of August.
MEDICAL LECTUREo-t will interest mad;