The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1868-04-03
CoNaREss AND THE DISTRICT.

There are two important facts which, in con
sidering the relation Of the National Govern
ment to this District, seem to be lost sight Of
The one lie that the Government pays no tax
upon Its property here, and the other IL that the
land upon which the public buildings are erected,
and those portions also which arc set apart as
reservations, originally did not cost the Govern.
ment a single dollar. We cannot dwell with too
much carnestness, and particularly upon this
fact that the immense property which the nation
holds has been at all times free from taxation,
while the property Of individuals adjoining Il
has been always and still is subject to taxation.
Contrast this with the policy pursued elsewhere,
or in other towns and cities In the different
states where the Government holds property,
and what do we indl In every instance the
Government is taxed for this property, and the
avails OF such taxes are appropriated for ordi-
nary municipal purposes In the places where the
property is located. In this city, however, q
very different policy is pursued. The Govern
ment own here vast amount OF property upon
which 1t pays not a single dollar IN the shape OF
taxes.
The Government hold here seventeen entire
squares In various localities about the city.
These squares contain Sal acres, rood and 30
perches of land. The Capitol, the Presidents
House and other public buildings are located upon
these lots, and with all these improvements not
dollar OF tax Is assessed or collected thereon.
All private or individual property adjoining
these squares and Government reservations and
improvements is taxed. Mark this fact. Now,
ifCongrcss does not wish to appropriate money
for paving, lighting, and improving the streets
and avenues that lead by and around these build.
ings and grounds, then let II pass law allowing
our municipal authorities to assess a tax predi.
Gated upon the value OF this public property
equal to that assessed upon individual property
In the immediate vicinity.
Many people seem to have the notion that the
Government paid q pretty large sum for these
lands when 1t bought them OF the original pro.
prietors; but this is not so. In our article the
other day we made quotation from the report
OF Hon. Samuel L. Southland, presented to the
Twenty-Third Congress in 1885 Let us see what
that very able report says upon the point we al c
now considering.
Speaking of the original purchase that paper
says;
"For this large extent OF land, equal TO all IL,
present anu prospective wants, the Government
paid nomindHy the sum of s36,Ggg to the proprie
tors OF the soil, but in reality nothing, Thi,
sum was not paid from the general treasury, MOI
one cent Of II contributed by the people OF tn,
THE whole of 1t was taken out OF the pro
eeeds OF the sales OF building lots which had sis,
been secured by the Government In The con,rac,
with the landholiers. 1t thus appears thai IN,
people of the United States paid nofiing for ali
streets. They procured them p and now an owe ,sS
them iriihou Tie expenditure Of a single dollar n
is dihcult to estimate the present value Of tn,
public grounds" - Wv
The above is conclusive, and we need add n,
more upon this point. We take this occa,io,
to quote the following extract from this repor
OF Mr.. Southland, and commend II to the carefu
and eonsiderate judgment OF the member, of m,
Fortieth Congress.
The committee say that
They regard 1t tthis DISTRICT as the child n
the Union; AS the creation OF the Union for n,
own purposes. The design OF the Constitution
and Its founders was to create a Residence 10,
the Government, where they should have abso
Lutte and unlimited control; which should h,
ss5ulateS aud -gnrer"sd ~ thsIu without the
interference OF partial Interests in the States
which should be built up and sust lined by thei,
authority and resources-not dependent unoI
the Will or resources OF any State or local in
terest. II this had not been the design, II In M
easy to comprehend either the principle whIcI
would prevent the Government from a lIhera
appropriation OF national resources to accom
Plish the object or the policy which would con
hhe the cry TO the means possessed by the in
habitants for its Improvement "
In accomplishing their object the Union I'm
derto0k ne guardianshi Of the District, deprive
It's inhabitants OF the right Of seiEgovernmen
and Of the elective franchise, and made theI
dependent upon the will of the representative
OF the states, to whom alone they can look 70