The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-08-18

Communicated
RATE OF TAXATION. Editor Repvbticam
The question as TO what should DO the rate
OF taxation per hundred dollars Con real e.
tate) In the city Of Washington has Inter
estcd many minds within the past slx
months, and noticing the opinions expressed
by His Honor, Mayor powon, and Alderman
Connolly, Of the Third ward, as well as
those Of others who have taken part In logis-
lation for this community, I am impellcd
by the conviction that these gentlemen lnbor
under n great Misunderstanding from q
falsc basis-in their conclusions In the prem
iscs to write few words on the subject.
We arc told that the citizens Of Washing
ton arc not taxed as highly as are tho citl-
zcns Of Baltimore and othor clties, aud hence
II is proper to increase the rate OF taxation.
Tho fact may DO true, but the deduction
made thcrefrom Is not. Washington has
comparatively no commerce with respect to
Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, Cincln-
natl, Chicago or 81. Louis. In either Of the
citlcs named capital Is turned over at least
four or five times, while IL Is changing
hands once In Washington. This being so,
the citizens OF either Of tho places named
can well afford to pay double or treble the
amount OF taxes on the hundred dollars that
we can afford to pay. Where money rapidly
pays Its owners large profits, and there Is
lncessant use OF II In buying and selling,
very little complaint will be heard about
high taxation.
The majority Of property holders in Wash.
ington are persons who by the most frugal
| living and management OF their incomes,
have bought lots and built homes upon
them. These persons depend for their sup
port upon either official position, mechanical
pursuit or labor upon public and corporation
works. Tho first class spend large por-
ton Of their income upon boarding house
position longer than term Of four years Il
not very fattering one. Let such lose
their positions and be compelled 70 mako a
support by shifts and turns, they soon flnd
that II Is as much as they can do to carr
bread for their families. In this condition
II they own each home, that home with
heavy taxation will soon be found adver.
tiscd for sale by the city tax collector, and
this Is the cause Of failure Of so many very
worthy and happy citizens OF this quiet
capital.
The second class have even far NOR
hopeless prospect than the first. They know
that eight months at most during each yeai
Is the full length Of time that they can follow
their pursuits. Their wages do not much
more than support their families decently
But II may be, by extra stlnting, they have
become the possessors, In come cheap local
lty, of homes In their own names. Now
let hard times, such as arc now upon Us
como, aud with them high taxation, and the
result is this class, too, finds their humbl,
homes advertised for sale by the city col
loctor or tax gathcrcr.
But still the burden falls heavier upon tn,
third class-they who can only depend upog
corporation labor, one or two years at most
Each change Of administration Of municipal
affairs throw these poor men out ofwork
and II by chance here and there We find
among them owners OF real estate, loss o.
their means Of support and high taxation
will soon place them In the condition Of tht
other two classes, and the happiness expo
riencod from being the owners Of their dwell
llngs will be crushed out by the call Of thu
tax gathercr.
Tho above is no fancy sketch but reality
aud the sooner our city fathers come Il
know that light taxation and economical
expenditure Of the city finances are the
things which benefit and make happy those
they represent and administer for the better
We hail with pride the position assumed II
this matter by Alderman Carter A. Stewart
and recommend Alderman Connolly to hi
school. X. W. Y.