The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-07-17

talned In the bill. And now desire 10 IN
Vito the attention Of tho Board 10 a new
feature, which has been engrafted NJ IN II
without authority since the last meeting Of
the Board BY 4 species Of legerdemain un-
known to parliamentary law.
This new feature should not receive. the
sanction d che Council Or OF The, Mayor, Cor
the reason thseit \ not within the scope Of
the Authority eou1 srret BY Congress upon
this eerpcntiee. The provision 70 which ]
refer y ID The fourteenkh scssioa, which, In
heu OF tho usual discount or abatement for
the payment Of taxes In advances the cx-
plration Of the year, imposes penalty Of
two and half per cent. additional tax per
month for all taxes which shall remain un-
paid on and AFTER the LIST Of September.
Here Is q sample Of legislative tyranny
rarely, II ever, cxcellcd. The assessments
are run up to the extreme point Of taxation,
and II any citizen, from poverty or any other
cause, dare to hesitate tr delay In making
payment, two and a haH per cent. per month,
being at tie rate Of thirfy per cent. year,
as "pcnalty for his tardiness.n This pro-
vision cannot affect rich man, or any other
man whose credit or circumstances will en-
able him to command At any time a small
sum OF money; but as II Affects a really pool
mau, land there arc many such that owl
homesteads that are dear to them and their
friends,) 1t would be the refinement OF
cruelty. An additional tax at the rate oil
thirty per cent. year for inability TO pay
taxes would be indefensible, but, fortunately
for the poor people whom this provision
would Cypress, IL would be unlawful.
The charter prcscribes the penalty for de
linquency, and this corporation cannot en-
force any other penalty. II citizen fall
to pay his taxes for any one year, his prop
crty Is liable TO sale, and, II he desires to re
deem IL, he Ia subject to the expenses Of nd
vertising aud sale, and also to the paymcn
Of ten per cent. on the amount paid by tn
purchaser Of his property. This Is the pen
atty prescribed by Congress In the charte
Of this city, and this corporation Is bount
10 act within the authority granted. The
until the LIST Of January next, The abatc
ments heretofore made have been for ddpdne
payments, on the principle that any perso
holding the obligation OF another may maxi
a discount or abatement for payment In ad
vance Of the maturity OF tho obligation o
contract. This Is the principle upon which
the corporation has heretofore acted i
making abatements on payments made i
advance OF the expiration Of the year. Thi
principle Is sound and rational, but tn
"new Idea" Incorporated In this bill Is ridicu
lousy absurd. The taxes for 1859 arc no
due until the end OF the year, and you can
not impose q penalty for non.payment unit
they shall have become due, any more tina,
banker may protest note before shal
have arrived at maturity,
The new idea, repeat, is ridiculously al
surd, snd move tn Incorporate In lieu thereo
the ordinary clause allowing m abatement
al the amendments proposed by Nj
Moore, except that relating to the publ
schools, were rejected on a vote Of the Board
He then withdrew the amendment relating
I. | tn tho achaals