Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-10-13
The General Committee Enlarged.

II
| The general committee. appointed at the
i recent meetings At the Kirkwood House and
| City Hall, in reference 10 the holding Of a
Worlds FAR In this city In 1871, met last even
ing at Mefzeroit Hall. for the purpose Of hear
ing the report Of the special committee Of nf.
teen, appointed TO report plan, &c. Among
| those present were Henry ID. Cooke, w S.
| Huntington, DIR. John b. Blake, Admiral Dahl.
| Green IenI y. o. Howard, DR.. &. F. Stan
| Ballantyne, Adolph Cluss, j. l. savage, W.
", Metzerott, DR.. q. h. Nichols, Gen1 w. p.
| Cnlpman, A. s. Solomons, John Hitz. L. A.
SooIient, u s. Noyee, Col: A. q. ELLEN, Col.
| CaPron, " Il. Todd. L. +. Clark, SslH1 Lewis,
| ,: r: Blown, John w. Boteler, w. II. ClaRett,
~. w: Gait, VIM. Stickney, Dol, VIM. wall,
| hallett kilbourne, r. 5. Davis, Col. j. "A.
Magrnoer, DR.. o. s. Verdi, Coi. T. B. Florence
Henry D. Cooke, Esq; Hallst Kilbourne,
Secretary.
| The secretary read the report Of the special
| committee Of fifteen appointed under a reso-
luton of the last meeting Of the General Com.
| mittee to prepare an outline of the manner
| q Grand International Industrial Exhibition
Of all nations, 70 be held in Washington du-
ring the year ISL, 40 to report the same at
| meeting of the special committee, 1t was unan.
imously resolved to recommend that, IN the
opinion OF this committee, cit il feasible for
| an International Industrial Exhibition of all
nations 10 be held in the city OF W ashington
during the year 1871, and that all proper meas.
ures be adopted to insure it a success"
Then followed the charter TO be presented TO
Congress, and the bill. together with the va.
rlous working committees, as published in
| The star of Saturday last, except the name
OF Dr. q. F. Stansbury on the Local Executive
Committee and Committee on Home CORES.
pondence. and the name of W. G.. Metzerott
| on the Subscription COMMITTEES, those gentle.
men having been relieved az their own re-
Mr. r. S. Davis moved that the draft OF the
Charter be submitted to committee of five
lawyers, with J. NJ. Carlisle, Esq, as chair
man. He hoped this motion would prevail, as
the charter was defective in several particu.
lars. IL provided that the corporation might
be sued IN any court In the United States. which
was wrong. The corporation should never be
sued except by service OF writ upon the pres
| ident.
MIS- p. Brewl moved that the report of the
| subcommittee be accepted first. adopted.
Mr. l.. A. Gobright was opposed to the clause
authorizing the corporations of Washington and
Georgetown and the Levy court to collect a
o. Of on He on. 10 dol
the amount would be thus collected.
The Char replied about sas0.O0O.
Mr.. Gobright thought the capital stock was
70 be 100000, and II was proposed to raise
nearly one-half Of that amount out Of the
property in this District. He desired persons
70 think well over this. The affair was to be
national one, but the people of this District
alone were to take nearly one-half Of the cap.
ital stock.
Ml. LAWS renewed MS motion to refer the
charter TO a committee of five lawyers.
MT. Gobright moved To amend by instruct.
ing the Committee TO strike out the clause au-
tnorizing the Corporations to levy and collect
Colonel ]. A. Magruder hoped the amend.
ment would not prevail. 1t only gave the Or.
porations of the two cities power to collect the
tax II necessary, and if not necessary it would
not be collected. The people Of this District
would be benefitted by it more than any other
community, and II they should object to pay
they could ask those in other parts Of the coun.
{ Dr. aA{ =. Pardon though. i. hes. to change
ize the Corporation to levy . tax not eseeediao
sixty cents on every one hundred dollars
Dr. Bake inquired il the clause was a par,
OF the charter, or Of the bill TO be presented TO
The Chair replied 1t was part OF the charter.
MI. klbourn said the amount of 60 cents had
at the suggestion of MI. W. W. Oorcoran, who
was one Of the largest taxpayers in the CITY,
Seyenty-fve cents on the hundred dollars was
a. nrst suggested but reduced to 81 at the sug-
b held here, and one to compare favorabiy
with those OF other countries, he thought the
people OF this District would get OF very well
by subscribing only half q million of dollars.
He mad consulted with many property holders
who acq uiesced In the tax Of 60 cents. He did
not think the capital stock would be limited 10
100000. They would commence with that
amount and increase IL to four or i've millions
IL the exhibition should be q success finan-
and would be returned with SIX per cent
interest; but il II should be q failure Of course
The city would have to pay the debt. TIE
this, and should show to Congress that they
were In earnest, and ready to start the affair by
subscribing SS0,OOO. He thought the clause
should be mandatory upon the authorities to
gested that the city authorities be empowered
to issue bonds, and then only enough to pay
the interest would be assessed. 1t was not a
temporary hurrah to result from this EXPOSE
tion, but lasting benefit 10 the city It would
accelerate the completion OF all these railroads
talked OF, and put the city at least quarter of
century ahead. II the thing be started prop
erly, Congress would come to their assistance;
the channel would be cleaned ont; the honor Of
the whole country would be at stake. A new
water main was wanted, which would cost at
exposition should become q fact, the main
would be laid, and various other important
Improvements made.
Mr.. J. T. Mitchell thought IL mistaken idea
that S50O,OOO could be raised here by voluntary
subscription. About sl0O,GO0 might be raised
In this comm unity by voluntary subscripu ton,
but not a sufhcient amount to put the exhibi-
ton on ITS feet The smallest piece of property
in the city would be benefited at least 25 per
cent, bat the small property holders would
not subscribe, and they should be made to do so.
Mr. M. w. Calf thought IL property holders
would reflect a moment they would not be
against this taxation. A man owning a piece
$50 on Sl0OOU.
DIR. Pardon was In favor of the tax, and as a
member OF the Council would vote for It.
Mr.. DAVIS thought several sections in the
charter would give rise to discussion. He
thought the language should be imperative
ana the Corporate authorities should be direct.
ed TO levy this tax, and not leave il to their
discretion. Instead OF using the words sixty
cents on every hundred dollars, he thought i:
best 10 use the fractional part Of one per cent,
as half OF the people would think il meant
sixty cents en- the dollar.
Col. A. u. Allen thought the tax should be
levied on personal property, as well real
estate. man might have S5OuOQO in bonds
houses built on ground rents, goods 10 ware
houses, &c, all Of which would be benefited
but being personal property he would have no
tax 10 pay.
Mr.. 5. p. Brown thought there was ability
enough IN the committee 70 perfect the charter
without referring II to q comm ittee Of lawyers
DR.. y. +. Stansbury had consulted with an
eminent legal gentleman about the charter
besides the forms Of other charters upon the
statutes. He did not think the charter was so
detective rs represented, and his legal friend
Who examined the charter, had not found any
OF those antiquities which MIR. Davis com.
planned Of.
The question then recurring on Mr. Fardon's
motion % amend the section under debate so as
70 read mot exceeding sixty cents" that gen.
tleman withdrewit. Mr.. Kilbourn then moved
% amend the section BY striking out sssixty
cens," and inserting three.fifths Of one DER
cent; adopted. Colonel Magruder moved to
Smeno oy striking The W0rd ssraaI ~