Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-09-12
:. OuR Taxes.,

Onusr tnts head the Oh Osiess puts forth soma
recommendations and s2ecuIatioDs upon CITY
finances, the figures and data of which would
sem to have been supplied by the same remark
able authority who furnished the city finance ar
telCs IN that paper some months ago, designed
70 show that Mr.. Bowen's administration was a
great economical and financial success.
IL rs satisfactory to note that the Chronicle Is
rew in favor OF low taxes, but it IL - be re-
gretted that its convictions in that direction
come into play at 50 late dsy. when low taxes
have been rendered impossible through the
enormous legacy Of indebtedness bequeathed by
the Bowen administration for its success
sor to shoulder. The Chroriele assumes that
there is s62.J0o, goo Of taxable property,
tthere Is really less than SEQ, 900 OoO)
and that without increasing the rate of
taxation, SLID on the hundred dollars, enough
money can be raised to meet all require
ments. Ii estimates that amount at 81 1868, i6i,
and, 10 make it up, Is obliged to rate, as above
STATED, tie taxable property o. the city at
S250c coo above its value; puts the taxes at s155
on the S1c0, ard includes all the "dead woodsof
back taxes to the largo amount of s27O,00OI
As ar item in this estimate the CRrO.icls pro-
poses 70 reduce the school tax fixed IN the Alder
men bin at 50 cents, to 80 cents, a reduction
which wodld bring Re noses o. the already
hardly treated teachers down to the grindstoue
With ven aesntel
The plain tact Is that the present municipal
Multiplication has the hard but necessary task
deyolying upon it OF raising the corporation
credit, sunk in the SiOugh of Desyond by the
Bowen rule. IL must shoulder both Bowen's LA
bilitics and the current Indebtedness, and to
do this we must for the present submit
to taxation which, though net heavier than
most other cites bear, Is heavier than would
brought upon Us by that expensive luxury. the
Bowen ring. The Bowen administration raised
large sums by taxation, paid nobody and did
nothing The Emery administration proposes to
return 20 oid-fasbioned principles, paving "a il
goes. and seeking e put the credit OF the city on
a bUsiBCss basis.
TO meet these requirements, as close a calcu-
later and a. vigilsEt ''watch dog of the CITY
treasury a. Alderman Moore, estimated that a
tau OF not less than - upon the 10 would h,
needed, but the Aldermen finally settled upon a
tax Of s1.S0. This tax upon a sum o. SEQ 900 O0o
taxable property would amount 10 n total of
Sl,ssa,sa0. From this must be deducted. bv
requirement Of law, one fifth for the redemption
Of certificates OF indebtedness, and we have
SSe4.eo- From this deduct 10 per cent. upon
SI,es9,e"S Tor expenses of collection, and
Tor attachments. and we have the amount
-S~A4~CS JON Int taxes reduced u $4,000. We
have no idea that this amount will be adenua,e
to enable the Mayor to deal successfully with
the financial problem he has to solve, but il il
certain that il is the smallest sum with which II
can be undertaken.
IL should be horne in mind too, at deduct
ing the additional burdens thrown upon us by
having to meet the certificate indebtedness and
the assessment (under the act of Congress) for
we canal Improvement, the taxes have really
been reduced to about LIP on the one hundred
collars, against 1.i0 last year.
The suggestion of the CAroEscIe that its pro-
posed " retrenchment" could be advanced by
GspensiBg with such officers as Mr. FORSYTH.
Superintendent of Streets, and Mr.. wilson
superintendent OF Schools. is about of a piecs
with MS other recommendation in this connec-
ton As M illustration of the penny wise and
pound foolish doctrine, nothing could slrnass
th's idea OF turning out two officers who were
especially selected Tor their fitness, and who
save to the corporation many times the amount
OF their petty salaries.