Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-12-17

In rents or for hoard, or otherwise. their sh are
tor the Improvements. The Improvement of
the parks and squares made the private prop
erly more valuable and the rents higher, and
now, when the property Is made more valuable
ana attractive, lis people were taxed to pay
TOR il. The people OF his state were not taxed to
make their state capital more pleasant and
agreeable TO the citizens OF Washington. Here
be had understood tie citizens were taxed one
third, which was usually enough to make all
the improvements in 'front.' OF their property.
The chairman Of the Appropriation com mittee
who owned house here, could probably tell
how that was. Now the board Of public works
work around the Capitol aud public buildings,
but for the parks and reservations which were
left to make the place airy for the citizens of
Washington. Ii would be better for the gov
eminent to give away these places and let them
be built upon, and the people to whom they are
given pay the taxes on them
MIR. Garfield said the reservations were not
the property of the city, but were
UNDER CONTROL OF THE UNITED STATES,
and Congress could do what il pleased with the
squares. All could be sold to private parties ii
feel a qualification at the improvements in this
city. Some or the improvements have doubt
less been made unwisely, and in some cases no
doubt tyranny has been exercised, and the
board has been oyerbearing In many cases, but
they have, nevertheless, done much for the bet
terment of this capital.
Mr.. Swami said the committee on sppropria-
lions had carefully examined this whole subject,
and found the United States under obligations
to this District to do something for It, The lands
and squares coded to the general government
by property holders here would run up to an
amount of more than thirty millions of dollars.
After an examination he was prepared to sane
ton this approp. iation, for the United States,
he repeated, was
A GAMER BY THE DONATIONS
that had been made to her by this District. He
had heard much of the outrages of the board OF
public works. bur he would state that the I'm
provements that have been made here have
been a decided advantage to all the property
along the lines of improvement.
Mr.. Maynard (Tenn.) compared the city as Ii
was now with what IL was years ago. Ii was now
pride to exhibit the capital to the citizens Of
the country who came here, and he had yet to
find the first citizen who objected to the improve
ments or to the amount of taxes.
MIR. Wood IN. " SAID If this was opposition
TO making . general appropriation for the Dis
trict he might discuss il, buI this was quite diff
ferent thing, and he thought the
GOVERNMENT SHOULD PAY
for improvements around its own property.
Mr.. Niblack (Ind.) said he had all OF last
winter felt uneasy at the manner In which the
board Of public works had made improvements,
and he had come to this session with no amisble
that all had been done systematically and &C
cordiDg to a definite plan. He did not yield his
opinion that the plan OF the board had been too
comprehensive, but he was sure
THE WORK HAD BEEN FAIRLY AND HONESTLY
DONE,
and the general government was liable for the
work around its own buildings.
Mr.. Burchard offered an amendment to make
the appropriation $500, 0O0 instead of q 900 900
Pending further consideration, the committee
rose, and Mr.. Garfield moved that the rules be
so suspended as TO pass the bill with the text as
originally reported from the committee.
Pending that motion, the House, at i:40 p. m,
adjourned.