Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-07-09

not; to attempt it is mere matter of guess
work. How can this be remedied and tho bill
onforccd in no other way than by q reassess.
ment of the property of the city, with lnstruc-
tions to the Commissioner Of the Revenue, that
in making the reasssessment he shall separate
tho real estate in every manufacturing establish
ment, FROM tho machinery and capital employed,
making distinct statement of tho value OF each.
This would probably occupy several months.
The assessor is in way to blame for not ASSESS
ing the houses and lots and tho machinery sepu-
rately There never existed any reason why he
should. The whole property has been hereto
fore valued together and its JOINT value assessed.
But again. i this bill WAS in accordance with
the constitution, and if all the machinery and
capital employed in manufacturers within the city
could by some process, be asceriained and OK
empted from taxation, still this bill would not
accomplish the object for which it was framed
and passed.; namely t. provide the necessary
means To meet the absolute demands Of tho city
for tho next fiscal year. With these exemptions
from taxation there would be, il they could be
ascertaned, an utter failure TO provide for the
nects sary expenses Of the city; and if new
Revenue bill should bo framed based upon the
property Of tho city not exempted from taxa
ton. ). ratio of taxation would have to be
so much increased in order to raise tho
required amount that it would be destruc-
tive to the interests OF tho city, Exempt
ali the machinery of every kid and d,s-
cription and who can toll what the taA on the
remaining property won "a Dc!
But there is still another obj elton which is
fatal to this bill The exemption does not in all
cases come even to the manufactures. Ihere
uro several of our manufacturing rstablshmontS
in which the real estate and machlaery employ
ed are owned by capitalists. These establish
ments are leased or rented to tho manufacturers
for u specific price. Now how does this bill re-
lieve the manufacturer? He owns none OF the
machinery, and to exempt from taxation the ms
chinery enures to tho benefit Of the capitalist,
and not to tho manufacturer, who, IN ali such
cases, where he leases or rents, will have, under
this bill. by increased taxation on the little prop
orty of himself and operatives, to make up the
amount RENTED TO the capitalist.
For these reasons, i do think, under this bill
that the collection Of taxes can BIO enforced. a
man may pay his license or tax bills II he
pleases, but he cannot be corerced 10 pay them.
All this trouble has grown out Of hasty lcgs-
lation, from ENGRAVING on this Dill tho
bill to exempt manufacturers from taxation
laid on the table on my Ii 'tlon, to Do
called up and discussed: an an earnest advo-
done to promote manufactures ia our city; and
when moved to lay the bill referred to on the
table, had prepared substltuto to be oliereu
as an amendment, which thought would ac-
comp,ish the object intended and yet be free
from the objections stated While was present
resisted various attempts to engrat on this Rev
enue bill matters which had 40 connection with
it. exp planned tho mpropriety and illegality ct
30 doing to members or tha other Board. A bill
establishing Eosrd of Improvement failed to
to be enacted; but The bill e.emptng machinery
and capital employed in manufacturing Was EN-
grated on the Revenue bill Nd renders 1t worth
less.
1.-the Illegal and unjust discrimination in ia
vor of one Glass of citizens against another. the
capitalist against the poor, had baen reversed
and tho discrimination had bean in favor OF the
Door against the capitalist, then it would have
awakened chord OF human sympathy, which;
acknowledging its il!egu!iLy, would hsvc plead
for It's Justification. But the poor had no ln1lu-
ence, their pIeadings. were not heard, there were
none to advocate their rights against capital and
machinery. :,
Now, SIR, was it not, to say the least, dscour
teous, when time and again, bad pressed the
consideration OF this bill IN each Board to CAL
it up euascuated and changed as It was and
pass 1t in my temporary absence? To emascu-
lut, from it the control of the city over tipping
houses and drinking saloons, to refuse to With
hold the granting of licenses to these eStfDlSh-
mcnts to violate the Sabbath, and make 1t day
OF revclry and riot to the crowds which by
steamboat and railroad flock hero every Sunday
from Washington city; to refuse TO withhold
the hceuse, because it would endanger the pop
ularity of members voting for it; was anV thing
ever so suicidal? Suppose the provision 10 en-
courage manufactures rngratted IN the Revenue
bill was right and proper, does any body IN nj;
senses suppose that capitalist could be found
who would invest his money here in any manu-
featuring establi, hment which could DC sur
rounded with tipping shops and drinking sa-
looms, kept open on Sunday to lure ms opera-
tives to their ruin Is any well regulated manu-
factory to be found SO stust"d II. any part oil inc
world? Yet this is the induccment held out to
manufacturers to come to Alexandr1a.
In January last, the Board of Aldermen pass
cd bill TO close up all drinking estab.i hments
on the Sabbath, it went to the other Board, and
was there tabled; they were afraid to vote tor IT.
and now in the Revenue bill the Common Coun-
Gil is afraid to withhold the license to rum shops
and tlpplng houses to sell on the Sabbath and
vet they invite capitalists to establish manuIac-
tories here, virtually telling them that their es-
tlblishmeuts must DO surrounded by rum shops
and tipping houses, kept open on the Sabbath:
because to close them up would affect their per-
sonai popularity. In what language should such
conduct be denounced? Yet these are the peo-
plo you have placed in office to shape the desti-
ny of your city, l have offended the President
OF the Common Council, the autocrst OF that
body, by making any opposition to his Dill 10
exempt manu- 'acturcs and Capital from taxation;
That should dare oppose measure introduced
BY HIN, he considers grievous offence. know
it WAS Il rash act on my part, ana am maze 10
pay the penalty. Ho has ordered that shall bo
dismissed from the finance committee; and, at
tended by the great Mogul of the Second ward,
who pronouuc d the Revenue bill rs it passad
this Board, 'conglomersilon OF nonsense, anu
50 thinks Of every thing else th,t he is not the
author OF, came to see that his order was obeyed
II wa; done to the letter. But will hereafter
show it WAS not decently done.
AT the conclusion Of COL Fs. remarks mes,
sage was received from the Common Council
inviting the Board of Aldermen to joint session
fer the purpose of electing Corporation officers.
DIR. johnson moved that the election be de
ferred until some other time, and that the
Aldermen decline the invitation, which was
carried.
A resolution was read, which had passed the
Common Council providing that hereafter the
clerk to the Committee on Light be elected by
Council, and not by that committee, as hereto
Col, French strenuousy opposed the resolu
tion. It had been pushed through the other
Board 3oo by some restless spirits who were always
meddliug with things they kncg nothing about,
or o' for the purpose Of foising some one on the
committee for clerk with whom they. 1.-THE COM
mittee) were, probably, not on speaking t terms