Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-12-18
Largest Circulation in the District
WASHINGTON CITY:
FRIDAT.........Deeember Is, 1874.
The District BIIIintna senate.


Ii II satisfactory 70 note In the current debate
IN the Senate upon the new bill for the govern
ment Of the District, the evidences on both
sides Of the chamber of good will towards the
people OF the District, and the unreserYei re-
COgnltion of the fact that the Government is
responsible for its share of the expenses OF the
Government city The point il now to have
this recognition Of the duties of the Government
toward the District crystalized into deiaite
legislstion, so that in estimating the rate OF
taxation for the citizens, the proportion to be
paid BY the United States may be taken INTO
account, without the necessity OF running to
Congress in the attitude OF petitioners for special
appropriations in every case.
In the DEBATE on Wednesday Mr.. Morrill,, OF
Maine, IN defining the relations OF the govern
ment to the District said: Upon the theory of
the Constitution every Representative and
every Senator in Congress Is necessarily a rsp
TesentatlVe in a peculiar sense in regard TO this
District, charged with the highest and most
sacred duties over this District, to watch over
It ard carefully protect it, not only to provide
for in the high sense that il is national can't
tai and is 10 be isOlatsdfrOm slI local jurisdic-
tons or interfering interests of snv character
whatever, but IN the nature of a sacred trust,
and every Senator and representative himselfis
atEustee 20 that end And again:
"By the theory OF this bill il will be seen that
the government OF the District. At the 5 ,me
time, IN conformity " tn the theory of this bill
" assumes To direct all the expenditures IL
makes all the legislation, governs eVerythiny
directs every thin Z, provides for every thing and
providing fer everything, of course IL provides
icr the expenses. current and ordinary, interest
OF the public debt, and everything that pertains
10 The afairE OF The District"
Mr. Bsyard said upon the subject of taxation.
sit does seem TO NE that the rate OF taxation
proposed IN the bill, a uniform rate OF per
cent uIcn al property, whether in ths country
OF whether IN the city, Is too great, and IL more
than y necessary. do not think Won can com.
are thl5 District exactly to the case OF a State
where there are state taxes, county taxes toxn1
ship taxes. 80 well city tsxes: AMI perhsps the
basis On which the committee have gone in fv-
ing the amount 10 be levied is not precisely APP
Piicable to this District"
To this Mr.. Morrill, replied.
81 with 10 cay word in rspiy tn my
1Iiend from ono, who suggests that tue rate OF
TAXATION i made to high in the bill That is
nkeiy. as remarked, that is one question
which We cannot determine exactly. There is
10 such thing a. saving what is the precisely
proper proportion of burden the people OF ths
District should bear. 1t seemed 70 M that tina
most equitable thing to be done was that the
government Of the United States should direot
me Whole thing, and levy from the people of the
District only that reasonable So N which il WAS
!IoIeI they should pay by way OF taxation. 1t
me taNatlO1 We propose is unreason able IL can
be modified by The Senate"
In the progress Of debate Mr.. Bavard again
expressed his conviction that the rate of t,Ss-
ton proposed was oppressive to the people, and
he said:
1.-THE question of taxation in tbls District IL
mystery 10 me- I do not know the history OF
taxation elsewhere; but comparing the tsxation
I neIS With mat TO which have been accustomed
IN the state where my home is the taYation
here Is exaggerated and mOnstrous III ia a
taxation 80 lar beyond that which I believe
IIuIehl, reasonable, discreet property holders
anywhere would voluntarily impose uDon their
cWn property, that 1 cannot but expres- INV
great regret that the intelligence of this District
81 sa1 .ne property OF this District should have
been so utterly overwhelmed and deprived of
an opportunity Of saying what portion of their
IlopsI'y should De pad for the benefit OF hsy-
ing the balance protected and governed"
MIR. Hamilton, OF Maryland, gave II A. his
views, as a member Of the Joint Special ConD.
nittee. that "sll We want is a good goyernmsnt
n this District to relieve its people, and he a
credit TO the United States"
IN the Senate debate yesterday the same "a
gard FOR the welfare OF the people OF the District
was expressed. Mr.. MOrrill, of NJ aine, in de-
clariDg the purposes of the committee. said thsv
came 10 the CONCLUSION, "upon the most careful
examination Of the whole thing, that the ONLY
SAFE course TO adopt was for the Congress of ths
I nieo Statesto exercise that jurisdiction which |
~ mas TO discharge; in other words that sacred I
trust which IL dsvolred upon it to make this I
capital worthy OF the people Of this country.u
MT. Salisbury expressed the opinion that 4
Congress ought, now that the after was before |
them, TO see to it "that the taxpayers of this !
District are lot longer taxed exorbitsntly."
Mr.. Bayard said in this connection:
ono thinking man suploses but that the Dis-
flct OF Columbia, il left unaided must sue
cCmb uncer the monstrOus debt which has been
imposed upon IL by the agents OF the United 4
States without the consent OF the people who /.
ale TO be affected by it,"
Mr.. Thurman in defining his position on the /.
suffrage question in the District, said that one
reason for the passage Of such bill for the I
government OF the District, as Congress shall !
deem pIoI was, ''thst the people OF this DIG
triet are not the only people interested iQ IT.
They are Lot the only Property-holder, in it
Ihe government Itself is the largest property /
holder here by far, and has an interest there
fore, as property holder that must be protected
and the protection Of which is paramount This :
District belongs 10 the people OF the whole !
country
These uttersnces by leading Senators are all .
10 the point, a. showing that thew fully recog- F.
hIze the IaterDal duties OF the government to- |
Sards ITS capital city. Ii only remains for our .
taxpayers and business men 20 take the pains /
TO give members OF Congress the definite infor-
nation they seem 10 desire as TO the features of I
an equitable adjustment of the burdens of tax
alton between District property, and govern /
nent property.