Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-06-18
THE DISTRICT GOVERNMENT.
Action OF the House YESTERDAY

District Of Columbia reported from the investi-
eating committee being under consideration
MIR. Wilson addressed the House.
Mr.. Niblack said lie had undo stood that the
officers of the District had been guilty of un-
lawful acts. he desired to know whether the
committee recommended any censure Of the
ffcsIs who have violated the law and bank
rupted the District.
Mr. Wilson replied that he did not think |,
Sss the province Of the committee to recon-
mend censure of any one. The committee
would have considered the frame of govern
ment, but they concluded that they had not
time TO perfect it. There were too M AnT things
20 be provided for, as fer instance the police,
he schools, the nre department, &c. They
therefore thought IL best 10 make such provision
Is would furnish model municipal govern
ment for the capital OF the nation. They had,
therefore, provided for commission, to be
composed OF two Senators anl two Representa-
lives, 10 submit a frame OF government to the
next Congress. Ii was desired by every mem
ser Of the committee that the government
should not be political or partisan, and there
ore this commission of four was provided for.
&c is made the duty OF said COMMISSION to sub
init statement OF the proper proportion of eN.
pense that should be borne by the United States
government. There are several strong reasons
Why this should be done, and the exact rela-
ions OF the general government and the Dis
rTict should be definitely ascertsued. and one
sthst because when demands are made for ap-
propriatiOns from term to term they cannot be
properly made IN the absence Of this informs
tiOI.
MIR. Garfield inquired whether the bill pro-
posed that the commission should frame a gov
erDment and also fix the amount the govern
ment should pay annually.
Dir. wilson replied that they must report to
Congress, and Congress itself would Tx the
amount.
Mr.. Chapman said he desired to call attention
70 the fact that under the organic act the full
control of the funds was placed with the Board
of Public Works.
Mr. Wilson said if the gentleman would trace
he proceedings and the debate at that time he
int tai tn nj
he board that great power. The way in which
money was expended was one of the Usurpations
and unlawful acts of the board.
Mr.. Chapman said the law was construed as
giving them that power.
Mr.: Wilson was aware that it was so con
strued, but 1t was never so intended.
Mr.. Wilson closed with an explanation of the
section of the bill proposing that the debt shall
0e funded.
Mr.. Bass (N. " member of the joint COM
mittee, then proceeded 10 make some eNplAna-
zion OF the bill In relation to the subject Of tax
4tion, and sand il had been thought best to 90
INTO only such general remarks as woald bring
before tie House the general provisions OF the
OIL. AID bis remarks would be confined to the
-ubject OF taxation. He had heard exp essed a
desire to know why the committee had proposed
tax OF three per cent. i'll Washington, tive and
half III Georgetown, and two per cent. outside
u the two cities, and the proposition bad been
criticised by citizens as excessive. The tax was
placed at these figures for the reason that last
ear the Leg stature levied tax of two per
cent. in Washington and lbs in Georgetown
and the county, and the result was great COM
plant that the Legislature did not provide ade
quate revenue TO pay the expenses, and the
deficiency on the first of July would be more
than S1,G00, 900. Some of this was due to the
fact that the taxes were not paid. 1t was levied
on the LIST Of July, 1913, with certain abate-
meDts for prompt payment. Under the pro-
visions OF that law the taxes were te pay the
current expenses, the salaries of the school
teachers, hremen and other employees, from the
lowest chimney sweep to the Governor. The
taxes were collected SO slowly that there were
more than a million dollars due. By an esti-
mate prepared by the Governor 70 be sent to
the District Legislature, printed on page % OF
the report OF the committee, it was shown that
for the year ending June 80, 1875, the current
estimated expenses OF the District of ten miles
square were more than those Of % of the states
The estimate IL 80 ,6O6,29 SIS. 1t was therefore
necessary that Congress, unless it int AIDED to
follow the example or the District government
and let the District run into bankruptcy, to
PROVIDE Tor the payment OF current expenses.
The committee had for this recommended
this increased tax that tie teachers, fire.
men, police and other employees might
not be left to suffer. By reference 70 the table
II taxes on page % OF the report it would be
seen ihat this tax would produce about the
amount required, If all the taxes were paid the
amount would be g., SEQ 600 in round numbers
The committee had recommended that the tax
be made payable On the lst of November. Some
Of the residents had complained that this made
double tax. This allegation was unfouuded.
The last tax bill was passed June %, 1873, and
made collectable July 1, 1873, and was to paw
the current expenses of the year beginning on
that date. The present tax should have been
made payable July 1. 1874, but the committee
had proposed to extend the time to the LIST of
November. The people in the stir that had
been made had some of them believed that
Congress would pay all the expenses of the Dis
trict, and had not paid their taxes. Besides the
expenses submitted by the Governor there were
other expenses which would increase the
amount. The care and keeping in repair of
the streets and avenues would amount to
nd MI lnaa Nhaa
p1oyeDents already begun, outside of existing
contracts, could not be less than $3.50, OOO and
there was the interest on the floating debt,
which the bill provides should be funded, which
would be 500, 900. The committee had desired TO
reduce taxation to the lowest figure, aud il
could rot be put at less aud save the District
from bankruptcy. In reference to the question
1flevying tax upon personal property, Mr..
Bass said the committee had carefully weighed
the subject
A number of members desired him to allow
amendments TO be read to that effect, and
amendments by Messrs. Parker, mo y Fort
Llll.,l Small, IN. II. } were read, but Mr.. Bass
declined TO admit them.
Mr.. q. +. Hoar asked him to admit an amend
meht directing the new committee 10 include
the proposition IL their draft of bill, but Mr..
Bass SAID the committee had Considered that
proposition, and had come TO the conclusion il
would not be proper for one committee to rec
"mmend what another committee equally COM
petent should do.
MIR. Garfield (Ohio) said that was right
Leave the committee free to act according 10
IFS own judgment in preparing the draft of a
bill, which would come before the House for its
action. when the gentleman could submit his
proposition.
Mir. Bass said the committee did not propose
4 tax On personal property for the reason that
fhe District Legislature for three successive
sessions had adopted the present system of tax
alton, and il was in accordance with existing
laws. The committee HAD sought to avoid 3
modification Of tie District laws. except such
AS was necessary to carry out what was prop sed
by the bill. They had avoided q change because
they thought the acts of the Legislature an
exposition of the views of the people. The
committee had agreed with the views which he
had heard expressed in the House in relation to
the taxation of personal property, and supposed
that IN the government contemplated IL would
be Included. A large portion OF the people here
were Eon-residents, and the committee had felt
that they had net time TO perfect a bill to
arrange for the collection of such a tax. A bill
to properly provide for the collection of a tax
on personal properly would be half as long as
the bill under consideration, and in view OF the
pecnliaritIes as TO the population of the Dis
uict, should have q careful consideration. For
these reasons the committee did not think IL
expedient to levy this tax for the five short
months before the Resembling of Congress.
Mr.. Wilson then demanded the previous
question on the bill, which was seconded-94
20 30.
Mr.. Chapman I'd. CT asked if that cut of all
opportunity for discussion.
Mr.. Beck (ky.) And all amendments?
Mr.. Holman lind asked IL the main CUES
ton was not ordered, will the bill be omen for