Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-05-21
The District I'm Congress.

MEETING OF THE HOUSE DIsTRICr COMMYTTzR
TO-DAY.
The House Committee on the District OF Co
lumbia held regular meeting to-day; present
Messrs. Cotton iR the chair), Rice, Hendee,
Leach, and Chapman.
gXEMPTING CHURCH PROPERTY PROM TAXA
The I.etition presented in the House by Mr..
George f. Hoar a few days since, praying foC
the repeal of the act eXempting church AM
school property in the District of Columbia
from taxation, and which was referred TO the
District Committee, WAS referred to a sub com
mittee consisting OF hessrs. Heud &c, Leach, ami
Lotiand. This petition c;r:ains many THOUSAND
Signatures OF persons in Ill parts of the Union
including he District of Columbia. II repre-
sents That the act eSemp:ing CHURCH and scROJ
property from taxation is at variance with tn
zpiIit, il not the letter, of the drst amendment
ts the constitution of the United States, whici
provides that Congress shall make no Law r.
speeding an establishment o. religion; tina.
ali ce the exemption from taxation or churches
paTs0nages, ecclesiastical houses and sectarIa
schools in the District of Columbia is precise
eQuiya ent in effect to a direct appropriation
oy Congress for their support, the petitioners
conceive this measure to violate what all the
eIIouGders OF the constitution declare to have
been It's manifest intel and design: viz, TO sever
all religious organizations from any connection
with OF dependence upon the civil govern
M mt, except for equal aud Impartial protection.
They further represent that the tax is unjust,
aid that the nOn-taxation Of church property
u tending 10 the same results here as elsewhere,
since. while the number OF churches in the
United Statee was not doubled between 1850 and
1870, the value or church property during the
50 me period was quadrupled, advancing from
s 1913 sol to 1854 $50 5Sl. at the same rate its
value in 1890 will be over S1.4IS, 900 900; and
such rapid accumulation Of wealth in coolest
astical hancs Is most perilous to civil aud re-
ligiOus liberty. The Committee have also ad-
dressed a communication to Gov. ShepherI
asking Information ~ as to the extent OF prop
erty held by churches and public schools in tue
District; (2l the value thereof; (3) the amount
Of tax which will be derived from this property
II tAxed-stating the two kinds Of property sep
arately, (4) how much church property not ac-
tually occupied by churches and school houses
but which is nevertheless exempt; 90 any geu-
eral views on the subject which his experiences
may suggest.
THE ALLEGED ABUSES IN THE WASHINGTON
MARKET.
A petition from George NJ. Oyster and other
dealers in the Washington market, relative TO
the sale OF stands and stalls, Substance Of peti-
ton was printed in The STAR q day or two
since, referred to sub-committee consisting
OF Metsrs. Clark, Rice, and Barnum.
The com mitiee have addressed letter 10 Mr..
M. u. Emery, president OF the Washington
Market company, asking him to present in
II they have any, to granting the prayer OF the
petitioners The committee have also ad
dressed a letter to MIR. Oyster, asking him and
others interested, to send to them a written
statement Of the reasons which they claim
would justify the Interference OF Congress in
this matter.
MITrER FILLED.
Speaker Blaine has appointed Mr.. :. I'm Mar
snail Hagans, republican, representing the 2
West Virginia district, to fill the vacancy on
the House District Committee, occasioned By
the resignation or Judge K. s. Hale. of New
YORK. hr. Hsgsns Is a native OF Virginia aud
LAWYER by profession. This appointment does
not affect the chairmanship, as Judge Cotton,
or Iowa, will remain chairman.
SENATE AMENDMENTS To THE DEFICIENCY
BILL.
Among the Senate amendments TO the DEF
ciei cy bill Recently passet bv the House are
cree ton of stone wall around the COLUMBIA
Lyh gin Asylum, IS 800; for defrayiny the
exp, nses OF the Board OF Health Of the District
OF Columbia for the fiscal year ending June 80,
1874, $751;
POSTPONED.
The consideration of the bill introduced by
Mr.. Chapman on the 18th instant, to aid the
Columbia Institution for the Blind ef the Dis
trict OF Columbia, was postponed for the pres
ent session.