New-York tribune., 1874-07-04
WASHINGTON WORSE OFF THAN SOl
CAROLINA.

THE DEBT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA MORE
THAN TWICE THE SIZE PRoPoRuoNALLY OF
THAT OF "THE PROSTATE STATE '-wHAr cox
GREss MIGHT DO.
To the EditOr Of The Tribune.
SIR: You have given much space in yOui
paper 10 the District Government IN Washington. Let
me say something about the interests OF the aXpayen
there. Those taxpayers have already had hard
time and the result of the "nyestigatOn' i 10 give
them still harder one in the future lido regret that
there has been Inves e.Jh, FOR he iO6sor the dy
Oh reckoning put of tho harder it VIII be 10 settle up
do think however. that when Congress found that the
Government they imposed upon the District had lh
vovei it in debt of enormous extent, they should
not have LETT the burden of it upon the people who had
so small part in its creation, who, IN fact, have al the
time been helpless protesting against 1t. such repre-
sentative government has existed In the District for
the past two years has been the result chiefly OF sn0
rant and voters easily mdnipuated
by those who have rued 10 tnc ptcunlaty run ol
the District. IL was the fault OF Congress tnat the
Board OF Public Works had such power 50 70 Involve tho
City of Washington the taxpayers never consented 70
IT, TAcIr constant protests against eAtidNdSahee Neie
ever unheeded Is iC right that tier property sLOuI
be taken to pay these bills Upon Na.nilon Oi
soO0JO0O0 IN the CITY OF washington mere IA, Deen
debt OF S2OO00C)0 incurred! Wnat kind Oi fostering
care does Congress show for the capital OF the nation 10
embarras its property to the extent VI % Per cent"
You and many other papers have been holding up tho
miquitous Government or SOuth Carol9d 10 deserved
scOrn and reprOuaton for the heavy taxes u Las lW-
posed people, ana the enormous dco III iit, F
CURED. Let me snow you how much better IT. cl'es
than is that OF helpless District OF Columbia. Ihe
valuation VI South Carolina l. $4,000 go ana iis debt
sl7 OOOOOO against valuation or ss00OO0O with debt
OF SgOOOOOOO IN the District OF Columbia For the past
two years the Guy Of Washington = has taken more
than three months average reut 10 pay the aN OF one
house each year. In the capital OF South Carolina les:
than aud half months rent has paid tle taxes Oh
house similarly situated for the same time. lOu knO"
tha tue proportion OF rent PAID for tINcs de
scrbes more truly their burden than any nominal rate
per cent and next time you compassionate the people
In the PROSTATE State"-lnd am Tar from saying tha
they do not need ssion-please extend some OF
your ympathy 10 the dNellers IL Washington tc lgI
tunate wards OF Congress citizens of the capital 0t he
nation VINO give up the privilege Of voting for Pcsliens
or for Congress- aud in lieu thereof bak under IT. she
term and protective Remember, too, tat llFse
portion OF the people Washington empOyc> OF he
Government, working for the same salaries that they
had before the war. poor clerks who only hall own te
tenementhouses they live 10, buying those W
paying $50 down, aud pledging their salaries "
monthly payments OF the balance, untll the c9u.s
OF the millenniuma day not little deferred, ala- 70
their hopes, by the late increase Of taxes alrtad! o
burdensome than any other city or place IN the IAon
staggers under. ,.,..
There must be something in the statement OF these
things which the Washington papers done ike, Tor thJ
VIII print them but appeal win entire confidence
to 1HE TRIBUNE. TAN-PANER Oh MAshISGiOs
Washington, d. c., June 2J, 1874.