National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-05-22
he court did not decide the case.
THE DISTRICT IN CONGRESS-
ACTION OF THE DISTRICT COMMITTEE
YESTERDAY

ACTION OF THE DISTRICT COMMITTEE
YESTERDAY.
The House Committee on the District held their
regular session Yesterday, Judge Cotton pre- =
siding, when the following matters were cor
sidered:
The petition presented In the House by Mr..
| George F. Hoar few days since, praying for the
repeal Of the act exempting church and school
| property in the District OF Columbia from taxa
tion, and which was referred to the District Com
mittee, was referred to q subcommittee, consist
ing Of Messrs. Hendee, Leach and Loaand. This
| petition contains many thousand signatures of
persons in all parts Of the Union, including the
District Of Columbia. 1t represents that the act
| exempting church and school property from tax
alton is at variance with the spirit, If not the
letter, OF the first amendment to the Constitution
Of the United States, which provides that Con
gress shall make no law respecting an establish
ment Of religion" that since the exemption
from taxation Of churches, parsonages, eccle-
sastical houses and sectarian schools In the
District Of Columbia Is precisely equivalent in
effect to direct appropriation by Congress for
their support, the petitioners conceive this
measure to violate what all the expound-
ers Of the Constitution declare to have been
its manifest intent and design, viz: to sever all
religious organizations from any connection
with or dependence upon the civil government,
further represent that the tax is unjust and that
the non taxation of church property IL tending to
the same results here as elsewhere, since, while
the number Of churches in the United States was
not doubled between 1850 and 1870, the value OF
church property during the same period was
quadrupled, advancing from sS7, IS, SOL to 1884,
$50, 5sL. At the same rate Its value In 1890 will
be over 81 AIS, 900 900; and such rapid aceuma.a-
ton Of wealth in ecclesiastical hands Is most
narilaus n rIviI lTuIo he
mittee have also addressed q communication to
Governor Shepherd, asking information ~ as to
the extent Of property held by churches and pub
lie schools in the District; C2) the value thereof
(3) the amount OF tax which will be derived from
this property If taxed-stating the two kinds Of
property separately; ~ how much church prop
erty not actually occupied by churches and school
houses, but which is nevertheless exempt; (5) any
general views on the subject which his experience
may suggest.
THE ALLEGED ABUSES IN THE WASHINGTON MAR
KET.
petition from George NJ. Oyster and other
dealers In the Washington market, relative to the
sale Of standsewas referred to q subcommittee
consisting OF Messrs. Clark Rice and Barnum.
The committee have addressed letter to Mr.. NJ.
g. Emery, president Of the Washington Market
Company, asking him to present in writing any
objection the company may have, If they have
any ~ bhO pAdyOR " buo pobAbAOuCEe.
The committee have also addressed letter to Mr.
Oyster, asking him and others interested to send
to them q written statement Of the reasons which
they claim would justify the interference OF Con-
gress in this matter.
THE VACANCY IN THE HOUSE DISTRICT COMMIT
TEE FILLED.
Speaker Blaine has appointed Mr.. John Mar
shall Hagans, Republican, representing the
Second West Virginia district, to fill the vacancy
on the House District Committee, occasionsd by
the resignation Of Judge r. s. Hale, of New York.
Mr.. Hasans is o native Of Virginia and lawyer
by profession. This appointment does not affect
the craftsmanship, as Judge Cotton, Of Iowa, will
remain chairman.
SENATE AMENDMENTS TO THE DEFICIENCY BILL
Among the Senate amendments to the def
cheney bill recently passed by the House are the
following: To complete the grading and erection
Of stone wall around theIColumbla Lying-in Asy-
lum, q, 500; for defrayIng the expenses Of tho |
Board Of Health for the District OF Columbia for
the fiscal year ending June 80, 1874, s3l,57O.
POSTPONED.
The consideration OF the bfll introduced by Mr.. |
Chapman on the 18th instant, to aid the Columbia |
institution for the Blind Of the District OF CoIua
bia, was postponed FOR the present session.