National Republican., 1874-07-02
TAXPAYERS IN COUNCIL.
ORGANIZATION FOR PROTECTION.

ORGANIZATION FOR PROTECTION.
For several days past the following circular
has been extensively circulated among certain
classes in this city:
| WASHINGTON, June n, 1874.
DEAR SIR: You are hereby invited to attend
meeting Of the taxpayers Of the District oi Co
| lumbia for the purpose Of consultation and organ
izatlon, and having special reference to thI
present condition Of our affairs at the Board o
Trade rooms, on Wednesday evening, July l. o.
7:3O o'clock.
This circular bears the names of W. W. Cor
coran, Samuel Bacon, William Stickney, vii
liam Il. Philip, William Gunton, George W
Riggs, Charles F. Peck and Walter S. Cox.
| In response to the invitation about fifty citi.
zens assembled at the rooms of the Board Ot
Trade last evening, among them being H
Polkinhorn, Geo. W. Cochran, s. Castleman
Thos. Berry, DR.. W. P. Johnston, F. Pelling
F. B. Mohun, F. 8. Clarke, Horatio Easily, N
| Taylor, (of Lockwood, Hufty & Tsylor,) W
G. Metzerott Henry Thorn, ]. L. Barbour
Jas. H. Bradley, Geo. Kirk, Chas. Edmonson
W. Wall, A. L. Perry, Columbus Alexander
DR.. Donaldson, Peter Hoover, Henry Davis
W. S. Cox, W. H. Phillips, Judge Thompson
Frank Hume, W. Webb, Jesse B. Wilson, Jas
Petting, John T. Given, R. l. Fleming, Thorn.
ton L. Smith and others.
| The meeting organized by the election o.
Samuel Bacon president, and W. n. Claggeti
secretary, after which committee, consisting
of John II. Phillips, Walter S. Cox, William
Stickney, DR.. c. II. Nichols, j. W. Thompson
DR.. c. II. Cragin and Horatio King, were ap
pointed to prepare plan Of organization to bt
submitted to the meeting. After considering
the matter for nearly three quarters of an houI
they submitted their report, which, after some
amendment, was adopted as follows:
We, the undersigned, hereby agree to form
an association to be known as the Taxpayers
Association of the District Of Columbia. The
object of the association shall be: First, tc
give expression through this organization Il
the views and advocate the interests of thost
who contribute to the expense of the District
government; second, to make such appeals to
Congress as shall induce that body to Justly
apOrtion the liabilities between the United
States and the taxpayers of the District; third
to secure a careful economy and a strict sys
TEN Of accountability in the expenditures oi
money.
When the report of the committee was read
Mr.. H. s. Davis arose and offered objections to
Mr.. J. W. Thompson and Mr.. Stickney serv.
ing on the committee, giving as a reason their
connection with the late District government,
whereupou tilt took place between Messrs
Thompson and Davis, among which the words,
"dirty dog" "lunatic," &c, were used.
Mr. Clifford Arrick offered an amendment,
which was not adopted, that the association
prosecute all puDnc onenoers IN the Dlstrlct ol
Columbia Ono distinction being made on ac-
count of nationality, sex, color or previous
condition.)
Several gentlemen thought II this amend
ment was adopted that the association would
be taking upon itself herculean work, so it
was voted down.
A small crowd of memorialists, who occu-
pied seats in the back portion of the hall, and
who were in the minority throughout the meet
ing, cast several reflections on J. W. Thompson
and VIM. Stickney, and these gentleu en-, to
satisfy this beggarly crowd, withdrew their
names from the committee, and asked to be
relieved from further connection with It or the
association. The same old crowd of sore
heads who had been petitioDing Congress for
the last three years were present last night,
with Concrete Smith acting as whipper. in, but
the respectable citizens present outnumbered
them, and consequently their influence was not
felt. Several of them made speeches, denying
that they or the taxpayers of the District were
| liable for any debts Of the Board of Public
Works except the four million loan.
At 1880 the assembly adjourned TO meet
again Oh next Wednesday evening, at the same
place.