Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-02-06

Us
generous and patriotic service the amount of
the account, less Sirteen per cent, when tax
payers were then, by law, only allowed sir per
cent. discount; and tender myself ready, when
properly called on, 10 name other cases in tohich
general tdIes for The current year hare been paid
subject TO This ezcessice discount. L have no COM
ment to make upon this new way Of paying
taxes. / can only say that mine was paid in
full in currency, and 1 ask no credit for doing
what was simply my duty.
And in regard to the charge that by this re-
been caused to the laborers of the District 1T
is certainly not the purpose OF those who make
that charge to divert the mind of the public
from what we all know: the fact that certid-
Gates OF lien have been issued against nearly all
property upon which assessments have been
made, and which are unpaid within q certain
time; that the authorities have hypothecated or
sold these certificates, and received the money
therefore; that contractors have been settled
with in either currency, certificates, or bonds
towards the payment of the interest upon which
bonds the receipts OF general taxes have been
contributed.
If the laborers are unpaid, am not to blame;
for against my property there has been issued a
lien, which, If legal, is charge upon the same,
ana Is now held presumably at large discount
by some capitalists, private or public, here or
elsewhere. Were L TO pay those liens to -day no
one would be b. netted but the holder Of the
certificate, who holds the same not only at a
discount from the face, but with the high rate
OF ten per cent. interest thereon.
doubt whether in any other community on
INC ioOC Vi Snis pfOdu edrtn, anu not under tue
government of an absolute monarchy, the dis
bursement OF millions of money is intrusted to
one man or set of men, who in their own way.
and without restraint or check, contract in.
debtedness and give out work to be done with
out competition, and to whom they please at
their own prices, and paying therefor In what
ever form they choose, either in certificates
bonds or cash, modes of payment VARYING in
value nom forty-hye cents to one hundred
cents In the dollar, and thus creating debt te
De paid az some future time by the property of
And in regard to the sewer taxes, certificates
Tor which are now issued and are being used as
kind OF currency to pay the laborers and All
make them welcome, an assessment th at in Ger.
tain localities, where no sewers have been made
imposes tax OF two cents per foot on property
hardly worth four cents per foot; while it falls
30 lightly In others, and particularly in that
section OF the city which has furnished the oc
casion Of 80 much comment, both as to the m an
ner of large purchases made therein and the
great improvements subsequently done there
the tax being eleven mills per foot on real es-
tate worth one dollar per foot.
This great irregularity cannot certainly be
sustained by any principle OF law, and should
induce thoughtful examination by all citizens.
pect than this. Despite the obstacles which, as
alleged, i'll advised people, had interposed in
its way, when the "ei, 900 900 Loan was offered
10 the stock markets Of Europe, that amount
Vas readily taken ct or near par, and three
umes the sum wanted was offered; and had our
nnances been well managed, and the money ex-
penoco only - received, our six per cent. CO.
curities would Be to-day in hieh favor for local
hnvessmsn~s 1Aersas Ue are now borrV,piag a.