Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-03-30
THE NEW TAX LAW.
THE CITIZENS MEETING.
IMPORTANT DEMONSTRATE Oy
RESOLUTIONS Adopted and Powerful
speech by Hon. x. +. Merriek.
The Defects and Oppressive Features
of the Personal Tax Law.

Resolutions Adopted and Powerful
speech by Hon. x. Il. Nerriek.
The Defects and Oppressive Features
Of the Personal Tax Law.
Earnest Protest Against Harsh aud
Unnecessary Enforcement Of the
Crude and Defective Pro.
visions Of the Law.
The published call in THE STAR for the
citizens to assemble in public meeting at
Lincoln Hall last night for the purpose of
taking such action as might be deeme
proper in relation 10 the tax law recently
Tassed by Congress, as was expected, brought
together large cOncourse OF leading citi-
zens, illing every seat of that capaciods hall
and all the available standing room. IL was
probably the largest representative assem-
blage OF the solid men of the District ever
At $40 O'Clock Mr.. John T. Mitchell called
the meeting TO order, and on his motion Mr.
Samuel Bacon was called To the chair
Mr.. Bacon, on taking the chair, read the
call for the meeting.
Mr.. c. NJ. Matthews nominated Mr. j. T
Mitchell, of Georgetown, and Mr.. J. q. Judd
OF washington, as secretaries, and they were
elected.
Mr.. NJ. W; Gait offered the following, which
was adopted:
Resolrcd. That committee on resolutions
be appointed by the chair, To consist OF nine
which shall report a series OF resolutions for
the action OF this meeting, and to which COM
ferred.
The following We're appointed the commit
tee: Richard I. Merrick, DIR. James {. Hall.
NJ. w. Gait, e. b. Church. a. H Herr G. w
Cochran, j. L. Lehman, j. l.. Barbour and G
VI. Matthews.
The committee retired. and during their
absence Mr.. Judd, at the suggestion OF the
chairman. read the tax law and the schedule
of personal property proposed by the Com
missioners 10 be taxed. The latter was a
follows:
TIA .al,,a Gov ovation, &c tl,a ,,,,o ,-,,,,o l.,
the lawful money OF the United States of the
property assessed, and the assessed value has
reference to the date of April list, 1875.
If any person, firm or corporation shall fail
To make the list OF property required by see
ton 10th, act of Congress approved March 81,
1915, the assessor viii then from his best in
will add fifty per centum thereof, and the
persons refusing to make this list will he
liable to conviction of misdemeanor and To q
fire in any sum not exceeding $500, TO which
may be added Imprisonment not exceeding
thirty days. And II any person shall make
false affidavit touching the matters pro
vided in such section, he will be liable TO con
NictiOn Tor perjury, and subject to the penal
ties for that offence provided by law. And if
said return shall not be made by any firm
each member thereof resident i'm said District
shall be liable To the penalties of this act.
List Of PeTsOam Property O,caet or Hetd -iprU
1, 1875.
/. Credits, as follows, with the amounts in
dollars and cents:--(dl promissOry notes, 90
accounts, (c) money secured by deed of trust,
90 money secured by mortgages, (e) bonds,
% money on deposit with any person or
bank, 90 any other legal claim or demand
for money. or other valuable thing, or for
labor or service due or to become due; total
credits, s.
III. Valid and bona fide Debts individually
and absolutely owed by the person taxed
mot including any acknowledgment of in
debtedness unless founded on some consider
alton rightfuly received and believed at
time of making such acknowledgment to be
valid consideration therefor, nor any ac-
acknowledgement of debt made for purpose of
Diminishing the amount OF credits TO be listed
rents, 90 amount payable in labor or service
current price,. (el proportion certainly to be
paid as security for others, " amount OF all
other valid and bona fide Indebtedness due
individually and absolutely. Total deduction
for Indebtedness s.. Netamount of credit
April LIST, 1876, to be entered for taxation,
III. Stock as follows:
IN. Moneys in actual possession.
v. Household goods and furniture of every
kind. gold and silver plated, and china ware,
iewelry, watches and books.
VI. Value of all goods and merchandise
on hand.
VII. Value of all articles on hand for pur-
pose of being used IN whole or in part in any
process or operation of manufacture, com
bining, redressing, or refining.
VIII. Value oil all manufactured articles
tools, implements and machinery ON hand.
IN. Value of agricultural tools, Imple-
ments and machinery.
duets.
NJ. Value of brick, stone and all other
building materials on hand.
MI. Value of horses and other animals
and carriages and wagons.
XIII. All other chooses in action and in
possession, and all other articles of personal
property not included IN the foregoing items
OF this sta tement.
Exemptions under The l0tC. not 10 be Included IN
Return List 10 assessors:
|. Property exempt from taxation by the
limited
Goods, chattels and other personal prop
erty owned by persons dOmicilei i'm the Dis
trict OF Columbia, but whose legal resid ence
Is out of said District and which property is
taxed elsewhere.
3. Stock $50 far as the individual owner is
cohcefned) OF any corporation taxed on its
of all corporations in said District is to be
appraised in bulk by the assessors f., and the
corporations issuing the same shall be liable
for a tax thercon.)
4. All property exempt by law from execu-
ton. (Act of February 5th, 1863, 18th stat
utes at Large, $50, eXempts from execution
wearing apparel belonging to all persons
and to all heads of families being household.
ers, beds, bedding, household furniture
Stoves, cooking utensils, etc. not exceeding
500 in value; provisions for three months
support, whether provided or growing; ;seI
Tor three months mechanics Tools and inn
plements of dehtQfs' trade or business
amounting TO 500 in value, with 500 worth
CT stock for carrying on business of debtor
or his family; library and implements OF
professional man or artist TO value of 500:
one horse, one mule, or yoke OF oxen: one
cart, wagon. or dray, anu harness for such
team; farming utensils, with food for such
team FOR three months. and. If debtor be a
lalmer, any other farming tools of value of
500; all family pictures and all the family
library not exceeding in value 500: one COW.
one swine. six sheep.O '
o. All libraries or books i'm use and not
heid for sale, not over the value of $500 and
al nouseholc, store, shop or Office furniture
or TOOLS not held for sale not over the yalu,.
ca $500. WV '"''''
Mr.. Columbus Alexander INQUIRED if Dis
ulct securities were included in the taxable
securities?
The Chair.-"Yes, sir: all except the 500
bonds guaranteed by the United States
The Resolutions.
The committee on resolutions here re-
turned and reported a preamble and resolu-
tions as follows, through Mr.. Merrick, who
said that he had been requested to submit a
few remarks upon the law in connection
wit II the resolutions:
Whereas the Congress OF the Cnited States
at its recent session. passed an act for the
supp ort OF the government of the District of
Columbia for the fiscal year ending June 81
1876. providing for the levy of tax upon all
real and personal property i'm said District
nd WI q int o