Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-04-02

-htNhlS Jtnfl L. trlNtI, w -. tON. tgO~tN -.
Noyes, George Taylor, John Ii. SemmeS
John w. Thompson, VIM. "A. Cook, Samuel
Norment. Gustavus Lausburg, W. q. Mc:ze-
Tott and VIM. Ballantyne. There were also
present, by invitation OF the committee, some
other representative business men. incluiine
MesSrS. NJ. w. Gait. Samuel Bacon. j. L,
Mitchell, j. G.. Judd, NJ. q. Emery. Samuel
Fowler, w Il. Moses and j. c. McKelden.
Remarks by Mr. John r. Given.
Mr.. Given saiu. Gentlemen, we are here
by appointment, and acting under the Gre
deutials furnished rs as a committee, ac-
companiei by delegation of our representa-
tive men. These credentials, enauatei from
The meeting of citizens held at Lincoln Hall
on last Monday evening. This communica-
ton is addressed 10 me.
John 7. GiryH, Esq.-Sir: The undersigned
have the honor 10 inform you that the following
named gentlemen, with Yourself, are appointed
committee to carry ont the views enbodied ia tin
tn citizens held at Lincoln Hall, last evening,
March 18th. ion are requested to convene sail
c0lAntte" az speedily as possible and proceed 10 Law
The preamble and resolutions before the C"Inm'--
may in its wisdom, devise. The committee is com
Cox. CTosbv s Nnye-. Ccorg" TayI0r Jaha fl
Semmcs, John W Thomp;an Wm. \. Cook, Samuel
William Ballautyne.
We hayr the honor to remain your oIeii-nt ser
wants, ',nHN T. MITCHELL Secretaries
Tie object of this visit, gentlemen, is to
compare notes, and to reason with you. with
regard To the seeming construction thai We
are led To believe you have PLACED upon the
recent act of Congress. as regards the levy
ing Of tax upon certain property in Tn" ID =
triCt. 1t is needless 10 assure you that these
credentials, emanating as they have. from n
mass meeting OF our people. representing II
professions, and different kinds OF business.
all party feeling. or sgCtaTian feeling was
completely submerged. IL - al expression
OF opinion, and a unanimous expression OF
opinion OF those who were AZ That meeting.
ina, is with regard To this law. a. construct
by yOU gentlemen. | speak il kindly. AMI
most respectfully. as The people understand
fhrnCf 10
are led 10 believe YOU have placed upon that
law, is somewhat harsh. if not little inuTi-
siiorial, when executed in the form. a we
are led 10 believe you are prompted in the
discharge of your duty, 10 conc i've il 10 br
your province to execute il. AMI oppressive
to title people. The object no doubt in the
wisdom of Congress, ami yours also, was To
raise sufficient amount Of revenue TO meet
the Liabilities of this District. IN that effort,
cheerlulness, 'amen," andi we Will hold up
your hands to that end. But from the debate
that cnSued in Congress upon the adoption Of
this claus" of that bill, the peOplc-ouT people
are under the impression, you design to levy
q much larger revenue. If il is 10 derive a
revenue Of about $1,000 from that source, if
this he your object, gentlemen, ! think.
could give you the assurance that our people
would not only be willing, but would cheer
fully all yOu in raising, not only that
amount, hut double the sum. if necessary: if
in The conscientious discharge OF your duty.
you could deem Il consistent to waive what
W. consider the most Ohi@c'iOH9bi" f"Jturr,
bl tllS NV llst. lltDt Ciitl8 your rows. u
object Of Our visit AID interview this morn
ing is To eEdC3VOr 10 convince yOu OF he
eXpedicncy, and the proprieJy, o. ri least
modifying 10 a very great degree. The Scuc
ule which YOU have thought proper. in your
Judgment, 10 prepare for the use % or poop Q
looking 10 the raising OF this revenue. We
are a law abiding people. it is needless 10 g.
sure you. and liberty loving people. We
folly arpreciat" the feelings and The motives
VIII ca have influenced Congress. no less tlal
yourselves, in arriving ut This lOng-wiShaf
sF.tlRl a ]
INST = harmonious and equitable assessment
between the government aud the people,
proper. OF this District. We abhOr anything
Looking fora moment to reputation. We
are perfectly willing to submit TO a tax. an
equitable tax; we do not wish To ignore or
eyade any Just assessment, 81 iaIa-
mOny, We wish Ia avoid anything like
friction. 1t is for that object we
arc here This morning. / hope that
that al formality during our brief interview
with you will ne waived, and for that pur-
pose, MIR. Cox. one OF OR committee, has
very kindly consented TO enter into the de-
tails of this subject, and 20 call yoIr Itten-
ton TO what we consider. speaking for the
people OF the city OF Washington, the most
Objectionable features of this bill, rs en-
bOdicd IN that statement, | hope after
ne shall have concluded, that there Will ne Il
fun ana free Interchange Of opinion. IL VIII
he agreeable 10 our committee. and hope
equally 50 to Tie honorable comm I,SiOl. Be-
fore conclude, gentlemen. ! viii furnish
yor Win copy OF the preamble and r2SO!u-
Iit - adopted al ttIt meeting 10 Nilscl nav
referred, which we wish u leave with you
for your consideration.
The Resolutions.
The resolutions are aS follows:
Whereas the Congress OF the United States a. It's
recent ses"n pa PAD an at 2E thu support Of the
year ending June - 1876 providing for the levy of a
tax upon All real aud personal prOperr in said Dis
triCt; anu whereas said law, III the mode il pre-
srrbes for the levy OF such tax upon personal prop
crty, and obnoxious. and bv requiring
iull disclosure 81 all the private business affairs 81
Inc CitlZcu III Their nltr-t tctaiI under atiltyIr.
>ume> t" impose obligation most difficult - DE
-ati -factoriy discharged transCcnds the usi limit
II ltgislsiINe authority and tends TO produce
sion and false swearing a ii dsmDrallZation and
hcrras said law Chargt> upon personal securities a
rate Of tax equal L. twenty five Der cent al fha
income ordinarily de- Iyed Ihereirom BEN i've times
than the foTmer ly lryiei upnu inc inc,
by the United State, and whereas said law imposes
this heavy charge upon all credit Transactions.
tn oDgh which enterprise l. mainly aided 10y capit.i
J. adj aLcing and d., ping he material prosperity
Il sad District; and whereas such charge viii ftlI
VI the debtor ami not npo1 the credit a.; upon
poetry and industry and not upon property and
wealth; and whereas tine amount which will BE-
realized under said law must exceed by several hun
DIR, Thousand dollars the estimated s required
for the tscal ening June -. $50: and heraa-
th. construction Civ en- 10 said law by the honorable
Commissioners of the bi< trict of Columbia, indl
Gated IN the instructions issued for the execution
thereof, would render its opera ion har~her more
oppressive than Is. III our judgment, warranted 10y
the letter and spirit OF the act i'll the follow ing
among other particulars, 10 wit
FuSt, That all money on hand shall be subject to
TAXATION whereas the Congress Of the United States
could not have intended To levy Il tax upon tie cir
cuatng medium OF the country ami certainly not
upon the legal tender notes of the governm~ft.
which, being its OwneprUmisc TO pay, would thereby
be impaired in their value By it legislation.
Sec9nd That incumbTances upon real estate shall
be subject to taXalpn and also the real estate upon
which such incumbrances are imposed whereas the
Congress of the United States could not have in
tax, the direct consequence OF This rucion in
all cases M which a mortga has been given, and