Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-03-30
fconfin.ed from First PaJe.l

.npsIv their wants and suit their varied '
tastes il is impossible that he should be ab-e
10 command the requisite arnouht Oh capisal
lar periods in the yeaT-always twice, and
Offen more frequeDtly-he is compelled 10
replenish his stock. Now, suppose that irst
hsfare the first OF April he has receiye,, ~
,pring and summer stock. estim. ated at f,fty
thousand dollars, and arranged with the
vender for the payment Of the purchase
money at certain future periods vs. hen, ac-
eording tO the ordinary course OF business he
believes he will be in receipt of mooney fronn
sis customers in Washington. Can he, in
justice, fairness and equity, be taxed the
owner Of this stock, which is not paid for,
and out of which. after 10 is paid for. he can
only rsalize as his own reasonable percent
posed by the Emitted States was severe; but
This tax is not only four times greater, even
when most Justly applied, but, when exacted
under the construction to which / am now
referring. is greater far beyond any rougt.
estimate that can be ms<te in figures, and,
will add IL, in my Judgment,
MORE OPPRESSIVE AND UNJUST
than any system of taxation i have ever
known adopted in any civilized community.
IL must also be borne IN mind. in this CON
nection, that the merchants have already
paid a tax for the privilege o. pursuing their
business. which il graduated according To
the amount OF capital invested. IL will.
therefore. be appreciated by all lust men
everywhere, that Gar merchants have deep
and serious cause of complaint against this
law, ard most cOE,aut REASONS for an earnest
appeal that they should not be subjected 20
its oppressive opera ion Uut II their cause can
be heard before the National Legislature.
IApplause.I
Inc committee have instructed me TO saw
further that they have been informed 10y the
best authority that the entire sum proposed
To BE- raised by the tax upon personal prop
erty under this bill was only one hundred
thousand dollars. and that such was the sum
the COmmisS sonerS of the District of Column
bia informed the members Of Congress hav-
ing this subject in charge. was expected AMI
.tesigT ed {" De raised by the tax in question.
Considering
THE INFINITE VARIETY OF SUBJECTS
Ia he eStima ted under the Instructions OF the
Commissioners, all prOmissoTy notes, ac-
counts. money secured by deeds and mort
cages. hOuCS. money deposited and on hand,
household goods. merchandise. tOOlS imple-
Rents. machinery, in fact every species of
property from the coal in the cellar TO the
monkey ON the chimney, and every kind OF
chose in action. credit. and security. there
cannot. i'm the opinion of the committee, be
am aggregate value of less than from seventy
five To a hundred million of dollars. Upon
this aggregate value, the tan at the rate of
one ard half per cent would realize from
twelve To fifteen hundred thousand dollars.
The committee are informed that when the
subject was before Congress. the estimate for
the needs Of the government for the fiscal
year ending June 30th. iSsG, was three mil
lion of dollars. Congress generously appro-
pTiated for us under this estimate from if
seen To- sixteen hundred thousand dollars
Now there will be- realized from the real es-
tate Of the District. which amounts. accord
Ing Ia the last appraiSeTnent, To ninety-Seven
hiilil0n OF dDiilTS. nearly nttptn nunurp1
Thousand dollars But surprising the aD-
praisement 10 be made at this time should
show "a value some ten or fifteen million less
than the appTaiSement To which I referred
which ought 10 and prObab iy will, still
THFRE WILL BE REALIZED FROM THE TAX
nearly thirteen hundred Thousand dollars,
which. in addition To the amount of license
TAX paid by the merchants and the apprOpri-
aiiOns made by Congress, would reach. ifnOt
exceed. the entire sum needed for the coming
fiscal year, according 10 the estimate. There
a. - for sax- fax ion,
whatever upon personal property at this
time, and any amount raised therefrOm. es-
pecially If II be as large as the committee
believe ~ would he, would lie idle in the
vaults of the treasury without any p1rpoSe
tO which il could be applied. But NV imne-
diafe purpose in these suggestions is TO show
the reasons that confirm the accuracy of the
information the committee has received. TO
The effect that the amount proposed to he
raised by the tax upon personal property was
only hundred thousand dollars, and if that
Is all that the Commissioners require. and
will suspend the operation of this law, We
can raise II for them BY voluntary contribu-
and now, from this meeting. lCries Of.'Yes,"
yes, YOU can And If that sum only is
required. feel that nay say TO the com
mittee 10 be appointed To call upon the Com
missiOneTS under the resolutions We have re-
ported, that they may guarantee on behalfof
The people the payment OF that sum az any
time 10 may &c required. If thereby We can be
saved from
THIS INQUIsITORIAL, OBNOXIOUS AND MIS-
NHIENOEs LAW.
prolonged applause Mr.. SOiOmOn> here
handed Mr.. Merrick "A copy Of the lOa0rey-
si0i'Gl Record containing the proceedings OF
March Sd Mr.. Merrick. continuing. said:
M friend has just handed me a copy of the
Congressional Record which Verifies beyond
question the accuracy OF the information and
confirms ali that W. had supposed in refer
ence to the haste and want OF consideration
That characterized the Passage Of this law.
read from the Record Mr.. Tre.nain. of
New York. inquired how much would be
RAISED By HE lax UnOn IprSOnal nrOuaFfV n
Ger this bill" Mr.. Randall. Of Pa. one of
the gentleman having charge of the bill. re
piled: The Commissioners have estimated
that there Will be raised from the tax upon
personal property one hundred thousand dol
lars. IL : apparent, therefore, beyond all
question that Congress never intended to
make the exOTbita exactiOnS from this bin
10 which they viii be subject under the coz
StTuciIOn given 10 the act by the Commits
sloneTS, and neN or designed TO impose so op-
pres>ive burden upon them The design of
Congress was TO tax only the substantial and !
visible property owned by the citizen. and /
only That. and they supposed they were car
Tying out that design. And all that we ask
nom the commissioners j. that as il il plain
and apparent that
THIS LAW WAS PASSED UNDER MISAP-
-,.,---, fkEHhN>lON,
and although IL received the votes, did not
receive the sanction or the Judgment of the
hemh eTs OF congress and l. unnecessary in
view OF the purpose Tor which il was adopted,
That they should refrain from it's enforce
ment until IL can b. TecOusidered and re-
we are 10 b. subjected 10 it, obnoxious pro-
Visions, we nave a ght Ia expect that IL
Viii be enforced also in those particulars de
signed To and the citizen in a satisfactory
obedience To its QuirementS.
Mr.. Merrick then read the 10th section OF
The act, aad said: .'Iou will perceive that by
ms section the assessors are required To de
liver the sAedules iH person. or Jt person 70
leave them at the residences OF the party 20
whom they are addressed.
THERE Il no LAW
authorizing them to perform this part OF
Iheir duty ~ deputy nor have tEey any
more right In use "a deputy in it, perform
'ance Than they have To use a deputy in the
performance O. any other part OF Tia duty
'ieyolyed upon them by the act. And
l may here remark that, in the opin-
ION Of the committee, 10 j. the drs of
me assessors nrst to ma &e an assessment
Of the real estate OF the District They
may invoke to their aid the old as
StSs nlent- but cannot follow 10 bliIslIy
without breach Of official duty.
\ ne assessment must he in every particular
me conclusion Of tileiT own judgment after
such AN examination a.. in their conscieDces
VIII enable them TO give an enlightened and
correct judgment And. from their known
Character the people expect that, so proceed
ing they Will make such an assessment as
Will satisfy every honest man. Having COM
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