Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-04-03
The History Of the Personal Tax


the tax bin approved March 3, 1878, have
not seen anything concerning the circun-
stances under which it was passed. A "bin
for the support of the government of the Dis
trict of Columbia for the fiscal year ending
June so, 1876, and for other purposes" was
matured in the House Committee on the
District of Columbia. its provisions were
committee, at two OF which the Com
sioners of the District were present The
personal tax feature was incorporated in
the bill because il was thought a strong SEN
timent existed in the House in favOrOfit. A
bill hal previously been introduced in the
House by Greenbury l.. Fort, of Illinois. aud
referred 10 the committee, imposing tax on
al personal property III the District. The
committee, out OF Difference to this senti-
ment. agreed to Incorporate personal tax
in their bill, and the question, what shall
be regarded as personal property liable to
this tax was fully discussed. think all
the members of the committee will confirm
the statemenrthat the articles contemplated
To he taNei as personal property" only in
eluded stocks, household goods and furni-
ture, including plate, jewelry, paintings
books. horses and carriages. The schedule
PR pared by the Commissioners of the Dis
tricJ and the board of assessors was
NEVER DREAMED OF By THE COMMITTEE.
The committee did not prepare Il list of ar
ticIes TO be taxed, surprising that those
charged with the execution of the law would
have sufficient common sense TO construe il
properly.
beIed, failed TO pass on two occasions when
il was brought before the House, owing main
ly 10 a morbid desire on the part of certain
members To discuss the affairs OF the District
An official statement made by the Commits
siOnels of the District, showing the amount
of delinquent taxes due on the last levy, w ;,
in the meantime submitted TO the connie
tee. Sever Il members OF the committee, IN
Guiding the chairman, Mr.. Harmer. of Penn
Sylvania; Mr.. Eldridge, of Wisconsin; Mr..
BarIiTm, OF Connecticut; and Mr.. Hagans, OF
west Virginia, after seeing this staten a;it,
and making Il little arithmetical calculation.
came To the conclusion that the people OF the
District
COULD GET ALONG vEEY WE'LL WITHOUT
TAX ELL
for the next fiscal year. The Commissioners
estimated that the expense of running The
District would be about - 100 .eCJ. The de
Gnquent taxes on the last levy were put
down at ~ 900. 600 This did not include any
OF the special Improvement taxes, and was
believed to be below tie correct estimate.
The United States appropriated about
II 100000 for the District This. it was cal
culated, would give the commissioners
SI.50G GOO. nearly 100000 more than they de-
stree. The members ofthe committee thought
il would be better for the Commits ioncrS TO
address themselves to the work Of collecting
the delinquent taxes tran to impose rev
burdens The fact that tae people -. lRe I- -
trict had been assessed fire per C@gt Du t!-.-
property during the last year was also II ken
INTO consideration, and it was generally
agreed that they ought to have "a resi-
The Commissioners OF the Distric- APP
peare1 anxious for a tay bill. They alleged
that Il bill did not pass, MOrriSon's buili-
ing. on 1 y street wOuli he closed ! think
Mr.. Hammer replied to this, that it might
be good thing for the taxpayers if 1t was
closed for year. Gov. DenniSOn, who was
the most anxious for a tax bill, threatened
10 resign, II one was not passed. Failing 10
get aid and comfort from the District of CO.
lumbia Committee. the Commissioners. ia
the closing hours of the session. betOok them
selves TO the Jerry Wilson's, the Clinton l..
Merriams, the John q. Smiths. the Green
bury l.. Forts, the Charles w. Willards, AMI
other well-knOwn enemies OF the District in
the House, who think the people of Washing
lngton should pay not only all the expenses
OF the District government, but the interest
and principal OF the national debt, and then
ne thankful that God allows them TO live
under the shadow of the public buildings.
The result is well known. The District OF
Columbia Committees bill was taken by
jerry Wilson, slashed and cut until its own
n her could not have recognized il, and then
reported 10 the House as a bill prepared
"IlrH consultation tCuh the Commissioners OF the
District" Is ii any wonder that every lawyer
la town can drive coach and four" through
the tax law! ONE WHO KNOWS.
The LITTLE MURDER TRIAI-Opeai,g nj
~ Testimony for tc Defeise-The ease of the
Commonwealth V. Lycrrgus Little, charg II
with the murder OF his brother, Clinton
Little, is still slowly progressing at Win
chester. Va. The court decided on THURSDAY
that Gilbert Littie's testimony at the inquest
OF The coroner might be used To- impeach his
prisoner 1t was then Offered by the COM
monwealth'S attorney, and the acting coroner
tMr. Wharton and DrS. Lewis and Sommer
vile were examined as TO his condition, and
they stated that they had examined him
before ire testified before the inquest, ami
found he was only fei3ning As to being drunk
or under the influence of Opiatcs. His state
ments differ very materially. After the con
clusiOn Of this testimony the prosecution
gave notice 10 the defense that they had only
one more witness TO examine, w g. Ever
n tenant f.lsf
an the time the murder vas committed. Mr..
ENerhaTt was then examined. without giving
o'clock the commonwealth closed It's teSti
mOny. and the court took recess for one
hour and half. when the testimony for the
defense wa commenced by Dr.. j. T.. Smith
of Clarke county. the physician who attended
the family the day of the murder, and also
their regular family physician, but nothing
OF any Importance was developed.
CAPTCRED COUNTER EIrERs-Col. Wash
harm: chief Of the secret service division of
the treasury, has returne' from his trip To
The Blue Ridge region of rt,iuia where a
previously announced, he and his assistants
captured The most notorious cOunteTleiter OF
the day w; Jack Mul Inns. Col. Washburn'S
account OF he chase il very graphic. The
officers have been after Mullins for SeveraI
.. .,,'i,S. aud last Fri.Iav ih~-. -.onaeIed il,
getting possession not ouly OF him and his
implements, but Of all his cOnfeiefates eX.
cept three, who will soon be arrested. Null
Inns cOu1 forfeited gold and silver coins, aud
managed to flood the mountain districts
Mullins and his partners have been safely
lodged in Jail.
Detective DuckwCrsh has captured the no
toriOuS cOunterieiterS, Pete Mccartney. Geo.
Rankin. Mike Rogers, Geo. Rittenhouse and
John Hall. who escaped from il ii in st Louis
Oh the morning OF February 5. The telegram
was dated at an interior town in Texas, bur
Marshal Newcomb, for prudential reasons,
does not wish tue name OF the place to be
made public.
AFFAIRS IN PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY.
MD. -LdIlds Bought 6g H'dShiagtOainnY.-
Messrs- Magruder and Hs,nce, trustees, yes
terday sold at public auction. at the Court
House door, the real estate Of Mr.. JIG. Mitch
ell. at Mullikin's Statioh, on the Baltimore
and Potomac railroad, containing 232 acres
TO :. Z. and f.. Wroe, of Washington city at
I.jj Per acre-the sale aggregating over
$500.
Shiise ShOo;iiO.-The beautiful weather of
the past week has brought TO our marshes
this delicious bird i'll Large numbers, and a
large number of SpOrtsmen from baltimore